Ella Northcott's New Book Takes the Reader into the Everyday Life of a Wheelchair User

A simple, matter-of-fact approach shapes I Am a Wheelchair User (Saunders Book Company), which introduces young readers to mobility and accessibility through everyday experience.

The book follows a wheelchair user through school, home, and public spaces, showing how design, attitudes, and small choices can either make things easier or create barriers. It keeps the focus on what life actually looks like, offering clear examples without overexplaining, and inviting readers to notice how environments can be more inclusive.

Written by Ella Northcott, the tone is direct and approachable, making it a strong fit for early classroom conversations. The book is part of the I Am… (Real Voices Series), which centres lived experience and gives young readers a way to engage with real perspectives in an accessible way.

We've got a very interesting interview with the author to share with our readers today!

Open Book:

Tell us about your new book and how it came to be. What made you passionate about the subject matter you're exploring?

Ella Northcott:

It’s a book about my experiences as a wheelchair user—my perspective, my real-life challenges, and the day-to-day realities I navigate. I’m passionate about it because I live with a disability and want to raise awareness about how much work still needs to be done to make the world more accessible for people like me.

OB:

Is there a question that is central to your book? And if so, did it change during the writing process?

EN:

The central question is: how can our world become more accessible? That was always at the heart of the book. I want readers to understand that accessibility is a right, not a privilege, and that we still have a long way to go.

OB:

What do you need in order to write—space, food, rituals, tools?

EN:

I need a quiet space with music playing in the background. I usually listen to Taylor Swift or Coldplay. I write on my Apple MacBook, which helps me organize my thoughts and shape them into the story.

OB:

What does the term creative nonfiction mean to you?

EN:

Creative nonfiction means being authentic—telling my story truthfully as I’ve experienced it.

OB:

Do you remember the first moment you began to consider writing this book? Was there an inciting incident?

EN:

I was inspired by the I AM series, which shares real-life experiences of people facing different challenges. I realized that many people don’t understand the realities I deal with every day, and I wanted to help change that. I hope the book sheds light on those obstacles and also lets other wheelchair users know they’re not alone.

___________________________________

Ella Northcott is the author of I Am a Wheelchair User. 

Learn about the lives of people from communities through the author's experience. Books will explore different religions, abilities, and communities in North America, and the challenges and change the authors and their communities face.