Hank Poore Foundation Donates Books To Tuscaloosa City Schools

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) on Wednesday announced that The Hank Poore Foundation is donating books about disabilities to all of the system's libraries.

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The Hank Poore Foundation seeks to provide opportunities and experiences for people with disabilities, along with promoting disability education.

“The Hank Poore Foundation considers education about disability and inclusion one of our priorities,” Executive Director Ashley Ferry said. “Adults and children alike often make assumptions when they see someone in a wheelchair or a person who uses a speech device. Knowledge is a way to break down those assumptions and stereotypes about our neighbors with disabilities.”

TCS says the donation will provide easily accessible resources for all of its students that promote understanding and inclusion, which will help foster connection between disabled and non-disabled students.

“Our donation of books about disability to every TCS school library will not only educate non-disabled students about different disabilities and inclusion of the disability community, but it will provide an opportunity for students with disabilities to read about people like them,” Ferry said. “Making these books available in TCS libraries will open the doors of possibility and inspiration to all TCS students.”

The group's founding was inspired by Hank Poore, a Tuscaloosa native with cerebral palsy, with the organization launched by a small group of family and friends in 2020 with the goal of providing community, connection, and support to people with disabilities.

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