URI team publishes new book centering disability voices

KINGSTON, R.I. – April 3, 2026 – Offering insight into the developmental trajectories of people with disabilities from childhood through adulthood, College of Education faculty Adam Moore and Annemarie Vaccaro will host a talk at the University of Rhode Island about their new book, “Disability Life Stories: Unfiltered Voices on School, Family, Career, and Finding Purpose,” on Monday, April 27, 12 to 1:30 p.m.

The book combines personal accounts, recommendations for change, and contextual literature, making it of particular interest to educators, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and family members—but it can, and perhaps should, be read by anyone.

“We are looking forward to talking about ‘Disability Life Stories,’ as well as the topic itself,” Vaccaro said. “This book is more important than ever.”

Based on a 10-year study, the book includes in-depth interviews with 14 people with disabilities, offering important lessons about growth, challenges and life purpose. The stories come from the authors’ study of college students with disabilities, offering a unique firsthand look at their life stories as they transition from childhood to adulthood. Each essay includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter, for individual and group reflection.

Offering insight into the developmental trajectories of people with disabilities from childhood through adulthood, URI’s Adam Moore will co-host a talk about the new book on April 27.

“Following these college students into adulthood was among the most incredible experiences we’ve had as researchers and teachers,” said Vaccaro. “It was amazing to hear what their hopes and dreams were in the first interview, then later hear if or how they achieved those dreams, and how their hopes and dreams evolved as they grew and left college. We were brought to tears (usually of joy) many times as we listened to the planned and unexpected journeys of these amazing young people.”

The idea for the book began to percolate more than a decade ago, as Moore and Vaccaro were interested in conducting research that would lead to improved educational experiences for students with disabilities. They initially pictured a small study of college students with disabilities, but the project grew, extending to follow-up on the students’ post-college experiences, examining their lives a decade later.

In the book, the students, now primarily in their late 20s or 30s, describe their physical challenges, inspirations, and challenges in school and the workplace, contending with disabilities such as autism, ADHD, brain injury, dyslexia, deafness, or visual impairment.

Annemarie Vaccaro says they welcome interest in the book from educators, book clubs, or employers.

Moore and Vaccaro have used the information gleaned from the interviews to publish several articles inspired by the study, on topics ranging from activism and bullying to resistance and social support. These articles are intended to help other educators better support their students.

“The struggles, successes, barriers, and opportunities captured in the stories in this book are fundamentally human,” Moore said.

The authors of the book have worked in a wide variety of settings. Vaccaro is a professor and associate dean in the Feinstein College of Education; her work focuses on collegiate and career success for students, including those with disabilities. Moore is an associate professor of special education and coordinator of special education graduate programs at URI. Their author team also included Barbara Newman, faculty emeriti, Department of Human Development and Family Science; Philip Newman, a social psychologist, former instructor and advisor in the Department of Psychology; URI graduate Alexis Carlson ’15 ’17, now a high school teacher in Portsmouth and part-time instructor at URI; disability researcher Emily Doffing, California State University, who came to URI to conduct research with Vaccaro; and Ezekiel Kimball, professor of higher education, University of Maine.

“It is essential to listen to the experiences of, and advice from, people with disabilities,” Vaccaro said. “This book was a true labor of love. We are excited to share the powerful stories that students told to us.”

Moore and Vaccaro welcome interest from any educators interested in adopting the book for a class, at URI or beyond; book clubs; or employers looking to share the book with staff or offer for professional development (they also offer a complimentary guest lecture/class visit/discussion with one of the authors).

The talk, sponsored by URI’s Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy, is free and open to the public and will take place in the Anchor Room of the Higgins Welcome Center, starting at 12 p.m., at URI’s Kingston campus. To attend, register online. Copies of the book will be on sale at the event. The book is also available online at the Routledge website; use the discount code 26SMA1 for 20% off. Learn more by contacting Vaccaro at avaccaro@uri.edu.