Inspirational Books & Media

jose hernandez uribe medium

Books We Love

the choiceThe Choice: Escaping the Past and Embracing the Present by Dr. Edith Eva Eger

Scribner (a Division of Simon & Schuster)

336 pages

Curious IncidentThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

A Novel by Mark Haddon

Vintage Contemporaries

226 pages

my grandfather's blessings

My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.

Riverhead Books

400 pages

smile

Smile:

The Story of a Face

by Sarah Ruhl

Simon & Schuster

256 pages

thinking in pictures

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism

by Temple Grandin

Vintage

270 pages

when breath becomes air (2)When Breath Becomes Air

by Paul Kalanithi

Random House

228 pages

Books by Pema Chödrön

comfortable with uncertaintyComfortable With Uncertainty: 108 Teachings

by Pema Chödrön

Boston, Shambala Publications

152 pages

places that scare youThe Places That Scare You: Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times

by Pema Chödrön

Boston, Shambala Publications

144 pages

when things fall apart

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

by Pema Chödrön

Boston, Shambala Publications

176 pages

Connecting to Nature

new and selected poemsNew and Selected Poems

by Mary Oliver

Beacon Press

Winner of the 1992 National Book Award for Poetry

255 pages

sound of a wild snail eatingThe Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

Algonquin Books

208 pages

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Documentaries & Films

gabby giffords won't back downGabby Giffords’ movie is the 2022 documentary Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down. Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the film chronicles the former Arizona congresswoman’s inspiring recovery from a 2011 assassination attempt and her subsequent journey to becoming a prominent advocate for gun violence prevention.

Briarcliff Entertainment

(2022)

97 minutes

 

 

 

temple grandinTemple Grandin

The 2010 HBO biographical drama film. Temple Grandin tells the inspiring true story of a young, autistic woman who navigated intense societal stigma to become a groundbreaking scientist, author, and advocate.

HBO Films

(2010)

107 minutes

 

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still

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

An intimate look at the beloved actor’s decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. It captures his stubborn optimism, physical resilience, and the relentless determination required to manage an incurable brain disorder.

Best Documentary Film from the National Board of Review

Concordia Studio

(2023)

95 minutes

Rental

a time to danceA Time to Dance: The Life Work of Norma Canner

This intimate documentary profiles Norma Canner, a pioneer in dance movement therapy, who found in dance a way to help those discarded by society. 

Canner, N. (1998)

111 minutes

superman the christopher reeve story

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

A deeply moving documentary recounting the life of actor Christopher Reeve following his paralyzing horse-riding accident. The film highlights his intense physical journey, unwavering hope, and transformative work advocating for spinal cord injury research.

Warner Bros. Pictures

(2024)

104 minutes

Rental

when billy broke his head

When Billy Broke His Head And Other Tales of Wonder

An entertaining, irreverent road movie about disability, civil rights, and the search for intelligent life after brain damage. Following a traffic-accident, journalist Billy Golfus woke from a coma to find himself head-injured, hemiplegic and dependent on others. His struggle to make a new life for himself in the face of discrimination and bureaucratic “helping systems” is laced with humor and biting wit. Widely acclaimed & groundbreaking.

Fanlight Productions (1994)

Vimeo rental 58 minutes

Talks & Interviews

brother curryBrother Rick Curry: Sixty Minutes

Rick Curry, a 56-year-old Jesuit brother, was born without a right forearm. But as Steve Kroft reports, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a professor, best-selling cookbook author, and founder of the country’s only known theater school for the physically disabled. (1999)

Paramount Plus

13 minutes

amy moultonChanging the Way We Talk About Disability: Amy Oulton

You can take a wheelchair just about anywhere. Amy addresses societal perceptions of disability and her vision for how we all can change our approach. Amy has been a wheelchair user for the past ten years. In spite of this, she lives an exciting and positive life, travelling the world, working as a graphic designer for a charity and campaigning to change the way we understand disability.

TED Talk (2018) 15 minutes

ignite sina bahramIgnite Sina Bahram: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings: Freeing Museums From Behind the Glass  

Sina Bahram is a blind accessibility consultant, computer scientist, researcher, speaker, and entrepreneur. In 2012, he was recognized as a White House Champion of Change by President Obama for his research enabling disabled users to succeed in STEM fields. YouTube

(2015)

6.26 minutes

loretta claiborneLet’s Talk About Intellectual Disabilities: Loretta Claiborne

Loretta Claiborne’s story is remarkable—from Special Olympian to inspiring speaker and advocate. Her work has ranged from supporting people with disabilities to working to help end bullying. In 2000, Walt Disney Productions created The Loretta Claiborne Story. Loretta is a world-class runner and gifted motivational speaker who happens to also be a Special Olympics Athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability.

TEDx MidAtlantic

(2012) 11 minutes

sam burnsMy Philosophy for a Happy Life: Sam Berns

Just before his passing on January 10, 2014, Sam Berns was a Junior at Foxboro High School in Foxboro, MA, where he achieved highest honors and was a percussion section leader in the high school marching band. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Sam was diagnosed with Progeria, a rare, rapid aging disease, at the age of 2. He is featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Life According to Sam, which premiered on HBO 2 days before his 17th birthday.

TEDx MidAtlantic (2013) 12 minutes

the horizontalsNot All Disabilities Are Visible: The Horizontals

Being logical is having the ability to understand ourselves so well that we know the things we won’t do, and won’t feel guilty about not doing them. Hear from The Horizontals about what invisible disabilities can teach us all about how we work and live together.

TEDx

Paid Talk

YouTube

(2017) 18 minutes

stephen hawkingStephen Hawking: Reach for the Stars

This is Stephen Hawking’s last inspiring message to humanity before he departed for worlds beyond.

(2018)

3 minutes

aimee mullensAimee Mullins: My Twelve Sets of Legs 

In this TED archive video from 1998, paralympic sprinter Aimee Mullins talks about her record-setting career as a runner, and about the amazing carbon-fiber prosthetic legs (then a prototype) that helped her cross the finish line.

TED Talk

(2009)

10 minutes

 

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Music

Brave by Sara Bareilles

Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

That’s All I Know Far by Pink

Circle of Life by Elton John

I’m Still Standing by Elton John

You Raise Me Up Sung by Josh Gropan

Keep Marching from the Musical Suffs by Shaina Taub

When You Believe from the Musical Prince of Egypt by Stephen Schwartz

Rise Up by Andra Day

I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

The Climb by Miley Cyrus

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

Right on Time by Brandi Carlile

Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper