Be an Includas Disability Ally
in·clu·das (verb/noun): being inclusive in diverse ways
How can I practice includas?
- Be diverse in inclusion as much as possible.
- When picking a book, movie, or show choose something that is diverse and unknown to you.
- Practice communicating with people in different ways like through pictures one day or 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 my practicing the 8 steps listed above or check them out in full detail where the Includas Superheroes outline each one. You can also get an Includas Coloring Book and Includas Superpowerful Journal to teach you about different disabilities and practice including others. Don’t forget to visit our blog post of the different kinds of disabilities and learn which celebrities are/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 those mistakes. 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 the biggest 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 that you spread to others, you can get the conversation of 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.
Donate With Us
Step 1: Go to shop.includas.com to purchase any book.
Step 2: Add a book(s) to your cart.
Step 3: Click ‘View Cart’ and use Coupon: DONATEWUS (you get 10% off).
Step 4: You’ll get your purchased book, and we’ll donate a book on your behalf to an organization, school, library, etc.
Donate Yourself
Step 1: Go to shop.includas.com to purchase any book.
Step 2: Add a book(s) to your cart.
Step 3: Click ‘View Cart’ and use Coupon: DONATETOO (you get 10% off).
Step 4: You’ll get your purchased book, and an extra book so you can donate to a school, friend, hospital, etc.
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’ll post the collective event from our Instagram stories to our YouTube channel.
Follow us on TikTok (coming soon) for events, prize announcements, and fun videos.
Upcoming Event May 2022
Join us for our first virtual YA romance book party on May 20 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. PST/6:30-8:30 p.m. EST. This two-hour event will talk about the book, discuss disability and love, and show off some dance skills. RSVP to our virtual ball on Hubilo before May 19!
Event Details
Get to know the process of creating The Pearls Of Yesterday and how the story came to be.
We are going to talk about disability and love! This includes dating myths and looking at a passage from the book.
We’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and offer answers! Submit any questions to our social media before the event.
Share your outfit with us on social media and tag @includas for a giveaway entry. Did you receive a PR Book Box? Tag us! Want to share your review on social media? Tag us 🙂 The more times you tag us on social media, the more entries you get!
How to Prepare
Wanna know who your Pearls of Yesterday Ball companion could be? Take the matchmaking quiz to see which character would be your perfect date for the ball! Share with us on social media! #PearlsOfYesterdayBall
Get ready with us for the ball! Share with us what you’ll wear by tagging us on social media and using #PearlsOfYesterdayBall! We’ll all be dressed up on the event day and can’t wait to see you there.
First kisses ruin everything. No matter whose lips sixteen-year-old Abigail Lucille Panashe touches, her life becomes plagued with disaster. But her friends won’t let her give up on that romantic, fireworks kind of kiss Abby has dreamt of. It just can’t be with her best friend, Theo Winthers, because that would be weird. Especially that for the last ten years, Abby and her late Papi imagined Theo accompanying her to this summer’s debutante ball. They’ve already perfected the dance to her wheelchair moves. If only the debutante director hadn’t scared Abby into picking the next-door neighbor, Hudson Giordani, to be the perfect escort. Now, kissing Hudson, that would definitely be weird—no, Abby cannot think about the guy who broke her heart four years ago for no reason. Abby may want to have the perfect ball and win the crown with the classiest escort in town, but one kiss will change everything she’s ever planned for.
Meet Your 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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Charlotte | Blog & Interviews
Affiliations: Wilde Press, Enspire Magazine
First Book Loved: The Velveteen Rabbit
Motto: Everyone deserves the chance to be heard.
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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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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 | Writing
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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Sadie | Illustrations
Affiliations: Martin Literary & Media Management
First Book Loved: Ella Enchanted
Motto: Find beauty in the smallest of things.
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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.
Read More
Internship Applications
We are looking for applicants who value disability diversity in the publishing industry, have an understanding of the industry, and can manage in a fast-changing environment.
Apply Here
Past & Current Partnerships
We are always looking to partner with bookstores, libraries, social media influencers, etc. It’s the only way to make includas magic happen and raise disability acceptance in the world. Help us make that inclusion a reality!
Partner With Us!
An author may be able to do virtual visits via a recorded video with a reading of their book or a live chat with a classroom to talk about their book and disability inclusion. We also offer disability learning for kids with the Includas Superheroes and 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, do a live chat with a classroom, or 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.