We've Got This
essays by disabled parents
Published on 9. February 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-914484-66-7 (ISBN)
Description
The first major anthology by parents with disabilities.
'Being a disabled parent is a rebellious act. Disabled people should have the same right to parent as anyone else, but often when we decide to start a family we are met with judgement and discrimination. We are questioned rather than supported. We have to push up against the medical system. And we have to confront society's model of parenting. Yet, despite all this, we still choose to parent. And we are damn good at it too!'
When writer and musician Eliza Hull was pregnant with her first child, like most like most parents-to-be she felt a mix of nerves and excitement. But as a disabled person, she faced added complexities. She wondered: Will the pregnancy be too hard? Will people judge me? Will I cope with the demands of parenting?
In We've Got This, thirty parents who identify as Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, or chronically ill discuss the highs and lows of their parenting journeys and show that the greatest obstacles lie in other people's attitudes. The result is a moving, revelatory, and empowering anthology that celebrates the richness of disabled parenting in the twenty-first century.
'Such an important book. Joyous, eye-opening, and deeply moving, these powerful stories will challenge long-held assumptions and hopefully shift societal attitudes towards disabled parents. Everyone should read this.'
Francesca Martinez, author of What the **** Is Normal?!
'Being a disabled parent is a rebellious act. Disabled people should have the same right to parent as anyone else, but often when we decide to start a family we are met with judgement and discrimination. We are questioned rather than supported. We have to push up against the medical system. And we have to confront society's model of parenting. Yet, despite all this, we still choose to parent. And we are damn good at it too!'
When writer and musician Eliza Hull was pregnant with her first child, like most like most parents-to-be she felt a mix of nerves and excitement. But as a disabled person, she faced added complexities. She wondered: Will the pregnancy be too hard? Will people judge me? Will I cope with the demands of parenting?
In We've Got This, thirty parents who identify as Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, or chronically ill discuss the highs and lows of their parenting journeys and show that the greatest obstacles lie in other people's attitudes. The result is a moving, revelatory, and empowering anthology that celebrates the richness of disabled parenting in the twenty-first century.
'Such an important book. Joyous, eye-opening, and deeply moving, these powerful stories will challenge long-held assumptions and hopefully shift societal attitudes towards disabled parents. Everyone should read this.'
Francesca Martinez, author of What the **** Is Normal?!
Reviews / Votes
'Moving ... the essays are at their richest when the authors describe what ought to be mundane (for example, discussing how to adjust the height of a kitchen counter for a wheelchair) or when they are brutally honest.' -- James Coney, <i>The Sunday Times</i> 'A brilliant, positive, and empowering read full of inspirational stories ... really eye-opening.' -- Anita Rani, <i>Woman's Hour</i> on BBC Radio 4 'A luminous collection filled with stories of resistance, innovation, joy, and love, We've Got This shows that the biggest challenge disabled parents face is not their disability, but how ableist society is. I'm so glad this book exists!' -- Eloise Rickman, author of <em>Extraordinary Parenting</em> 'We've Got This shows what's possible - that disabled people make brilliant parents. Eliza Hull is a skilful curator. This book should be mandatory reading for healthcare professionals, educators, and everyone wanting to be a better disability ally.' -- Carly Findlay OAM, writer, speaker and appearance activist 'We've Got This sparkles with insight that will make sense to every parent trying to figure out a way to live with whatever curveball the universe has thrown their way. Surprise is a constant. There is no such thing as normal. And it's not a sin to admit that you don't always know what you are doing. The stories of disabled parents in this book prove that love and ingenuity are a powerful combination.' -- Al Etmanski, author of <em>The Power of Disability</em> 'Eliza is a legend - and a great advocate for our community. This book will help a lot of people!' -- Dylan Alcott, Paralympian 'We've Got This is the book I needed many years ago when I was considering whether to have children. Now, as I embark on motherhood, these stories from these incredible parents will teach me so much.' -- Nas Campanella, journalist 'Such an important book. Joyous, eye-opening, and deeply moving, these powerful stories will challenge long-held assumptions and hopefully shift societal attitudes towards disabled parents. Everyone should read this.' -- Francesca Martinez, author of <em>What the **** Is Normal?!</em> 'All parenting is a leap of faith: with a disability it's a powerful affirmation of life - as the stories in We've Got This demonstrate.' -- Virginia Trioli, journalist and radio/TV presenter 'We've Got This challenges the narrow stereotype of what disability looks like. It shows that disabled people are parents too - and bloody good ones at that! Thank you, Eliza, for disrupting the discourse.' -- Lisa Cox, media professional and disability advocate 'Full of deep, beautiful, important stories. I've learnt so much from this book.' -- Clare Bowditch, musician, actress, and radio presenter 'Eye-opening and heartwarming, We've Got This will make you laugh, cry, and rethink disability entirely. A must-read.' -- Holly Ransom, public speaker and author of <i>The Leading Edge</i> 'This is the book I needed on my pregnancy journey. It's a source of affirmation and representation that disabled parents deserve.' -- Alexis Hillyard, disability advocate, keynote speaker, and creator of Stump Kitchen 'An important and necessary read.' * The Bookseller * 'Something I admire about Hull is that ... She wants to do the best for the disability community as a whole.' * The Saturday Paper * 'Everyone should find something empowering in this first major anthology by parents with disabilities. They show what's achievable: disabled people make exceptional parents.' * PS News * 'Parenthood can tangle with grief and loss. Disability can include joy and abundance. And goddammit - disabled parents exist.' -- Rebekah Taussig 'We've Got This attests to the capacities of disabled parents and to the joys of parenting in an authentic way.' * ArtsHub * 'Eliza Hull begins the book by stating that "being a disabled parent is a rebellious act". What follows are riveting essays that explain why, all brimming with creativity and pluck.' -- Louise Kinross, Editor of <em>BLOOM</em> and Special Projects Manager at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Canada 'There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding disabled parents. One of ableism's greatest myths questions our capacity to bring a child into our lives. For this reason there is so much joy in reading this book. Reading so many wonderful essays addressing how parenting plays out for other disabled parents opens doors to my own joy parenting. So open the book already!' -- Neil Hughes, Paralympic snowboarder and disability advocate 'Being a disabled parent is a "rebellious act", which is why We've Got This is so important. Although disabled parents exist in substantial numbers, they remain in the shadows. This groundbreaking anthology confronts this phenomenon by telling the stories of parents with disabilities and their families - in their voices. We've Got This is a must-read!' -- Robyn M. Powell, disability advocate and Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law 'As the mother of a daughter with a disability I am grateful for Eliza Hull's We've Got This: essays by disabled parents. There is a lot I can give to my daughter, but perspective on what it's like to be a disabled parent is not one of those things. Of course, these stories aren't just for her: they're for everyone! The world needs to become more deeply acquainted with the breadth and depth of humanity found within the stories and experiences of disabled individuals, including disabled parenthood. This book is a revelation and full of beauty, humour, and grace. It's hard to be what you can't see - thank you to Eliza and all the parents in this book sharing their stories to help my daughter, and others, see ever more possibility.' -- Amy Webb, disability advocate and author of <em>When Charley Met Emma</em> and <em>Awesomely Emma</em> 'The rawness, vulnerability, and authenticity in these stories is refreshing! Too often in the disability community we don't feel reflected accurately in TV, news, and the media, and these stories shine a light on that. The need to be heard and respected is something we can all relate to, disabled or not, and these messages are exactly what we need to hear more of.' -- Marco Pasqua, public speaker and accessibility consultant 'The collection includes authors from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences ... it also includes essays and interviews from parents with intellectual disabilities, a frequently missing discourse in disability spaces ... As a disabled parent, this was such an affirming and moving read for me, though I think all parents will benefit from reading it.' -- Margaret Kingsbury * Book Riot * '[M]uch-needed ... [W]onderfully intersectional ... Eliza Hull has done a fantastic job of curating this book. The essays themselves are brilliant, written from the heart and are very informative ... The wealth of experiences, knowledge and sense of community that We've Got This offers is invaluable ... [A] necessary read.' -- Heather T. * Just Geeking By * 'Beautiful.' * PosAbility Magazine *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 193 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
260 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-914484-66-7 (9781914484667)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2023
Scribe Publications Pty Ltd
€23.49
Available for download
Person
Eliza Hull is a musical artist, writer, journalist, and disability advocate based in Victoria, Australia. Her podcast series on parenting with a disability, We've Got This, was one of Radio National's and ABC Life's most successful series of all time.