From the Periphery: Real-Life Stories of Disability

Real-life stories of disability, discrimination, and the fight for equality.

From the Periphery presents raw, painful, yet surprisingly funny and deeply inspiring first-person narratives of over thirty everyday people treated differently due to their disabilities. These oral histories reveal anger, independence, bigotry, solidarity, and love within family, school, and the workplace.

Inspired by Studs Terkel and Svetlana Alexievich, this collection increases understanding of the lived experiences of people with disabilities. Discover how individuals navigate societal barriers, find strength in community, and challenge ableism. This is a must-read for anyone seeking to foster empathy and promote social justice.

Pia Justesen, PhD, is a Danish human rights lawyer, professor, and writer who moved to the United States in 2014. In Chicago she has taught disability rights at the University of Illinois and worked with the independent living organization Access Living. She has an extensive list of publications on human rights and discrimination issues. Her work focuses specifically on the human rights of racial minorities and persons with disabilities. In Denmark she also worked as a corporate social responsibility advisor and a labor union lawyer. Pia has three children and lives with her husband. She currently splits her time between Chicago and Copenhagen. For more information: http://www.piajustesen.com and https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromtheperiphery

Tom Harkin served as US Senator from Iowa from 1985 to 2015. He coauthored the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and was its chief sponsor in the Senate.