Locally Led Book Clubs Focused on Disability Rights and Inclusion

NEA EDUCATOR-LED LOCAL BOOK CLUBS

Why participate in NEA’s educator-led local book club initiative?

We need champions for disability rights and inclusion! NEA members have a unique and powerful opportunity to advocate for meaningful change, to challenge ableism and biases, and to become allies with and for individuals with disabilities.

How do I become a book club leader and what is the commitment?

NEA invites members to lead local book clubs that explore critical social issues and foster inclusive environments. Book club leaders have the autonomy to design their group's structure, including choosing the meeting format, frequency, duration, and platform—whether in-person or online. As a book club leader, you can tailor the book club experience to your local context and professional community's needs while contributing to a broader culture of continuous learning and collective understanding of disability rights and inclusion. Participation is limited to 50 local affiliates.

The first step is to complete this survey to indicate your interest in becoming a book club leader. NEA will respond to interested individuals and provide promotional materials and registration information. When you register, you will select one of five curated books to use as the focus of your book club. You will be asked to provide the number of books needed and if you need any books in an accessible format. NEA will ship up to 12 books to the address you provide in your registration. In addition to the books, you can download additional resources below to help facilitate discussions.

As a book club leader, you will be responsible for promoting participation, securing a meeting space or virtual platform, distributing NEA-provided books, scheduling, and facilitating discussions using NEA-provided resources. The goal is to create a collaborative learning environment where participants can explore complex topics, share perspectives, and grow professionally.

After the book club concludes, leaders are required to complete a short NEA survey to provide feedback on their experience.

Who can participate in the book club?

The NEA educator-led local book clubs are open to all NEA members, offering a unique opportunity for members to deepen their understanding of disability rights and inclusion. Participants will gain valuable insights into the barriers that impede inclusive culture in schools and communities, empowering them to become advocates for meaningful change and share key learnings with their professional networks.

Where/When/How will the book club meet?

Local book club leaders have the flexibility to determine the location, cadence, and duration of book club meetings.

Become a champion for disability rights and inclusion

BOOK CLUB RESOURCES

To help leaders promote and run their book clubs, NEA provides downloadable resources that are both general and specific to the chosen book. These resources can aid in facilitating meaningful, engaging book club meetings.

Video: How to Start an Educator Book Club

In this instructional video, Federal Education Association librarian Anthony Devine guides on how to launch successful book clubs, which can be a powerful form of professional development. He emphasizes the importance of creating collaborative learning environments where educators can engage in meaningful discussions, share insights, and enhance their professional practice. Devine outlines practical strategies for initiating book studies, including how to select relevant educational texts, establish clear discussion protocols, and create an inclusive atmosphere that encourages participation from educators across different grade levels and disciplines.

NEA Disability Rights and Inclusion-Branded PowerPoint Template

Download the template

The first PowerPoint slide in the deck includes best practices for creating accessible slides, with links to resources to learn more about each topic.

Facilitator Guide

Download the guide

The book club facilitator guide establishes a comprehensive framework for creating a safe, respectful, and transformative learning environment for discussing disability-related topics. Book club leaders can use the guide to create a space where participants can engage in meaningful dialogue about disability experiences, challenge systemic biases, and promote inclusive understanding.

Core Norms for Book Clubs

Download core norms

Establishing norms is critical when discussing disability because it provides a framework for a safe, respectful environment that enables honest dialogue about complex and sensitive experiences. Carefully crafted guidelines protect participants, challenge systemic biases, and promote genuine understanding by ensuring all voices are heard equally. Book club norms work best when members collaboratively develop guidelines that reflect their unique group dynamics and shared values. By discussing, adapting, and refining the suggested core norms, book club members create a flexible framework that ensures respectful, meaningful dialogue and maintains the group's commitment to mutual understanding and inclusive communication.

Words Matter! Disability Language Etiquette

Word choices can either create inclusive or exclusionary environments, create or disrupt barriers to inclusion, uplift or demean differences, or sustain or disperse stereotypes about persons with disabilities. For an introduction to disability language etiquette, check out the Words Matter! Disability Language Etiquette webpage.