PAGES : New Resources to Aid Select Readers

Only a few years ago, disabled people were all but overlooked by the American publishing industry.

But an explosion of first-person stories about coping with disease, disability and medical disasters has helped end such biases.

The growing political presence of people with disabilities also has made publishers more aware of these formerly forgotten book-buyers.

The result is that bookstores now devote entire sections to books of special interest to disabled people.

And in Vancouver, Wash., a whole store--appropriately called the Disability Bookshop--stocks only titles covering medicine, AIDS, aging, sports, cancer, jobs, education, travel and other topics that pertain to people with disabilities and their families.

To expand its reach, the store has drafted the Disability Bookshop Catalogue (for more information call: (800) 637-2256). The majority of the books in the catalogue are also of interest to the general public.

Another new publishing resource targets younger readers and their parents.

The American Library Assn.’s “Best of the Best for Children” offers recommendations for books, videos, games, magazines, computer software and travel experiences.

The book draws on the expertise of librarians and subdivides its topics by age levels.