SelectBooks Publishing

New York—New York publisher SelectBooks, Inc., has announced that its title DisabilityLand is the winner of the 2009 Independent Book Publishers Association’s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Award in the “Parenting/Family” category. Named in honor of America 's most cherished publisher & printer, the Benjamin Franklin Awards recognize excellence in independent publishing on a national level.

The announcement was made during an awards ceremony at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan , which took place on the eve of this year’s Book Expo America (BEA) convention at New York City ’s Jacob Javitz Center .

DisabilityLand (ISBN 978-1-59079-124-0; $19.95), by renowned educator and advocate Alan Brightman, Ph.D., uses personal and first-hand accounts of the very individuals it seeks to represent. It addresses the needs, hopes, and dreams of the disabled and differently abled through the lens of their own experience. It is also magnificently illustrated with color artwork provided by the National Institute of Art and Disabilities (NIAD), a Richmond CA based visual arts center assisting adults with developmental and other physical disabilities find an outlet for their creative expression. The result is a sensitive and sensible portrayal of the individuality, potential, and ability of the physically and mentally challenged to contribute to—and simply to enjoy—life on a par with anyone else. Dr. Brightman, through his work with Apple and Yahoo!, is a true pioneer in championing the cause of using new technology to increase accessibility and enrich the lives of our disabled community. He received his Ph. D. in Education from Harvard University , but his trailblazing contributions in the field have also led to his receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts .

This prestigious recognition is the first Benjamin Franklin award for SelectBooks, an independent book publisher founded in late 2000 by Kenzi Sugihara, a forty year veteran of the industry and former vice president at Random House.

“This is an amazing and gratifying honor,” said Sugihara in a statement from his Union Square offices. “DisabilityLand has been a labor of love for us here at SelectBooks. And I hope this recognition of our efforts will help us spread its message of understanding the disabled experience in a meaningful rather than superficial manner. This book is above all for people with a disabled individual in their lives; their friends, their loved ones, their caregivers. We are deeply grateful to the IBPA for this distinction and for their ongoing commitment to the independent publishing community.”

DisabilityLand was also selected as a fin alist by ForeWord Magazine in their own Book of the Year awards in the Family and Relationships category.

Press contact:

Kenichi Sugihara

(212) 206-1997 phone

Kenichi@selectbooks.com