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disabled-dragoon · 9 months

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The Disability Library

I love books, I love literature, and I love this blog, but it's only been recently that I've really been given the option to explore disabled literature, and I hate that. When I was a kid, all I wanted was to be able to read about characters like me, and now as an adult, all I want is to be able to read a book that takes us seriously.

And so, friends, Romans, countrymen, I present, a special disability and chronic illness booklist, compiled by myself and through the contributions of wonderful members from this site!

As always, if there are any at all that you want me to add, please just say. I'm always looking for more!

Edit 20/10/2023: You can now suggest books using the google form at the bottom!

Updated: 31/08/2023

Articles and Chapters

The Drifting Language of Architectural Accessibility in Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris, Essaka Joshua, 2012

Early Modern Literature and Disability Studies, Allison P. Hobgood, David Houston Wood, 2017

How Do You Develop Whole Object Relations as an Adult?, Elinor Greenburg, 2019

Making Do with What You Don't Have: Disabled Black Motherhood in Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, Anna Hinton, 2018

Necropolitics, Achille Mbeme, 2003 OR Necropolitics, Achille Mbeme, 2019

Wasted Lives: Modernity and Its Outcasts, Zygmunt Bauman, 2004

Witchcraft and deformity in early modern English Literature, Scott Eaton, 2020

Books

Fiction:

Misc:

10 Things I Can See From Here, Carrie Mac

A-F:

A Curse So Dark and Lonely, (Series), Brigid Kemmerer

Akata Witch, (Series), Nnedi Okorafor

A Mango-Shaped Space, Wendy Mass

Ancillary Justice, (Series), Ann Leckie

An Unkindness of Ghosts, Rivers Solomon

An Unseen Attraction, (Series), K. J. Charles

A Shot in the Dark, Victoria Lee

A Snicker of Magic, Natalie Lloyd

A Song of Ice and Fire, (series), George R. R. Martin

A Spindle Splintered, (Series), Alix E. Harrow

A Time to Dance, Padma Venkatraman

Bath Haus, P. J. Vernon

Beasts of Prey, (Series), Ayana Gray

The Bedlam Stacks, (Series), Natasha Pulley

Black Bird, Blue Road, Sofiya Pasternack

Black Sun, (Series), Rebecca Roanhorse

Blood Price, (Series), Tanya Huff

Borderline, (Series), Mishell Baker

Breath, Donna Jo Napoli

The Broken Kingdoms, (Series), N.K. Jemisin

Brute, Kim Fielding

Cafe con Lychee, Emery Lee

Carry the Ocean, (Series), Heidi Cullinan

Challenger Deep, Neal Shusterman

Cinder, (Series), Marissa Meyer

Clean, Amy Reed

Connection Error, (Series), Annabeth Albert

Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star, Laura Noakes

Crazy, Benjamin Lebert

Crooked Kingdom, (Series), Leigh Bardugo

Daniel Cabot Puts Down Roots, (Series), Cat Sebastian

Daniel, Deconstructed, James Ramos

Dead in the Garden, (Series), Dahlia Donovan

Dear Fang, With Love, Rufi Thorpe

Deathless Divide, (Series), Justina Ireland

The Degenerates, J. Albert Mann

The Doctor's Discretion, E.E. Ottoman

Earth Girl, (Series), Janet Edwards

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, Emily R. Austin

The Extraordinaries, (Series), T. J. Klune

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, (Series), Trenton Lee Stewart

Fight + Flight, Jules Machias

The Final Girl Support Group, Grady Hendrix

Finding My Voice, (Series), Aoife Dooley

The First Thing About You, Chaz Hayden

Follow My Leader, James B. Garfield

Forever Is Now, Mariama J. Lockington

Fortune Favours the Dead, (Series), Stephen Spotswood

Fresh, Margot Wood

H-0:

Harmony, London Price

Harrow the Ninth, (series), Tamsyn Muir

Hench, (Series), Natalia Zina Walschots

Highly Illogical Behaviour, John Corey Whaley

Honey Girl, Morgan Rogers

How to Become a Planet, Nicole Melleby

How to Bite Your Neighbor and Win a Wager, (Series), D. N. Bryn

How to Sell Your Blood & Fall in Love, (Series), D. N. Bryn

Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites, Joy Demorra

I Am Not Alone, Francisco X. Stork

The Immeasurable Depth of You, Maria Ingrande Mora

In the Ring, Sierra Isley

Into The Drowning Deep, (Series), Mira Grant

Iron Widow, (Series), Xiran Jay Zhao

Izzy at the End of the World, K. A. Reynolds

Jodie's Journey, Colin Thiele

Just by Looking at Him, Ryan O'Connell

Kissing Doorknobs, Terry Spencer Hesser

Lakelore, Anna-Marie McLemore

Learning Curves, (Series), Ceillie Simkiss

Let's Call It a Doomsday, Katie Henry

The Library of the Dead, (Series), TL Huchu

The Lion Hunter, (Series), Elizabeth Wein

Lirael, (Series), Garth Nix

Long Macchiatos and Monsters, Alison Evans

Love from A to Z, (Series), S.K. Ali

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses, Kristen O'Neal

Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro

The Never Tilting World, (Series), Rin Chupeco

The No-Girlfriend Rule, Christen Randall

Nona the Ninth, (series), Tamsyn Muir

Noor, Nnedi Okorafor

Odder Still, (Series), D. N. Bryn

Once Stolen, (Series), D. N. Bryn

One For All, Lillie Lainoff

On the Edge of Gone, Corinne Duyvis

Origami Striptease, Peggy Munson

Our Bloody Pearl, (Series), D. N. Bryn

Out of My Mind, Sharon M. Draper

P-T:

Parable of the Sower, (Series), Octavia E. Butler

Parable of the Talents, (Series), Octavia E. Butler

Percy Jackson & the Olympians, (series), Rick Riordan

Pomegranate, Helen Elaine Lee

The Prey of Gods, Nicky Drayden

The Pursuit Of..., (Series), Courtney Milan

The Queen's Thief, (Series), Megan Whalen Turner

The Quiet and the Loud, Helena Fox

The Raging Quiet, Sheryl Jordan

The Reanimator's Heart, (Series), Kara Jorgensen

The Remaking of Corbin Wale, Joan Parrish

Roll with It, (Series), Jamie Sumner

Russian Doll, (Series), Cristelle Comby

The Second Mango, (Series), Shira Glassman

Scar of the Bamboo Leaf, Sieni A.M

Shaman, (Series), Noah Gordon

Sick Kids in Love, Hannah Moskowitz

The Silent Boy, Lois Lowry

Six of Crows, (Series) Leigh Bardugo

Sizzle Reel, Carlyn Greenwald

The Spare Man, Mary Robinette Kowal

The Stagsblood Prince, (Series), Gideon E. Wood

Stake Sauce, Arc 1: The Secret Ingredient is Love. No, Really, (Series), RoAnna Sylver

Stars in Your Eyes, Kacen Callender [Expected release: Oct 2023]

The Storm Runner, (Series), J. C. Cervantes

Stronger Still, (Series), D. N. Bryn

Sweetblood, Pete Hautman

Tarnished Are the Stars, Rosiee Thor

The Theft of Sunlight, (Series), Intisar Khanani

Throwaway Girls, Andrea Contos

Top Ten, Katie Cotugno

Torch, Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Treasure, Rebekah Weatherspoon

Turtles All the Way Down, John Green

U-Z:

Unlicensed Delivery, Will Soulsby-McCreath Expected release October 2023

Verona Comics, Jennifer Dugan

Vorkosigan Saga, (Series), Lois McMaster Bujold

We Are the Ants, (Series), Shaun David Hutchinson

The Weight of Our Sky, Hanna Alkaf

Whip, Stir and Serve, Caitlyn Frost and Henry Drake

The Whispering Dark, Kelly Andrew

Wicked Sweet, Chelsea M. Cameron

Wonder, (Series), R. J. Palacio

Wrong to Need You, (Series), Alisha Rai

Ziggy, Stardust and Me, James Brandon

Graphic Novels:

A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability, (Non-Fiction), A. Andrews

Constellations, Kate Glasheen

Dancing After TEN: a graphic memoir, (memoir) (Non-Fiction), Vivian Chong, Georgia Webber

Everything Is an Emergency: An OCD Story in Words Pictures, (memoir) (Non-Fiction), Jason Adam Katzenstein

Frankie's World: A Graphic Novel, (Series), Aoife Dooley

The Golden Hour, Niki Smith

Nimona, N. D. Stevenson

The Third Person, (memoir) (Non-Fiction), Emma Grove

Magazines and Anthologies:

Artificial Divide, (Anthology), Robert Kingett, Randy Lacey

Beneath Ceaseless Skies #175: Grandmother-nai-Leylit's Cloth of Winds, (Article), R. B. Lemburg

Defying Doomsday, (Anthology), edited by Tsana Dolichva and Holly Kench

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, (short story) (anthology), Seiko Tanabe

Nothing Without Us, edited by Cait Gordon and Talia C. Johnson

Nothing Without Us Too, edited by Cait Gordon and Talia C. Johnson

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens, (Anthology), edited by Marieke Nijkamp

Uncanny #24: Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction, (Anthology), edited by: Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, Dominik Parisien et al.

Uncanny #30: Disabled People Destroy Fantasy, (Anthology), edited by: Nicolette Barischoff, Lisa M. Bradley, Katharine Duckett

We Shall Be Monsters, edited by Derek Newman-Stille

Manga:

Perfect World, (Series), Rie Aruga

The Sky is Blue with a Single Cloud, (Short Stories), Kuniko Tsurita

Non-Fiction:

Academic Ableism: Disability and Higher Education, Jay Timothy Dolmage

A Disability History of the United States, Kim E, Nielsen

The Architecture of Disability: Buildings, Cities, and Landscapes beyond Access, David Gissen

Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism, Elsa Sjunneson

Black Disability Politics, Sami Schalk

Borderline, Narcissistic, and Schizoid Adaptations: The Pursuit of Love, Admiration, and Safety, Dr. Elinor Greenburg

Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure, Eli Clare

The Cambridge Companion to Literature and Disability, Barker, Clare and Stuart Murray, editors.

The Capacity Contract: Intellectual Disability and the Question of Citizenship, Stacy Clifford Simplican

Capitalism and Disability, Martha Russel

Care work: Dreaming Disability Justice, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Catatonia, Shutdown and Breakdown in Autism: A Psycho-Ecological Approach, Dr Amitta Shah

The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays, Esme Weijun Wang

Crip Kinship, Shayda Kafai

Crip Up the Kitchen: Tools, Tips and Recipes for the Disabled Cook, Jules Sherred

Culture – Theory – Disability: Encounters between Disability Studies and Cultural Studies, Anne Waldschmidt, Hanjo Berressem, Moritz Ingwersen

Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition, Liat Ben-Moshe

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally, Emily Ladau

Dirty River: A Queer Femme of Color Dreaming Her Way Home, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Disability Pride: Dispatches from a Post-ADA World, Ben Mattlin

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories From the Twenty-First Century, Alice Wong

Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space, Amanda Leduc

Every Cripple a Superhero, Christoph Keller

Exile and Pride: Disability, Queerness and Liberation, Eli Clare

Feminist Queer Crip, Alison Kafer

The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes, and Mourning Songs, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Growing Up Disabled in Australia, Carly Findlay

It's Just Nerves: Notes on a Disability, Kelly Davio

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot

Language Deprivation & Deaf Mental Health, Neil S. Glickman, Wyatte C. Hall

The Minority Body: A Theory of Disability, Elizabeth Barnes

My Body and Other Crumbling Empires: Lessons for Healing in a World That Is Sick, Lyndsey Medford

No Right to Be Idle: The Invention of Disability, 1840s-1930s, Sarah F. Rose

Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment, James I. Charlton

The Pedagogy of Pathologization Dis/abled Girls of Color in the School-prison Nexus, Subini Ancy Annamma

Physical Disability in British Romantic Literature, Essaka Joshua

QDA: A Queer Disability Anthology, Raymond Luczak, Editor.

The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Disability, Jasbir K. Puar

Sitting Pretty, (memoir), Rebecca Taussig

Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black & Deaf in the South, Mary Herring Wright

Surviving and Thriving with an Invisible Chronic Illness: How to Stay Sane and Live One Step Ahead of Your Symptoms, Ilana Jacqueline

The Things We Don't Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths, Julie Morgenlender

Uncanny Bodies: Superhero Comics and Disability, Scott T. Smith, José Alaniz

Uncomfortable Labels: My Life as a Gay Autistic Trans Woman, (memoir), Laura Kate Dale

Unmasking Autism, Devon Price

The War on Disabled People: Capitalism, Welfare and the Making of a Human Catastrophe, Ellen Clifford

We've Got This: Essays by Disabled Parents, Eliza Hull

Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life, (memoir) (essays) Alice Wong

Picture Books:

A Day With No Words, Tiffany Hammond, Kate Cosgrove-

A Friend for Henry, Jenn Bailey, Mika Song

Ali and the Sea Stars, Ali Stroker, Gillian Reid

All Are Welcome, Alexandra Penfold, Suzanne Kaufman

All the Way to the Top, Annette Bay Pimentel, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, Nabi Ali

Can Bears Ski?, Raymond Antrobus, Polly Dunbar

Different -- A Great Thing to Be!, Heather Alvis, Sarah Mensinga

Everyone Belongs, Heather Alvis, Sarah Mensinga

I Talk Like a River, Jordan Scott, Sydney Smith

Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream, K. T. Johnson, Anabella Ortiz

Just Ask!, Sonia Sotomayor, Rafael López

Kami and the Yaks, Andrea Stenn Stryer, Bert Dodson

My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay, Cari Best, Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship, Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes, Scott Magoon

Sam's Super Seats, Keah Brown, Sharee Miller

Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster, Manka Kasha

We Move Together, Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, Eduardo Trejos

We're Different, We're the Same, and We're All Wonderful!, Bobbi Jane Kates, Joe Mathieu

What Happened to You?, James Catchpole, Karen George

The World Needs More Purple People, Kristen Bell, Benjamin Hart, Daniel Wiseman

You Are Enough: A Book About Inclusion, Margaret O'Hair, Sofia Sanchez, Sofia Cardoso

You Are Loved: A Book About Families, Margaret O'Hair, Sofia Sanchez, Sofia Cardoso

The You Kind of Kind, Nina West, Hayden Evans

Zoom!, Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko

Plays:

Peeling, Kate O'Reilly

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With an extra special thank you to @parafoxicalk @craftybookworms @lunod @galaxyaroace @shub-s @trans-axolotl @suspicious-whumping-egg @ya-world-challenge @fictionalgirlsworld @rubyjewelqueen @some-weird-queer-writer @jacensolodjo @cherry-sys @dralthon @thebibliosphere @brynwrites @aj-grimoire @shade-and-sun @ceanothusspinosus @edhelwen1 @waltzofthewifi @spiderleggedhorse @sleepneverheardofher @highladyluck @oftheides @thecouragetobekind @nopoodles @lupadracolis @elusivemellifluence @creativiteaa @moonflowero1 @the-bi-library @chronically-chaotic-cryptid for your absolutely fantastic contributions!

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Submit a Book:

#disability resources #disability #chronic illness #disability books #books #resources #book list #disability literature #literature #disability representation #disabled characters #information #informative #disability education #disability history #disability rights #please add to this #to be updated #long post

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cyle-stuff · 10 months

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Here take some gays:

#nimona spoilers #nimona movie #nimona #ballister blackheart #ballister boldheart #ambrosius goldenloin #I’m sorry I don’t know there ship name #they got one right?#update I’m told it’s goldenheart #goldenheart #nimona netflix #netflix #gay #lgbtq #lgbtqia #lgbtqia+#lgbtq characters #lgbtq representation

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thephooka · 8 months

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New page of White Noise!

Read it here! | WN on Patreon | @hiveworks

Nice try though!

#webcomics #white noise #hiveworks #comics #wn comic #white noise update #webcomic update #white noise webcomic #wn comic update #queer characters #lgbt representation #queer media #lgbt characters #lgbtq #queer comics

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drarrydisabilityfest · 9 months

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Drarry Disability Fest 2023 Masterlist & Wrap-up

Title:Any Emotions

Author/Artist: @steampunkserpent27 (AO3/Tumblr) Grievers27 (Discord)

Rating: Teen

Word count (if applicable): 11,261

Warnings/Tags: No Archive Warnings, Alternate Universe- Canon Divergence, Post-Canon, Post-War, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Mental Health Issues, Disability, Disabled Character, Autistic Harry Potter, Autism, Sensory Issues, Emotional Dysregulation, Crying, Gryphons, Social Anxiety, Social Issues, Misunderstandings, Bullying, Ableism, Hogsmeade, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Developing Relationships, Good Harry Potter, Good Draco Malfoy, Supportive Draco Malfoy, Painter Draco Malfoy, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Honeydukes, Kissing, Getting Together, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Self-Discovery, Happy Ending, Minor Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger,

Summary:During Harry's Eighth Year at Hogwarts, he finds himself not only trying to figure out his feelings towards his old rival and nemesis, Draco Malfoy, but also trying to figure out why he's always felt so different, even amongst his closest friends.

Title:Songbird

Author/Artist:@queenie-jinny, QueenieJinny (AO3)

Rating: Teen

Word count (if applicable): 4,393

Warnings/Tags:POV First Person, POV Alternating, Disability, Physical Disability, Healer Draco Malfoy, Hard of hearing Harry Potter, Diabetes, Happy Ending, Blood and Injury (briefly), Anxiety/Panic attack (briefly), Light Angst, Romantic Fluff

Summary:When Harry sustains an injury in the line of duty, he has to come to terms with the fact that sometimes there are no magical solutions.

Title: What Works For Us

Author/Artist: flightinflame

Rating: Teen

Word count (if applicable): 1,821

Warnings/Tags: Autism, Autistic Scorpius Malfoy, Haircuts, Parenthood, Good Parent Draco Malfoy, Family Fluff, Good Parent Harry Potter, meltdowns

Summary: Scorpius wants to have short hair. Unfortunately, he doesn't want to have his hair cut.

Title: Like Father, Like Son

Author/Artist: @ladderofyears, Ladderofyears (AO3)

Rating: General

Word count (if applicable): 5,648

Warnings/Tags: Autism, Autistic Character, St Mungo's Hospital (Harry Potter), Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, Original Character(s), Autistic Scorpius Malfoy, Implied Mpreg, Past Mpreg, Harry Is Reluctant To Accept Scorpius's Diagnosis, But Soon Opens His Mind, Established Relationship, Established Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Married Couple, Fatherhood, Autistic Harry Potter, Supportive Draco Malfoy, Kind Draco Malfoy, Vernon Dursley Being an Asshole, Abusive Dursley Family (Harry Potter), Pureblood Culture (Harry Potter), Past Child Abuse

Summary: During Scorpius's autism diagnosis, Harry begins to understand that he might be autistic too.

Title:He's Perfect

Author/Artist:@itsphantasmagoria

Rating: Teen

Word count (if applicable): 7,988

Warnings/Tags: Autism; Autistic Scorpius Malfoy; Post Mpreg; Minor Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Black Malfoy; Parenthood; Ableist Language; Lucius Malfoy Being an Asshole; Lucius Malfoy Redemption; Supportive Narcissa Black Malfoy; Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE; Domestic Fluff; Neurodiversity; POV Draco Malfoy; Good Parent Draco Malfoy; Good Parent Harry Potter; Scorpius is an adorable bean; Digital Art; Kid Fic

Summary: Draco's son with Harry is a shining light in his life, and is perfect just the way he is.

Title: Boundaries

Author/Artist: SleepyElephant

Rating: General

Word count (if applicable): 4,790

Warnings/Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE;Post-War;Some Humor;Established Relationship;Minor Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley;Disability;Chronic Illness;Undiagnosed Illness;Unsolicited medical advice;Setting Boundaries

Summary: Harry has been dealing with undiagnosed chronic symptoms since the war. Hermione won’t stop giving unsolicited advice. With support, Harry finally sets a boundary with her.

Title: Pain, Potions, & a Prick Known as Potter

Author: ChesterPoe (AO3), DeathsDaisy (Tumblr)

Rating: Teen

Word count: 11,378

Warnings/Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Drarry, Redeemed Draco, Child Abuse, mentions of torture, (only in the first chapter), bad parent lucious malfoy, Post War, Hurt/Comfort, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Massage, Chronic Pain, Fainting, Passing Out, A lot of comfort, especially at the end

Disability Focus: Chronic pain & nerve damage

Summary: The repeated and sustained Crucios used on Draco during the war have caused him permanent nerve damage. He suffers from chronic pain, temporary occasional loss of sensation in parts of his body, poor circulation, trembling and shaky hands, etc.

Harry gets assigned as Draco's probation auror, they start off where they had left in school, but Draco has changed and so has he. They need to grow together these next few months to see what had been missing in their school years.

P.S. The way I talk about chronic pain in this is from personal experience. Not all of us experience the same thing. I assume those who suffer along with me know that, but for those who don’t/those without a chronic “issue”: please remember your experiences/ideas of what it’s “really” like are not universal. Be nice, thanks.

______________________________________________________________

That's a wrap! We want to give a HUGE shout out to our creators who worked so so hard to make this happen, we are so proud of you, and we hope you will join us again next year! All 7 of these stories are beta-read and sensitivity checked, so we ask that you refrain from berating our creators if you see things that differ from your own experience and knowledge of these conditions; every disabled person's experience is different and unique and deserves space!

And from Mod Kel to my fellow mods, thank you so so so much for your patience, hard work, and dedication to this fest. It is because of you both that this fest idea was able to take form because there would have been no way it could be done solo. Specifically I want to thank Ceylon for her amazing work with header art and the airtable system, as well as her hard work in managing communications through the email; thank you so much lovely! I want to thank Rowan specifically for their/his work on our tumblr and AO3, as well as all the time they/he spent on the Discord helping us figure things out and working around the time difference, and effort they/he put into posting; you're absolutely incredible!

Please leave comments and kudos for the hard working creators of this fest, even if you just comment an emoji or a "good job" your feedback means a lot to our writers. Also share! Spread the disability pride month joy, and we'll see you all next year for Drarry Disability Fest 2024!

Warmly,

- Your Drarry Disability Fest 2023 mods: Ceylon (@quackquackcey), Kel (@slytherinthelibrary), Rowan (@basicallyahedgehog)

#drarry disability fest #drarry disability fest 2023 #drarry fest #disability representation #drarry #fest update #disability #chronic illness #fanfic fest #autism #mental illness #ptsd #chronic pain #chronically ill character #ao3 fest #fest announcement #disability pride month #see you next year

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zachstaph · 1 year

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FAMILIAR 🌸 ch13

#zachstaph #familiar update #ocs #webtoons #webtoon #web comics #web comic #web series #lgbt comic #canon trans character #trans guy #ftm character #ftm #trans character #lgbt representation #lgbt

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musings-on-aching-flowers · 2 years

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Sumeru: a first impression, and my honest opinion

Growing up, I’ve always struggled to find representation.

I’m a second-generation Indian diaspora, born to Australian parents, raised on Western media and Bollywood. I am dark-skinned, dark-haired, dark-eyed - the kind of Indian you don’t see in North Indian media, because fair is the beauty standard. I didn’t really have anything else to turn to, though, and I grew up despising how dark I was, to the point where I avoided the sun in the summertime in attempt to preserve my marginally fairer winter complexion.

For a long time also, to many of my peers growing up, I was the first impression they had of Indians, and I felt in this way, everything I did had to be perfect. Even still, I feel like anything representing India as a country and culture must be perfect, because, intentionally or not, whatever image of a place someone is first exposed to, that becomes the impression people have of the country and people as a whole, and it’s immensely difficult to change that.

So representation ultimately terrifies me. So much Western media has gotten it wrong. We were always painted as the caricature nerd-type character in Western media - I love Phineas and Ferb but look at Baljeet, or Raj from Big Bang Theory. And that was if Indians were lucky enough to be included: more often they were not, which, as a kid, is hard - you can’t really see yourself reflected in many characters on screen - someone who shares the same traits as you.

Now, what relevance does this have to Genshin Impact? A lot, actually.

You see, Sumeru is an interesting case. I recognise the exploration music as Indian - strains of the Sitar and flute, melodies and scales characteristic of Indian music that I grew up listening to, singing and playing. Don’t get me wrong, Indian music is not a monolith by any means, there’s huge variety wherever you turn, but I recognise it. The combat music, too. Honestly, whenever they break out the Sitar it’s heartwrenchingly familiar to me.

I also recognise the region names. They’re Sanskriti, like Gandharva Ville, Chinvat Ravine, Gandha Hill. The chapter title for this part of the Archon Quest is ‘Pages of Purana’. Even the names of the various jades you use to level up characters are derived from Sanskrit - but this is also due to Sanskriti words spanning the Dharmic religions i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and so on. Personally, I am Hindu, so of course Buddhist stuff is immediately recognisable and familiar to me as well, considering that Buddhism originated as an offshoot of Hinduism, and also began in India before it was spread down the Silk Road to take root in East Asia.

The problem is, I don’t recognise the names. I don’t recognise the clothes. I don’t recognise the skin colour of the NPC character models.

Now, you could make the argument that India is a very large place, and the names are very diverse. And they are, to an extent. But I know my culture, I know the kinds of names we have. I don’t recognise it. These names and clothing and whatever else are more Middle-Eastern. And therein lies the problem. To lump together various different regions and cultures and treat it as a monolith, isn’t that in itself breaking from the established tradition? Why couldn’t Sumeru have been dedicated to one region, whether that be India or the Middle East?

And before anyone decries me for being overly sensitive or unfair, I will ask this. Why is it that Inazuma, Liyue and Mondstadt get utmost respect in the handling of their respective regions and cultures? Each region is based on one country - that in itself is immediately recognisable. The names of the characters are appropriate and, again, immediately recognisable. And don’t come at me with nonsense like arguing Enkanomiya isn’t based on anywhere, that’s wilfully obtuse and you know it.

Another thing - the complexions characteristic of both the Middle East and India are dark. Dark, as in the last shades on the cosmetic line dark, as in hair almost-black dark, as in pupils only discernable in the sunlight dark. I want to see that reflected in the kinds of characters that populate Sumeru. The little girl in me that applied ‘Fair and Lovely’ masks in the hopes that she would become fairer is hurting for that kind of representation. I want to see people that look like me populate a region with music and names familiar to me. That, to me, would be the most healing of all.

Genshin Impact is enormous. It is probably the biggest game today. This kind of representation is going to have an enormous impact on how people perceive India and Indian culture, along with Middle Eastern culture, whether they may realise it or not. I desperately want my experience of Sumeru to be positive, but I am absolutely terrified of what I might find. I have been hurt by poor representation enough times before. I'm terrified of playing and being proven right again, and that saddens me, because I love this game.

Ultimately, what I want is for people to see India and Indian culture in its full beauty, and appreciate it the way I appreciate it. If you have time now, why not go watch a Bharatanatyam dancer or Sitar player perform, or visit a nearby temple or mosque and pay your respects, or participate in your local Diwali festival, since it’s coming up soon? After all, Indian culture isn’t just butter chicken, naan and stolen diamonds housed in the British Museum.

That was my first impression of Sumeru, as an Indian. I hope I’m proven wrong.

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lulughoul · 1 year

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I saw someone talking about this post on Twitter and I had to check it myself because I couldn't believe such bullcrap could be real- what the fuck is this person on 💀

#Ngl saying that Clankie “applies to the male gaze” makes YOU sound like a creep #These two are literal teenagers from a perfectly healthy and wholesome kids' show. What is your problem #Also “representation is always good” while misgendering Frankie and dismissing all sapphic couples in media ever sure is a statement #And since when are Frankie and Cleo side characters?? 🤨 Have you watched the show or are you even familiar with the franchise at all #Also they censored the word “lesbian” on tiktok. Like it's a cuss word or a slur #Monster high #Update: tagging this because this mf needs to be called out

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rosewood-mountain · 9 months

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Rosewood mountain

Chapter one

Cries of agony shatter the peace of the early fall morning. For a few hours even the crows and owls fall silent. The vast and dense forest seems to listen in as tears began to decorate the crunchy grass of the graveyard. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers all weep as a young woman, Lucy Jackson, aged 22, is lowered into her final resting place. Her headstone carved only days prior. The coffin is crafted with the wood from the mountain sides, a wreath of dried daisies and ivy sitting upon the coffin's lid.

The service comes to a close as dirt and soil is shoved into the open grave. Her portrait sits by, a smile on thin pink lips, bright green eyes glimmering with potential, thick brown curls flowing along her shoulders, glimmering in the sunlight as if it was shining amber. Her face dusted with freckles. She leaves behind her mother, father, two brothers, and six close friends. All of them clinging to one another as part of their world is covered in earth. A life snuffed out too soon.

By noon the crowds disperse, leaving only one person remaining. From the edge of the town graveyard a man emerges from where he had stood. In the relative quiet and shade of an old oak tree.

He is dressed in funeral attire. A black button up, worn and faded from use, dark slacks with a small tear on the ankle. Black dress shoes, dirty and scuffed from his time in the graveyard.

His wavy blond hair falls past hazy blue eyes, chewed and chapped lips pulled tight as he ambles forward. His calloused hands reach into his pockets to pull forth an old rosarie, its gray beads and cross glimmering in the faded sunlight.

His thumb rubs against the beads slowly as he kneels by the young woman's grave. Sniffling hard he holds back his tears and lets out a shaky sigh. His eyes read the stone over and over, hoping that somehow the name would change.

“Lucy Jackson, Born January third 1960, died 1982. A loving sister and friend.”

With a shutter, silent tears manage to slip past long eyelashes, down a soft and flushed cheek, falling to the dirt like the first drops of rain before a long storm.

“Jacob?” a voice calls, deep and rough.

The blond man's head whips up suddenly, a hand flying out to wipe the moisture from his eyes, to no avail. The dam had broken. His normally calm, almost blank face is warped with agony. Lips pulling back in a snarl as his jaw clenched shut. Brows furrowed as he gripped at his rosarie tighter. His voice is caught in his chest as a taller man trudges over.

The man wears an old brown leather coat over a black tee shirt, faded blue jeans covering his legs, a tear across one knee. A pair of brown boots cutting through the grass as he draws closer. He has a sharp and angular face. his chin and neck covered in a five o clock shadow. A large hand reaches up to awkwardly scratch at the stubble. Thick brows drawn close as he joins the other at the grave.

Lowering himself down into a squat beside the blond man he takes a moment to glance at the headstone, reading it once over before sighing low. A tanned hand coming up to remove his brown leather Stetson hat. Holding it in a loose grip. Chestnut colored hair flutters about his face in the autumn breeze.

“I dropped by your house, figured you would be here.” The man says, his voice hushed, only slightly louder than the breeze. His deep brown eyes locked with Jacobs, their intensity forcing the weeping man to avert his gaze to the ground. He tries to muster his voice back, sniffling loudly as he tries once again to calm himself. His face twisting as he forces a neutral expression. Despite this the tears continue to fall.

“We saw each other a few days ago Laz…she got a scholarship, god she was so happy. She talked for an hour after the letter arrived. How she would get to move out of Rosewood. We could move out of Rosewood… she was going to become a lawyer.” Jacob whispers. Hands trembling slightly as he shakes his head.

“Please tell me you have a suspect.”

Laz pauses, chewing on his cheek before he speaks. A hand comes to rest on Jacobs shoulder.

“We do have suspects. Laura at the Gas Station mentioned seeing her get into a red Austin allegro…based on that , I got a warrant for a room at the Loger motel. I have my fingers crossed it's a quick case.”

Jacob nods before turning his body to face the detectives.

“Whoever did this…I would pay to see them hang. They don't deserve the air they breathe”

“I can do my best in accordance with the law. “

Laz says, holding the smaller man's shoulder in a comforting grip. His eyes filled with silent sympathy.

“You saw her on my table. She was in agony "Jacob says before he wraps his arms around himself. Trembling as visions of Lucy's body on his embalming table filled his mind.

The rope marks around her blackened wrists. All of her fingernails and toenails missing, having been torn off. Throat cut so deep that she was nearly decapitated, blood all over ripped and muddy clothes. Her once hopeful and soft eyes warped with fear.

Laz shivers at the thought, his own stomach churning at the visual once again.

He couldn't help but feel lost. He never had seen Jacob cry at a funeral, never had to step away from an autopsy for a breather, and certainly never saw him vengeful, with hate and violence swimming in tear full eyes. The normally stoic mortician crumbling on the grass.

“I know…he will get what's coming to him. I swear it to you. As a friend.” he promises, dropping to sit down at the man’s side then yanking him against his chest. Strong arms wrapping around Jacobs body. After a moment the mortician's shaky hands come up to coil around his waist. Holding on as if he was going to fall into the open mouth of hell.

“Please” Jacob whispers as he rests his forehead against the shoulder of Lazs jacket. His sobs fell silent as the mountains began to awaken, the sound of birds calling and trees shifting in the breeze, leaves tumbling to the earth.

“When was the last time you slept?” Laz asks as he gets a better look at his friend's face, noting the dark circles and redness in his eyes.

Jacob shakes his head and looks away.

“ I think you can guess,” he whispers, his expression falling completely blank. As if a switch had been turned off, or he had run out of energy to cry.

“Come on, I'll walk you home… you need time to lay down." Laz slowly clambers to his feet, pulling Jacob up with him.

There was little resistance from the blond man as he was led away from the graveyard, stumbling as the exhaustion began to creep up on him. Eyes heavy as he ached for the warm embrace of his sofa.

Laz keeps a hand on him, leading the young man like he was a zombie, eventually reaching the Connors funeral home. Built in 1903 by Jacobs grandparents, it served as both the only mortuary in Rosewood, and the Connors family house.

The old blue siding faded from wind and rain. The black shutters in need of some minor repairs and a fresh coat of paint. The old wooden front steps creaking loudly as the pair ascend them.

After a moment Jacob reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a rusted house key, inserting it into the brass lock, turning it with a loud clunk. The Black door whines as it swings open into the mudroom.

Laz relinquishes his hold on his friend as they step inside, toeing off his boots as Jacob did the same. Leaving their shoes at the door the pair enters a spacious living room. The gray walls adorned with different crosses and pictures of saints. An ornate mirror sits over a large brick fireplace, full of the ashes of last night's fire. In the center of the room is an old couch, its once bright red color faded by time and use. A white knit blanket is draped over one arm and an old pillow, likely dragged downstairs by Jacob, sits crumbled at the other end.

A small table sits in front of the sofa. A frayed bible lay open on the surface. Laz sighs as he notes the familiar surroundings, before turning to Jacob.

“Why don't you go get changed into something comfy and take a nap. I'll draw the curtains” he says, attempting to shoo the man into his room. After a long pause Jacob seems to register the taller man's words. Turning slowly he stumbles towards the set of stairs at the far end of the room. Holding onto the old banister he makes his way to the master bedroom.

Meanwhile Laz walks to the large living room window, taking a moment to stare out. The home has a great view of all of Rosewood. He can see the church Jacob attends each Sunday, despite the difference in faith. He can see his highschool, the police department. All of the small businesses and restaurants that line the main street.

With a sigh he grabs hold of the black curtains and yanks them shut, some light still managing to shine through, but it seemed to dim as clouds rolled into the valley.

Turning around, Laz watches as Jacob trudges back downstairs, no longer in his mourning clothes and instead dressed in a pair of black shorts and a tee shirt. His hair askew from running his hands through it.

The detective sighs and nods offering a soft smile as the man gravitates towards the sofa. Wordlessly flopping back into the cushions with a loud huff. The couch groans under the sudden weight. Laz leans against the back as he watches the mortician shove his face into the pillow and wrestle with the old quilt, eventually pulling it over himself.

“Get some sleep, if you need anything, call the station and if i'm not there then call my house.” Laz instructs watching his friend fight sleep.

“I will…you going to check that warrant tonight?”

“Yep, and I will call you if I get him.. You will know before the papers ” he smirks and pulls at the brim of his hat, earning himself a smile from Jacob's lips.

As he walks to the door to slide his boots back on, he turns. The mortician calls out, his voice drawing slowly.

“Don't do anything stupid Laz…i'll kill ya”

The detective smiles and shakes his head. Turning the door handle as he steps out, calling back before the door latches behind him.

“I know”

#character development #novel update #web series #murder mystery #mystery #body horror #lgbt representation #horror #supernatural #cryptid #chapter 1

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