Get Ready! Get Set! Read! "All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything"

By Rebecca Parten 

Did you know that July 26, 2025 will mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act? This piece of legislation was made possible because of the advocacy work of many individuals with disabilities and their allies. A pivotal moment during this time was something called the Capital Crawl. This is where people with disabilities literally crawled up the steps of the United States to showcase the inaccessibility. But, not all of these activists were adults! 

     Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins was 8 years old when she climbed to the top of those steps. Her story is beautifully written and illustrated in All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel. This picture book explores a variety of everyday situations from Jennifer’s perspective as a child with Cerebral Palsy and wheelchair user. Crossing the street, entering her local elementary school, and making friends with the other children were all difficult. There were no curb cuts, ramps, and it wasn’t common for children with disabilities to be in a “traditional” classroom. The story goes on to describe how Jennifer and her family became involved in advocacy all over the country; including the famed Capital Crawl.

      I really liked this book because it highlights the history and importance of disability advocacy. It also empowers young people by showing that they too can make a difference.

For more information about the history of the Americans with Disabilities Act, go to https://adaanniversary.org

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything

https://www.amazon.com/All-Way-Top-Disabilities-Everything/dp/1492688975

August 2025 

The Chance to Fly series by Ali Stroker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKXBK2XM?binding=audio_download&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_taud