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Unlearning Ableism

The Ultimate, No-Nonsense Guide to Understanding Disability and Unlearning Ableism by Celia Chartres-Aris & Jamie Shields.

Book cover for Unlearning Ableism, a black background with bright circles filled with disabled icons by Celia and Jamie.
Image Description: Book cover for Unlearning Ableism, a black background with bright circles filled with disabled icons by Celia and Jamie.

Unlearning Ableism isn’t a lecture, it’s a toolkit.

Across 15 chapters, each one tackles a different barrier, exposing the systems that disable us and offering practical ways forward. You can dip in on the go, or read cover to cover, and every section is built to support you in dismantling ableism wherever you meet it. This is clarity you can carry, evidence you can act on, and unapologetic Disabled‑led guidance that refuses to compromise.

Chapters include:

The Diversity of Disability

Defining
Ableism

Internalised Ableism

Intersectionality

History of Disability

Disabled by Society

Language

Legislation, Rights, and Policy

Accessibility

Representation

Education

Recruitment and Workplaces

 Health and Social Care

Entrepreneurs and Economics

Allyship Is More than a Word…

A Graphic For Each Chapter Of Our Book

Download Zip File

Forward by Keely Cat-Wells

Founder & CEO, Making Space | Presidential Leadership Scholar | 2025 L’Oréal Woman of Worth | Obama USA Leader

Keely with long wavy blonde hair, wearing a sleeveless dark pinstriped top and a neutral expression.
Connect with Keely-Cat Wells

Our Contributors

No one person can speak for the entire Disability community, which is why we enlisted help from our incredible contributors.

Kirstie
Stage

Trustee,
Deaf Unity

Kirstie smiling outdoors in a vibrant floral dress.

ID: Kirstie smiling outdoors in a vibrant floral blue and pink dress.

Rachael
Mole

Founder, Speaker, Churchill Fellow

Rachael looking left against a muted purple background, wearing a black top and hoop earrings.

ID: Rachael looking left, wearing a black top and hoop earrings.

Jenny
Victory

Head of Disability, Government of Gibraltar

Jenny standing against a muted purple background, wearing a light blazer and name tag.

ID: Jenny standing, wearing a light blazer with a light top and a name badge.

Victoria
Jenkins

Adaptive Fashion Expert, Founder & CEO

ID: Victoria facing forward, wearing a royal blue blouse with a bow neck.

Terri Louise-Brown

CEO/Founder, Talks With M.S. & The Empowerment Award

Terri Louise smiling against a muted purple background, wearing a sleeveless grey top and stud earring.

ID: Terri Louise smiling, wearing a sleeveless grey top and stud earring.

Dr. Amo Raju OBE

Multi‑Award‑Winning Disability Charity Specialist & Influencer

Dr Amo Raju in black and white portrait, framed by a pink circle, set against a muted purple background.

ID: Dr Amo Raju in black and white portrait staring down the camera.

Alex
Winstanley

Social Entrepreneur & Author, Managing Director, Happy Smiles

Alex wearing a dark grey collared shirt with embroidered logos, including “Inclusion Champion” and “Happy Smiles Together.

ID: Alex wearing a dark grey collared shirt with embroidered logos.

James
Lee

Director, Publica,
Disability Six Wheels & Many Hats

James Lee seated in a motorised wheelchair against a grey background, wearing a dark blazer and checkered scarf.

ID: James seated in a motorised wheelchair, wearing a dark blazer.

Montreece
Payton-Hardy

Entrepreneur, Founder of MPH & Co. LLC

Montreece looking forward with a slight smile, wearing a royal blue blouse and gold pendant.

ID: Montreece looking forward with a slight smile, wearing a royal blue blouse.

Ben
VanHook

Autistic Master’s Student, Public Policy

Ben wearing a light blazer over a blue and white checkered shirt, seated against a grey background.

ID: Ben wearing a light blazer over a blue and white checkered shirt.

Dr Samantha
Hiew

Founder, ADHD Girls, Speaker & Author

Dr Samantha Hiew smiling against a grey background, wearing a black outfit. UK-based neurodiversity advocate, speaker, and founder of ADHD Girls.

ID: Dr Samantha Hiew smiling, wearing a black outfit with long dark hair.

Robbie
Crow

Strategic Workforce Disability Lead, BBC

Robbie smiling slightly against a grey background, wearing a maroon sweater over a white shirt.

ID: Robbie smiling, wearing a maroon sweater over a white shirt.

Avril
Coelho

CEO,
AvrilCoelhoCreations

Avril smiling slightly against a purple background, wearing a black turtleneck and pink jacket.

ID: Avril smiling slightly, wearing a black turtleneck and pink jacket.

Amit
Ghose

International Keynote Speaker & Author

Person standing against a grey background, wearing a brown plaid blazer over a black shirt, with one hand placed on their chest

ID: Amit standing, wearing a brown plaid blazer over a black shirt.

Chris
Ruden

Amputee Keynote
Speaker & Author

Chris smiling and gesturing with a prosthetic arm, wearing a white t-shirt and showing tattoos on his natural arm.

ID: Chris smiling and gesturing with his arms one prosthetic.

Meryl
Evans

TEDx, Keynote & International Speaker

Meryl smiling against a muted purple background, wearing a white and black textured top with red lipstick.

ID: Meryl smiling, wearing a white and black textured top with red lipstick.

Amy Francis-Smith

Senior Architect & Accessible Design

Amy smiling with arms crossed against a grey background, wearing a dark green blouse with a V-neck and collar.

ID: Amy smiling with arms crossed, wearing a dark green blouse.

Jane
Hatton

Founder & CEO,
Evenbreak

Jane Hatton smiling against a muted purple background, wearing a white top and silver necklace.

ID: Jane Hatton smiling, wearing a white top and silver necklace.

Julie
Harris

Author
Boldly Belonging

Julie smiling against a grey background, wearing a dark off-the-shoulder top.

ID: Julie smiling, wearing a dark off-the-shoulder top with short dark hair.

David
Shiels

Global Disability & Neurodiversity ERG Lead,

David wearing a light green button-up shirt, smiling.

ID: David wearing a light green button-up shirt, smiling.

Brooke
Millhouse

Founder, Disabled & Proud Podcast

Brooke smiling, wearing a yellow long-sleeved top with decorative buttons and pleats.

ID: Brooke smiling, wearing a yellow long-sleeved top with decorative buttons and pleats.

Samar
Waqar

Yield to Lead, Brain‑Based Leadership Coach

Samar smiling, wearing a beige hijab and black outfit with patterned sleeves.

ID: Samar smiling, wearing a beige hijab and black outfit and a black top.

Tanya
Devlin

Former Carer & Jamie’s Mummy

Tanya wearing a red top, with shoulder-length curly dark hair and bangs.

ID: Tanya wearing a red top, with shoulder-length curly dark hair and bangs.

Kate
Watts

Carer – Did not want to share pic

A blank grey circle as no picture provided.

ID: A blank grey circle as no picture provided from the fabulous Kate.

Carl
Nandoo

Founder,
Amenity Care Ltd

Carl with a neatly groomed grey beard and bald head, wearing a dark textured sweater over a blue collared shirt and a small earring.

ID: Carl with a neatly groomed grey beard and bald head, wearing a dark sweater.

Heloise
Hoare

Senior Sustainability Manager

Heloise wearing a black blazer over an orange top, with brown hair tied back and a small pendant necklace.

ID: Heloise wearing a black blazer over an orange top, with brown hair tied back.

Carrie-Ann
Lightley

Writer, Speaker & Content Creator, Accessible Travel

Carrie-Ann seated in a wheelchair, smiling and wearing a purple and orange winter jacket over a black top and long grey skirt.

ID: Carrie-Ann seated in a wheelchair, smiling and wearing a winter jacket.

Catarina
Rivera

Speaker & DEIA Consultant, Blindish Latina LLC

Catarina smiling, wearing a beige jacket over a black top with a wavy beige pattern.

ID: Catarina smiling, wearing a beige jacket over a black top with a wavy beige pattern.

Tumi
Sotire

Founder, The Black Dyspraxic

Tumi smiling, wearing clear-framed glasses and a textured dark zip-up jacket.

ID: Tumi smiling, wearing clear-framed glasses and a textured dark zip-up jacket.

Dr Mark (Yomi) Esho MBE

Tech Entrepreneur, Inspirational Speaker

Dr Mark Esho smiling, wearing a dark pinstripe suit jacket over a light striped shirt.

ID: Dr Mark Esho smiling, wearing a dark pinstripe suit jacket.

Joseph
Williams

Co‑Founder & CEO,
Clu

Joseph smiling, wearing round glasses and a light purple button-up shirt with a small embroidered logo.

ID: Joseph smiling, wearing round glasses and a light purple button-up shirt.

Mary
Lavender

Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Mary smiling, wearing a light pink top and small earrings, with long light blonde hair.

ID: Mary smiling, wearing a light pink top and small earrings.

David
Johnston

AuDHD Male, Children’s Nurse

David with a full beard and bald head, wearing a black and white patterned shirt.

ID: David with a full beard and bald head, wearing a black and white patterned shirt.

Mohammad
Koheeallee

QESH Professional & Accessibility Change Agent

Mohammad smiling, wearing a black jacket over a red collared shirt.

ID: Mohammad smiling, wearing a black jacket over a red collared shirt.

Puneet
Singh Singhal

Co‑Founder, Billion Strong, Curator, Green Disability

Puneet smiling, wearing a blue textured sweater over a checkered shirt

ID: Puneet smiling, wearing a blue textured sweater over a checkered shirt

Maddy
Alexander-Grout

ADHD Money/Life/Business Coach

Maddy smiling, with long multicoloured wavy hair, wearing red and green sunglasses and a black T-shirt.

ID: Maddy smiling, wearing red and green sunglasses and a black top.

Pre‑Order Unlearning Ableism

Pre-Order Links

Audio Book Voice Actor

Available as audiobook, narrated by Ellie Wallwork — a visually impaired, LGBTQ+ actor primarily working in film and TV, based in London/Brighton. Notable roles include:

  • Hanne in Doctor Who: It Takes You Away (2018)
  • Marion in Call the Midwife (2020)
  • Lily in Here Comes Frieda (2021), featured on the Dust YouTube channel
  • Blind Druid in Britannia (2021)

Ellie is represented by VisABLE People and is a UK‑based actor, activist, and inclusion advocate

Ellie Wallwork smiling with eyes closed, wearing a light pink top and shoulder-length dark brown hair. UK-based actor, activist, and inclusion advocate.

ID: Ellie Wallwork smiling with eyes closed, wearing a light pink top and shoulder-length dark brown hair. UK-based actor, activist, and inclusion advocate.