Owning It

Our disabled childhoods in our own words

Sophie Kamlish, James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole, Jen Campbell

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• eBook ISBN:
  9780571380039
• Year: 2025

Growing up disabled can be an isolating experience. As much as you might be surrounded by loving and well-meaning friends and family, chances are no one close to you is going through this alongside you . . . until now!

From navigating sports at school, to facing the confusion of getting given free stuff all the time, to juggling hospital trips alongside your social life, this anthology of firsthand experiences of childhood disability will be a welcome companion for disabled children. For non-disabled children it provides a welcome own-voice perspective and will help build empathy and understanding. A very powerful, much-needed book.

Edited by James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole and Jen Campbell. With contributions from Ali Abbas, Polly Atkin, Imani Barbarin, Jen Campbell, James Catchpole, Christa Couture, Carly Findlay, M. Leona Godin, Eugene Grant, Jan Grue, Matilda Feyisayo Ibini, Ilya Kaminsky, Sora J. Kasuga, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, Elle McNicoll, Daniel Sluman, Nina Tame, Rebekah Taussig, Steven Verdile, Alex Wegman, Ashley Harris Whaley and Kendra Winchester. Illustrated by Sophie Kamlish.

Table of contents

• Landing Page
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Teddy Bear Island – by Rebekah Taussig
• Faking It – by James Catchpole
• A Word to Live By for a Young Imani – by Imani Barbarin
• Smile – by Kendra Winchester
• How to Belong – by Alex Wegman
• Lobster Girl – by Jen Campbell
• Totally Normal – by Sora J. Kasuga
• Wheels on Ice – by Jan Grue
• Dear Carly – by Carly Findlay
• Lip-reading in Odesa – by Ilya Kaminsky
• All Bodies Are Good Bodies – by Nina Tame
• Performance – by Daniel Sluman
• Why Do You Feel Sorry for Me? – by Ali Abbas
• The Price of Free – by Steven Verdile
• My Own Words for My Own World – by Polly Atkin
• Well Served – by Ashley Harris Whaley
• Snakes, Bats, Rats and Rotifers – by M. Leona Godin
• Growing Pains – by Christa Couture
• Naughty or Sick? – by Jessica Kellgren-Fozard
• Disabled Heroes – by Eugene Grant
• Ekinni Ìrìn Àjò Molẹbi – The First Family Adventure – by Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini
• Pomegranate – by Elle McNicoll
• About the Contributors
• Copyright