The Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma to donate books from award-winning activist for disability rights to public libraries, host free virtual book talk
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 17, 2021) -- The Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma (DDCO) announced they will donate copies of the children’s book All the Way to the Top by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, a prominent disability rights activist, to all 243 public libraries in the state of Oklahoma. The DDCO worked in partnership with the Department of Libraries to organize this effort after collaborating closely last spring to offer training to librarians on disability etiquette.
Keelan-Chaffins’ book chronicles her experience as the youngest participant at the historic Capitol Crawl demonstration on March 12, 1990, and how she climbed to the top of the U.S. Capitol Building steps without her wheelchair alongside fellow activists in support of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Following the 30th anniversary in 2020 of the Capitol Crawl and the passage of the ADA, the book received a Schneider Family Book Award Honor this year from the American Library Association for its excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth.
Lindsey Spoon, a DDCO council member, said “I am ecstatic that we are taking this opportunity to make Jennifer’s book available to younger people in Oklahoma, especially those in rural communities, so they can learn about people who have disabilities and disability activism.”
The DDCO will host a free virtual book talk from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on May 18, 2021 to hear Jennifer speak about All the Way to the Top and her experiences as a young activist for disability rights. Jennifer will discuss the importance that disability activism and civic engagement had in getting the ADA passed by federal lawmakers, how to recognize the signs of bullying and discrimination, and why we should all be empowered to use our voices to stand up for social justice.
To register for this free event, interested individuals can visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-the-way-to-the-top-celebrating-the-30th-anniversary-of-the-ada-registration-152428873865. A recording of the event will be available afterward at https://libraries.ok.gov/ada-30/.
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