Be an Includas Disability Ally
in·clu·das (verb/noun): being inclusive in diverse ways
How can I practice includas?
- Be diverse and inclusive as much as possible.
- When picking a book, movie, or show, choose a story that is diverse and unknown to you.
- Practice communicating with people in different ways; for example, through pictures one day, and gestures the next.
- Share about what you learn from the Includas Superheroes with others so they, too, can help spread inclusion magic!
How do I become an includas ally?
- Do your research.
- Be a good listener.
- Welcome all disabilities.
- Encourage accessibility and diversity everywhere.
- Support disabled creators.
- Avoid ableist terms.
- Don’t define someone only by their disability.
- Be kind.
Where can I learn more?
You can start by practicing the eight steps listed above, or checking them out in full detail as outlined by the Includas Superheroes. You can also get an Includas Coloring Book and Includas Superpowerful Journal to teach you about different disabilities and give you practice including others. Don’t forget to visit our blog post of the different kinds of disabilities and learn which celebrities are or were disabled.
What if I do it wrong?
Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay to make them as long as you learn how fix them. One person may prefer to be called “disabled” while another doesn’t. People have preferences based on their lived experiences, so get to know each person and don’t assume the same things for everyone. But remember, don’t rely on the disability community to educate you completely, especially if you don’t know someone personally. There is always room to grow and improve: the first step is trying.
Can I really make an impact?
Of course you can! Even the smallest change can make a big difference. It can change what your friends think, what your family thinks, or what you think. Reading, watching, and listening to things that are inclusive and diverse can help so many people. With your support and the support of others combined, you can get the conversation around inclusion and disability started.
Help Spread Change, One Book at a Time
We love nothing more than spreading inclusion! That’s why our commitment to social good is important to us. We donate books when we can, but now anyone can help us do so and get more diverse books into the hands of readers. For every book purchased during a release month, we’ll donate the matched books sold to the community!

Past Event 12/3/21

Join us for the 3rd Annual INCLUDAS Book Party: Pages Under Investigation on our social media from 12pm-6pm PST/3pm-9pm EST. The INCLUDAS Investigators will dive into the past, present, and future of disability representation.

Schedule of Investigation
Come learn about how the event works, how to win prizes, and what to expect.
Learn about many historical book firsts, different book accessible creations, and a book page activity.
We will be debunking popular fiction books that have stereotypical disability representation.
Come share your favorite disability-inclusive books and see which ones we have enjoyed! We’ll also include upcoming books we’re excited about.
Learn about disability inclusion in the writing community, supporting disabilities, and INCLUDAS announcements.
Where’s What
Follow us on Twitter for event summaries, prize announcements, and ‘Supporting Disabled Authors’ program.
Follow us on the Facebook event for details, event engagement, and prize announcements.
We have the three-part event on our YouTube channel.

Past Event 12/3/22

Join us for the 4th Annual INCLUDAS Book Party: Open Book on our social media from 2pm-6pm PST/5pm-9pm EST. The open mic will introduce topics of: opening lines of YA books with disability representation, having an open book conversation about ableism in publishing, and spotlighting opening lines of disabled writers.

Schedule of Investigation
Welcome to the event and why it matters.
We’ll be sharing the opening lines of 11 YA diverse books with disability representation.
We will be having an open book discussion about ableism in the publishing industry with Madison Parrotta, our Senior Editor.
Come support disabled writers who are working on a piece of writing by following them on social media and reading the opening lines of their works.
Thank you for attending our event! We hope you can make it next year.
Where’s What
Follow us on Twitter for event summaries, book tweets and book covers, and favorite book polls.
Follow us on the Facebook event for details and the agenda.
We’ll post the collective event from our Instagram stories to our YouTube channel.

Meet the INCLUDAS Team

Luda | Founder
Affiliations: BookTalk Board of Directors, IBPA DEI Committee
First Book Loved: Matilda
Motto: When you create your own path, you leave behind a story.
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Madison | Senior Editor
Affiliations: Disability in Publishing Founding Member, Salt & Sage Books, The WNET Group
First Book Loved: The Lost Locket (Nancy Drew Notebooks #2)
Motto: Books are my favorite vegetable.
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Catherine | Acquisitions
Affiliations: Bloomsbury Publishing
First Book Loved: The Little Prince
Motto: It’s okay to go at your own pace.
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Amanda | Designer
Affiliations: AriosGraphics Founder
First Book Loved: A Bargain for Frances
Motto: Be yourself, even when people stare.
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Kristina | Kids' Literature
Affiliations: Access - Student Disability Union
First Book Loved: The Rainbow Fish
Motto: Fantasy is the most real thing we have.
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Nicole | Social Media
Affiliations: Hope for Women Magazine, Ball State Daily News
First Book Loved: Goodnight Moon
Motto: Be the one who makes others feel included.
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Joanna | Editorial
Affiliations: MDA Quest Magazine, Daily Hampshire Gazette, SMILE Mass
First Book Loved: The Wizard of Oz
Motto: You can't change your past, but you can determine your future.
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Emma | Blog Writer
Affiliations: Five Cent Sound Magazine, Random House, Wilde Press
First Book Loved: Bread and Jam for Frances
Motto: There are always second chances.
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Sofia | Marketing
Affiliations: Generic Literary Magazine, Undergraduate Students for Publishing
First Book Loved: Stone Fox
Motto: Be professionally annoying.
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Julia | Story Development
Affiliations: Canvas Teen Literary Journal
First Book Loved: Ruby Holler
Motto: Que será será.
Read More

Internship Applications
We are looking for applicants who value disability diversity in publishing, have an understanding of the industry, and can manage in a fast-changing environment.
Apply here.
Partner With Us!
An author may be able to virtually visit via a recorded video with a reading of their book or a live chat to talk about their book and disability inclusion. We also offer disability learning for children with the Includas Superheroes and their guide for how to be a disability ally. To get started, please tell us about your inquiries.
An author may be able to do virtual visits for up to 20 minutes per session via a recorded video with a reading of their book and answer questions submitted beforehand, chat live with a classroom, or take part in an assembly presentation on disability inclusion. To get started, please tell us about your inquiries.
Looking to book one of our authors for their book release or a special sale feature to add more disability diversity to your bookstore? We would love to make a fun book launch event, whether it’s in-person or virtual, and offer special discounts for your store specifically. To get started, please tell us about your inquiries.
More info coming soon!
We can offer customized worksheets and bring small gifts to students for whichever event you’d like INCLUDAS be part of. Got a romance-themed book party or need to add some fun disability book decorations? We also love partnering with those who want to support our December 3 INCLUDAS Book Party! To get started, please fill out this form.
Got a book review blog, disability awareness blog, or some other blog you want to add includas to? We’re always looking for more disability allies to review our books, spread disability inclusion, and raise underrepresented voices up. To get started, please fill out this form.
Got a TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or other social media platform with at least 10,000 followers/subscribers? Do you love talking and reviewing books to let others know what you think, and want to add disability books to your list? We’ll send you a galley for review or create a hashtag together. To get started, please fill out this form.
Do you run a book club and wish to have an author attend a meeting to answer questions or autograph some books? An author can also send pre-selected questions ahead of time on a book discussion or pop in at the end of a meeting to chat and play games virtually. To get started, please fill out this form.
Celebrating a milestone or want to do a giveaway in honor of a special national day? We’re interested in helping you celebrate that with your audience and bring awareness to your platform. This also means providing deep discounts on our merch when you promote it to your followers. To get started, please fill out this form.
Our doors are always open to an extra pair of eyes, hands, or wheels. Maybe you want to promote one of our books on your family vacation? Or simply wish to pass out some of our marketing swag? We can’t wait to team up! And, if you want to share other options or give us some suggestions, let us know. To get started, please fill out this form.