When you think of disabilities, what comes to mind? Beyond the more visible disabilities such as a wheelchair or physical limitation, did you know there are a number of invisible disabilities? Diabetes, dyslexia, food allergies, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, mental disorders—the list goes on. In fact, 1 in 4 Americans have a disability of some kind.

Disability Pride Month started as a day of celebration in 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. The purpose of the month is to celebrate individuals with disabilities. Here are five ways Grand Forks Public_ intentionally includes people of all abilities.

1. We offer books that reflect all kinds of stories. Everyone’s story belongs on the shelf, and that includes disabled authors. Writing from a place of lived experience adds depth and understanding to the story. Here is a list of options for all ages from New York Public Library.

2. Prefer dyslexic font? You can change it on Libby. Libby, the library reading app, supports inclusivity by providing Dyslexic font, which swaps and turns letters to improve readability. To use this feature, simply open a book in the app, tap the center of the screen, tap the large A at the top of the screen, and under Book Design tap OpenDyslexic.

3. We designed spaces that are accessible for all. During the recent Children’s Department remodel, we added spaces that are wheelchair-accessible and can be enjoyed by patrons of all abilities. Whether wheeling through the wave wall tunnel or exploring the first floor of Myra’s Treehouse, everyone can experience the wonder of the playground for curious minds.

4. We offer a magnifier and/or large print collection. Vision impairments can definitely get in the way when you’re trying to read. That’s why we offer a vast collection of large print books to make reading easier for all. Beyond large print materials, we also have a print magnifier machine available at the library. Whether you’re reading the newspaper and want to have a closer look, or bringing in an instruction manual from home, you can use this machine to enlarge the font and make life a little easier.

5. Audiobooks. Even with magnifiers and special fonts, vision issues or dyslexia can make reading words on the page less enjoyable. So, why not try audiobooks instead? The library has audiobooks on disc and digital downloads through the Libby app.

Not every disability is obvious. Disability can affect any age, gender, or race. With 25% of Americans affected by a visible or invisible disability, we don’t need to think of disability as a “bad word.” It’s a common form of human variation, like hair color or eye color. Disability can be a source of community and pride.

Maybe you’re one of the 75% of people without a disability? According to the CDC, here’s what you can do to help others and become a disability ALLY in your community:

• A – Acknowledge and respect individual experiences and abilities.
• L – Learn about different disability types.
• L – Leverage your influence to promote accessibility and inclusion.
• Y – Yield the floor to people with disabilities to help identify and eliminate barriers.

After all, inclusion is within everyone’s ability.