Back in 1977, HolLynn D’Lil was one of hundreds who participated in the historic demonstrations to get Section 504, one of the earliest disability rights regulations, signed. “It changed my whole life when I became an activist, and that felt really good,” she says.

Now D’Lil (center in photo above) has gathered up her memorabilia and self-published it in Becoming Real in 24 Days: One Participant’s Story of the 1977 Section 504 Demonstrations for U.S. Civil Rights. The book contains first-hand documentary and oral history that will make disability studies students very happy.

“It was healing to write this book,” says D’Lil, 72, a T5 para from Graton, California. “When I came into my disability, I lost my civil rights. I was 22, and I felt like I was thrown back to when I was younger than 18 again. I was dependent, treated differently — there is a lot of damage that occurs to our self-esteem. So much stigma was associated with disability.” Writing the book, she realized much of that stigma has been turned around by the activism: “I’m very proud I did what I did and persevered, and so proud of everybody who got involved.”

Does she think she is “real” now? “Yes, I am. And steadily becoming more so every day.” Learn more at becomingrealin24days.com.