Disability Culture and History
Disability culture and history are integral parts of our world! We are creating an index of influential books, podcasts, artists, local history, and more to increase access to this important part of our community.
Do you have a piece of disability culture or history that you think should be featured on this page? Send us an email and we may add your submission to our site!
Disability Intimacy
Essays on Love, Care, and Desire Edited by: Alice Wong
This beautiful anthology edited by Alice Wong features the intimate experiences of 40 disabled individuals. Wong’s collection explores the variety, desire, tenderness, lust, heartbreak and joy that exists in disabled relationships of every type.
Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw
Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever By: Eddie Ndopu
Human rights activist, Eddie Ndopu, takes readers along his journey as a Master’s student at Oxford University. His hilarious, cutting memoir tells the greater story of his perseverance toward excellence, obstacles faced, and many successes as young man with SMA. Written entirely with his “one good finger” Nodpu’s work will make you laugh, cry, and craving a chilled, bubbly beverage.
Gateway to Pride
St. Louis History Museum exhibit featuring paintings by Chris Worth
On exhibit June 8, 2024 -July 6, 2025
Gateway to Pride is St. Louis History Museum’s first full-scale exhibit showing the history of the LGBTQIA+ community in St. Louis. Alongside a variety of media and art from others in STL, the exhibit features paintings by artist, educator, community organizer, and PhD candidate Chris Worth.
A Disability History of the United States
By Kim E. Nielsen
Nielsen does a fantastic job of taking an enormous amount of historical facts and presenting readers with the story of disabled Americans throughout time. Her writing includes the pre-colonial indigenous peoples of North America and continues through the Disability Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s and into the 21st century. A first of its kind survey of disability history, this book will not leave readers disappointed!
Sarah Cowan
Musical Artist
Cowan’s unique blend of modern beats, eighties synth sound, and dark pop undertones pull listeners into her music. Legally blind and queer, Cowan’s songs feature lyrics that tap into the ups and downs of everyday life. Her songs give audiences sultry, bold melodies that make you want to turn the volume up.
ABCs of Disabilities
By: Sean Gold
For sale September 17th!
Sean Gold is a young, black, gay author with cerebral palsy based out of St. Louis, Missouri. His vibrant ABC book will warm the hearts of children and adult readers. The inclusive illustrations and colorful text display the importance of representation, kindness, and inclusivity in every aspect of life. This book is a bite-sized way to start the conversation about differences, similarities and belonging.
See more of Sean Gold’s work in his podcast Crippled by Culture!
Elizabeth Rajchart
Artist, Public Speaker, and Official Paralympics Photographer
Elizabeth Rajchart is known locally for photographing FestAbility 2023 and other large events. She has photographed a large range of productions including adaptive fashion shows, publications for New Mobility Magazine, and models, professional dance companies and more in New York City. Rajchart will be attending the 2024 Paris Paralympics as an official photographer of the games!
Ali Stroker
2019 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as ‘Ado Annie’ in Rogers and Hammerstine’s Oklahoma!
Ali Stroker is a stage and screen star appearing in multiple Broadway performances, guest starred on tv shows such as Only Murders in The Building and Ozark and had multiple recurring roles in other shows. She performed three times in St. Louis in 2023 including at 2023 FestAbility. Stroker is also author of Ali and the Sea Stars and co-author of The Chance to Fly and its sequel, Cut Loose!