How lived experience, activism and lifelong learning shaped a powerful new book
This month marks the release of Double Discrimination: People of Colour with Learning Disabilities Defying Ableism and Racism, a powerful new book by journalist, editor and long time City Lit collaborator Saba Salman.
The book explores the overlapping impact of racism and ableism, centring lived experience, history and the growing movement for change. Saba’s connection to City Lit runs deep: through her journalism, her campaigning work, and her collaborations with our Centre for Learning Disability Education.
Ahead of her book presentation at City Lit in June, we spoke with Saba about the thinking behind Double Discrimination, the personal stories that shaped it, and why spaces like City Lit matter so much for representation, confidence and voice.
Championing hidden stories
Saba is a social affairs journalist and author, with work appearing in publications such as Private Eye and The Guardian. She is also a proud sibling to her youngest sister, Raana, who has a learning disability. Alongside her journalism, she chairs Sibs, the UK charity for brothers and sisters of disabled people and is an ambassador for the National Development Team for Inclusion.
Her work often sits at the intersection of journalism, lived experience and campaigning. What draws her there? It’s simple, she says: people, and the injustices they face that rarely receive the attention they deserve. “There are so many stories missing from mainstream platforms,” she explains, “and these are the ones I want to help tell.”
Why this book, and why now
Double Discrimination grew out of the stark inequalities exposed by and intensified during Covid. Learning disabled people of colour were already experiencing deep rooted injustice; the pandemic magnified it.
At the same time, Saba began writing against a backdrop of rising polarisation and political rhetoric that undermined the lives of people who need support. “It’s a harmful combination,” she says, “that makes the issues in the book even more urgent.”
Book trailer
Centred voices, defiant approaches
The book places the voices and experiences of people of colour with learning disabilities at its heart. Saba hopes readers will not only recognise the overlooked intersection of ethnicity and disability, but also be inspired by the defiant, creative and determined ways people are challenging racism and ableism.
“For readers who may not have any experience of learning disability,” she adds, “I’d love them to see people like my sister as full human beings, with multiple characteristics and dimensions to their personalities.”
What surprised her while writing
Researching the book was often emotionally difficult. “It’s impossible not to be deeply affected by some of the injustices that people have had to endure,” she says. But she was equally uplifted by the scale of grassroots resistance; campaigners speaking out, pushing for change, and inviting others to join them.
Double Discrimination captures both the pain and the power of that collective effort.
A long and meaningful connection to City Lit
Saba’s relationship with City Lit spans years of reporting, collaboration and shared values. She was introduced to the college by campaigner and City Lit lifetime fellow Gary Bourlet, whom she worked with on her first book Made Possible. She later hosted an “in conversation” event with Gary – who, when asked which achievement he was proudest of, replied simply: “I’m not finished yet!”
City Lit supported Made Possible through events and conversations, including at the Mental Wealth Festival. Saba has also reported on the college’s pioneering work with students who have hearing loss, and has featured City Lit’s learning disability programmes in Community Living magazine, which she edits.
From the Percussion Orchestra to the history of the Centre for Learning Disability Education, she has seen first‑hand how City Lit widens access, builds confidence and transforms lives.
Why places like City Lit matter
“City Lit is about opportunities, and it enables new experiences and builds confidence,” Saba says. She’s heard this directly from students over the years. For campaigners like Gary Bourlet, being at City Lit was transformative, helping shape the self‑advocacy movement in the UK.
Spaces like City Lit don’t just teach; they empower. They create room for voice, representation and lifelong learning.
What to expect in June
Saba’s upcoming event at City Lit, held during Learning Disability Week 2026, will explore the personal and family stories behind Double Discrimination, including her own, alongside the wider issues of dual injustice that rarely get a platform.
The event will also feature a performance by the City Lit Percussion Orchestra, celebrating creativity, inclusion and the power of community.
“It’s an event for anyone interested in social justice and in the lives of their fellow human beings,” she says. “It’s for anyone who wants to feel optimistic about representation and challenging inequality.”
Championing change together
Double Discrimination is a book rooted in truth, courage and community. It shines a light on stories too often overlooked and celebrates the people and families leading the way in challenging injustice.
We’re proud to welcome Saba back to City Lit this June, and to mark Learning Disability Week with an event that champions voice, visibility and the ongoing movement for change.
Centre for Learning Disabilities Education
The Centre for Learning Disability Education offers a creative arts-focussed portfolio of courses for adults with learning disabilities. Our courses include regular visits to galleries and museums, opportunities to perform to audiences, and to collaborate with diverse arts organisations like the Royal Academy of Art, Outside In gallery, and the Royal Academy of Music.
