The Anti-Ableist Manifesto - by Tiffany Yu (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The 'Anti-Ableist Manifesto' defines ableism as discrimination in favor of non-disabled people and helps readers understand that ending discrimination begins with self-reflection. Tiffany Yu celebrates the power of stories and lived experiences to foster the proximity, intimacy, and humanity of disability identities that have far too often been 'othered' and rendered invisible. ... Organized from the personal to the professional, the domestic to the political, the Me to the We to the Us, [this book] frames context for conversations, breaks down the language of ableism, identifies microaggressions, and proposes real actions that lead to genuine and authentic allyship"--

Book Synopsis

Tiffany Yu takes readers on a revelatory examination of disability--how to unpack biases and build an inclusive and accessible world.

As the Asian American daughter of immigrants, living with PTSD, and sustaining a permanent arm injury at age nine, Tiffany Yu is well aware of the intersections of identity that affect us all. She navigated the male-dominated world of corporate finance as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before founding Diversability, an award-winning community business run by disabled people building disability pride, power, and leadership, and creating the viral Anti-Ableism series on TikTok.

Organized from personal to professional, domestic to political, Me to We to Us, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto frames context for conversations, breaks down the language of ableism, identifies microaggressions, and offers actions that lead to authentic allyship.

- How do we remove ableist language from our daily vocabulary?
- How do we create inclusive events?
- What are the advantages of hiring disabled employees, and what market opportunities are we missing out on when we don't consider disabled consumers?

With contributions from disability advocates, activists, authors, entrepreneurs, scholars, educators, and executives, Yu celebrates the power of stories and lived experiences to foster the proximity, intimacy, and humanity of disability identities that have far too often been "othered" and rendered invisible.

Review Quotes

"Tiffany Yu's The Anti-Ableist Manifesto is a powerful journey, merging personal narratives with collective insights to confront and dismantle ableism. As someone deeply immersed in the study of prejudice, including the often-overlooked discrimination faced by people with disabilities, I find that Yu delivers a timely and indispensable guide."

--Amy Cuddy, New York Times Bestselling Author of Presence

"Whether we know it yet or not, this is the book we have all been waiting for. In the ongoing fight for equity, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto is the weapon we have been calling for to both empower our own community and inspire new allyship. We must either commit her words to memory or keep a copy on us at all times, to save us the hassle and undue burden of having to educate others about the impact of ableism, Tiffany has done the work for us. I defy anyone who reads this powerful and urgently needed manifesto not to be galvanized into action."

--Sophie Morgan, writer of Driving Forwards, Columnist, Co-Founder of Making Space & Making Space Media

"Wow--I wish this book had existed when I became disabled....It would have made my journey as a disabled person, as well as my family and my family, much smoother."
--Meg Fozzard, Journalist and Producer, including of the VR experience "Cripping Up"

"Yu offers an impressive barrage of simple strategies, proactive tools, and action items to aid readers in becoming better allies to people with both apparent and nonapparent disabilities, and she includes 'reflection questions' at the conclusion of each chapter. Perhaps the most useful and effective section in the book details how readers can make active, consistent contributions to demarginalizing disabled populations through awareness and civic and social engagement. In this universal appeal for societal change, Yu convincingly bridges the gap between those already sensitive to the disabled and those with lessons yet to learn. A practical, educative guide to empowering and respectfully approaching people with disabilities."

--Kirkus Review

"The Anti-Ableist Manifesto is a guide for everyone. Tiffany Yu has a way of mapping out ableism and bias that is digestible and eye-opening. This book will help the disabled community create extraordinary progress!"--Ali Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress and coauthor of The Chance to Fly

"Tiffany Yu has created an essential field guide to help people learn about ableism, how to navigate the ways it permeates everyday life, and what to do about it. The Anti-Ableist Manifesto will help those unfamiliar with ableism and those outraged by it learn how to combat it. The Anti-Ableist Manifesto will be required reading for decades to come."--Eric Garcia, author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation

"An insightful guide....Interweaving her own disability experience into the account--a car accident at age nine paralyzed the author's arm and led to a PTSD diagnosis many years later--Yu overviews many different aspects of ableism....While Yu carefully untangles the ways in which ableism insidiously shapes everything from language and the economy to TV, her most valuable contributions are concrete tips for approaching others' disabilities with awareness and sensitivity, including scripts for asking people if their access needs are being met without demanding they explain their limitations. Readers will find this to be a sensitive and helpful resource."--Publishers Weekly

"The Anti-Ableist Manifesto is a vital resource that will shape how we understand and confront ableism. This book is essential reading for anyone committed to equity, inclusion, and meaningful allyship. I'll be using it as a reference for years to come."--Liz Plank, international bestselling author of For the Love of Men

"For the first time, we have a comprehensive guide outlining the steps to transform a world entrenched in ableism. Tiffany Yu has given us that gift."--Sasha Hamdani, MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist and author of Self-Care for People with ADHD

"Tiffany Yu guides readers through a cross-disability exploration of ableism in a warm, easy-to-read style. Her book is a precious gift for new allies and experienced advocates alike."
--Haben Girma, bestselling author of Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law

"Tiffany Yu just made my life a lot easier with this thorough, yet approachable, guide to disability and ableism. From now on, when someone asks me how to become a better disability ally, I'm simply going to hand them this book. Our world has needed a book like this for a long time."--Shane Burcaw, author of Laughing at My Nightmare

"Tiffany Yu's The Anti-Ableist Manifesto is brilliantly written and very well researched! It provides a much-needed framework for any discussion of Ableism and methods for defeating this deeply harmful practice of supremacism. Credibility comes from Yu's lived experience with disability and her powerful way of expressing its harm and how to stop it."--John D. Kemp, cofounder of the American Association of People with Disabilities, author of Disability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive

"It can be difficult to know how to respond to ableism when one encounters it in the wild, but Tiffany Yu's The Anti-Ableist Manifesto offers a timely, practical, and generous field guide. It's a clear, comprehensive, and accessible instruction manual for anyone who cares about disability (and, even more crucially, for those who don't)."--Andrew Leland, author of Pulitzer Prize-finalist The Country of the Blind

"Tiffany Yu's approach to dismantling ableist structures and advocating for comprehensive accessibility in both personal and professional spaces is a crucial addition to our collective efforts. The Anti-Ableist Manifesto does more than just challenge the status quo; it offers a blueprint for genuine allyship. Yu's work is a clarion call to broaden our understanding and embrace the full potential of all individuals. This book is a must-read for anyone committed to building more equitable workplaces and a more just world. Yu has not only provided us with the context and vocabulary to confront ableism but also the inspiration to forge a path forward together. The Anti-Ableist Manifesto will serve as a seminal guide for generations to come, propelling us towards a disability-inclusive future."--Jennifer Brown, bestselling author of How to Be an Inclusive Leader and host of the "Will to Change" podcast

"Tiffany Yu has been a wonderful resource for me over the years and for so many who are looking to understand and end ableism in order to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable world. This book is a must-read!"--Amy Purdy, New York Times bestselling author of On My Own Two Feet and 3x Paralympic Medalist

About the Author

Tiffany Yu is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur, disability advocate, and content creator. She is the founder and CEO of Diversability, a social enterprise to elevate disability pride and build disability power. Having started her career at Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, and REVOLT, Yu is now an in-demand corporate speaker, creating an approachable bridge in corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion spaces. Yu is the cofounder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, serves on the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Working Group, and was a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit. Her TED Talk, How to Help Employees with Disabilities Thrive, has over one million views. Her work and story have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Insider, Marie Claire, Forbes, USA Today, The Guardian and more. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Connect with her across social media at @imtiffanyyu.