Book Review: The Future is Disabled by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Note: This review is of the 2023 edition, which has a new chapter and afterword.

Some books are harder to read than others. The Future is Disabled by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha was difficult to read. Written in 2022 and updated in 2023, it is a book that is very much in dialog with COVID-19 in general, and the US’s response to it in specific. It’s hard to sit with the knowledge that rather than “going back to normal” we could have tried to build a country that was kinder, safer, and more inclusive.

This book is in dialog with COVID-19 not only because it was written as people decided that the pandemic was “over” and they didn’t have to take precautions anymore, but also because COVID-19 has been a mass-disabling event. We’re going to have to really think about what future disability accommodations will look like as more and more people find themselves disabled by long COVID, whatever other pandemics arise, and other impacts of climate change.

One thing that reading about disability justice (and learning about digital accessibility at work) has driven home to me is how we are all just one bad day away from temporary or permanent disability ourselves. Whether from illness or injury, there are so many ways that we can find our physical and mental capabilities changed. Just because you don’t need accommodations now doesn’t mean you won’t need them tomorrow or ten years from now.

That’s not to suggest that we should only care about things that do or might impact us. It’s just to serve as a reminder of how common the need for accommodations really is.

Piepzna-Samarasinha writes from the point of view as a queer person of color with both physical and mental disabilities. This book is largely written for other queer, disabled people of color, and I had to read it with the perspective that I was a guest on these pages, that the author was not concerned with my comfort, and that some things were going to be hard to read.

Just because a book wasn’t written just for you doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have anything to teach you. Anyone who wants their spaces to be more inclusive would do well to read this book and pay attention to the author’s insights and experiences. As a performing artist, I especially found the chapters about accessible performances and performance spaces interesting. Their discussion of book touring while disabled was also eye-opening, and honestly, anyone who might ever have to tour to promote their book or other work might want to read this and think about how you can plan a tour that allows you to take care of your needs, whether or not you identify as disabled.

The Future is Disabled is a good example of the importance of reading difficult books. It wasn’t fun, going back to 2020-2022. It wasn’t fun, thinking about all the lockdown-era policies we could have continued and expanded. But if I only read for fun, I’d never learn anything except for fun animal facts (don’t worry, I’ve got books about beavers and eels queued up for later this year). Take your time with this book, pay attention to where you feel discomfort, and think about how we can create an inclusive, accessible future.

CWs and TWs: Ableism, obviously. Extensive discussion of COVID-19 pandemic, which included the death of many people the author cared about. Discussions of abusive family, estrangement, parent death. Discussions of abusive relationships, intimate partner violence, and similar themes.

Source and Format: I purchased a paperback copy at Nook & Cranny.

Reading Challenge Prompts

Nook & Cranny (Card 2): Disability, Chronic Illness, Neurodiversity. I bought this book specifically to fill this prompt when I was shopping for this year’s cards.

SAL/SPL/KCLS: Disability. I love it when different challenges have near-identical prompts so I can double up.

Physical TBR: Since I purchased this in late 2024 after turning in my 2024 cards, it counts for my Physical TBR Challenge! In honor of the fact that housing is often a major concern for disabled people, especially queer disabled people, I have donated to Quiara’s fundraiser for moving expenses. Visit my Physical TBR Challenge post to see all of the books and donations for 2025 so far.

Reading Challenge Progress

Nook & Cranny (Card 1): 10 of 25, no bingos.

Nook & Cranny (Card 2): 19 of 25, 2 bingos.

Book Riot: 12 of 25.

Physical TBR: 7 of 12.

World of Whimm: 18 of 24, 3 bingos.

SAL/SPL/KCLS: 16 of 23, 2 bingos.