Share Disability Stories: Donate a Book This Disability History Month
In partnership with Drake The Bookshop:Get a book to donate here! 16 November to 16 December
Make a small act that makes a big difference
This Disability History Month we’ve partnered with Drake The Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees to get more books about disabled lives into schools, community groups and local charities across the North East.
When you buy from the specially curated list at Drake, Difference North East will collect the books at the end of the campaign and donate them to local places that need them.
Why it matters
Books shape how people understand the world. For disabled children and adults, seeing themselves reflected in stories challenges pity and tokenism and opens up pride, belonging and imagination. The list includes memoir, campaigning histories and children’s books — something for every age
Books you can choose to donate
Each of these titles has been chosen for the way it shares, celebrates, or challenges ideas about disabled lives. You can buy any of them directly from Drake The Bookshop to donate this Disability History Month:
- Why Not – George Webster (£7.99)
- Crip Kinship – Shayda Kafai (£16.99)
- Ramping Up Rights – Rachel Charlton-Dailey (£14.99)
- The View From Down Here – Lucy Webster (£16.99)
- The Department – John Pring (£16.99)
- The Anti-Ableist Manifesto (£18.99)
- The War on Disabled People – Ellen Clifford (£13.99)
- Being Heumann – Judith Heumann (£15.99)
- The Undesirables – Helen Berry (£12.99)
- Same But Different (£7.99)
- Can Bears Ski? – Raymond Antrobus (£7.99)
- What Happened to You? – James Catchpole (£7.99)
- Moving On Up – Rosie Jones (£9.99)
- How to Be Disabled and Proud (or at least kinda OK with it) – Anna Landre (£12.99)
- Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults) – ed. Alice Wong (£15.99)
Featured title — What Happened to You?
One of the children’s titles on the list is What Happened to You? by James Catchpole (ill. Karen George). It’s a gentle, powerful story about Joe, a child with one leg who simply wants to play — and why representation and everyday etiquette matter.
Watch Bex talk about why this book matters to her:
@differencenortheast 📚 "What Happened to You?" – A Story That Matters 🎥 This Disability History Month, Bex from Difference North East reflects on the impact of "What Happened to You?" by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George. 🌟 In the video, Bex shares how this children's book helped her feel seen and valued in a world where questions like "What happened to you?" often feel overwhelming. Through Joe’s story—a child with one leg who just wants to play—this book gently introduces the importance of disability representation and etiquette. 💬 What books or films have shaped your understanding of disability? Share your recommendations in the comments or tag us so we can amplify your voice. 📩 Prefer email? Send your thoughts to hello@differencenortheast.org.uk with the subject line “Disability Books.” Representation matters. Let’s celebrate the stories that bring our experiences to life. 💪 #DisabilityHistoryMonth #WhatHappenedToYou #RepresentationMatters #DifferenceNorthEast #DisabilityPride ♬ original sound - Difference North East
How to take part
- Visit the curated list at Drake The Bookshop (select titles you want to donate).
- At checkout choose “Collect from shop” to avoid postage charges.
- Drake will hold the books; Difference North East will collect and distribute them after 16 December.
If you’d prefer to donate directly or have questions, email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk.
