Beth Deiter is a longtime Arlington Heights resident, busy mom, home-based speech-language-feeding therapist and fierce advocate for families raising children with disabilities. Deiter founded the hyper-local nonprofit organization C.I.T.Y. of Support which stands for "Children In Therapy and You," and its mission is to create a dynamic community, online and in person, that supports ALL families navigating the needs of their child in therapy, regardless of diagnosis. Through free and inclusive social, educational and outreach programs, the organization’s motivated volunteers and community partners provide access to a supportive network of allies that empowers caregivers with resources and celebrates their journey.
Demystifying Disability
by Emily Ladau
Written by a well-known disability rights activist, writer and speaker, this author provides a candid guide for how to become an ally for disabled people. Although she does not claim to speak for all people with disabilities, she provides tips for anyone who may feel uncomfortable approaching, discussing or understanding this population (the largest minority in the world!). Our local nonprofit organization, C.I.T.Y. of Support, selected this book as their annual "You Gotta Read This!" book challenge, and we had the pleasure to hear from Emily Ladau herself at our Parent Retreat last year. She is frequently featured on national news outlets sharing her latest disability rights and social justice initiatives, and she says that she hopes her activism is "making the disability experience accessible to the world, so that we will reach a world that is accessible to the disability community."
The Four Winds
by Kristin Hannah
One of my favorite authors and another who has too many good titles to choose from! (Definitely also check out The Nightingale, The Great Alone and The Women.) She tends to feature unlikely heroines in all her stories, generally based on historical fiction. This title takes place during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression in the 1930s and follows one woman and her children as she makes the harrowing journey out west to find a better life for her family. Although desperate and heartbreaking, this story has a very satisfying ending, tying up all loose ends and leaving the reader with a sense of hope.
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
What a powerful way to contrast the Black/white experiences in different neighborhoods of the same city. As the reader follows the main character back and forth between her home and school environment, you can feel the stress associated with switching between different versions of herself and not knowing where she fits in. You can also see this represented so clearly in the film adaptation of the book. Questions about equity, media portrayal, structural racism and speaking up for justice are frequently mirrored in current events, making this book a must read/must watch for understanding these important themes from all perspectives.
A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman
This is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I had a hard time selecting only one title. I recommend his "Beartown" series and Anxious People frequently as well, but this particular book left a lasting impression on me. What seems dark and depressing takes serendipitous turns, leaving the characters (and reader) forever changed. There is always more to people than meets the eye, and this author's ability to peel back the layers with compassion and unexpected humor is unmatched.
The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events
by Lemony Snicket
Although the author would advise that you do NOT read this series, my family and I feel quite the opposite. Reading this collection of 13 books aloud with my children provided us with so many evenings of closeness, laughter and shared memories, even inspiring one of their Halloween costumes. As an unexpected bonus, the book series was also adapted into a Netflix series with one of my favorite actors, Neil Patrick Harris, creating even more opportunities to enjoy the series and some of our most cherished evenings together.
She's Not Sorry
by Mary Kubica
I was introduced to this local author when she participated in AHML's Lit Stroll this past year, and I have become one of her biggest fans, often devouring her books in just a couple of days. She writes psychological thrillers based on what I remember her describing as plausible but illegal acts one might commit "on their worst possible day." This title is her newest, and I think one of her best. Everything you know to be true about these characters and their stories can get turned upside down at any point along this super addicting, can't-put-down, quick read.
Singles
1992 Film, Directed by Cameron Crowe
This is one of my all-time favorite movies, and if you talk with me long enough, I'm sure to find some way of quoting it. It features the Seattle music scene in the 90s (think: Pearl Jam and Soundgarden) and enough flannel and black fedoras to last you awhile. The casual, relatable and often-painful dating scenes draw you in, and you find yourself picturing the ideal companion as “someone who says ‘gesundheit’ when I sneeze. Though I prefer ‘bless you.’ It's nicer.”
True Biz
by Sara Nović
Despite its name, this book has nothing to do with "business," but is slang for "real talk" in ASL (American Sign Language). Most deaf children are born to hearing parents, and this fictional account of the students' experiences at a private school for the deaf/Deaf, highlights their different cultural nuances, complexities, injustices, persistence and shared humanity. Written by an author with a strong personal connection to this population and based on realistic themes, this story is a must-read that spotlights individual perspectives and experiences with disability, while emphasizing the true power of communication and community.