About the Book
Dietetics practitioners are food and nutrition experts who help people live healthier lives. They work in a wide range of settings-from hospitals and research labs to sports teams, schools, nursing homes, and the food industry. Yet, despite the diversity of the populations they serve, the dietetics profession remains predominantly female, white, and able-bodied. Only 2% of dietetics practitioners self-identify as having a disability, compared to 29% of U.S. adults.
There is a growing and urgent need to diversify the field-especially by including practitioners with disabilities.
This powerful and inspiring book features the autobiographies of 15 credentialed dietetics practitioners with disabilities, who share their lived experiences navigating:
College and academic accommodations
Supervised practice internships
National credentialing exams
Employment, workplace access, and disability disclosure
Disability culture around food, nutrition, and eating
Their disabilities include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, vision and hearing impairments, mobility disabilities, and chronic illnesses.
In addition to these personal stories, the book includes eight educational chapters on topics including:
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The Disabilities in Nutrition and Dietetics Member Interest Group
The profession and how to become a dietetics practitioner
Disability resources
Disability statistics
State vocational rehabilitation programs and centers for independent living
This book is an essential resource for:
People (teenagers, college students, adults returning to college) with disabilities exploring careers in dietetics or other healthcare professions
Dietetics and healthcare students/interns with disabilities
Educators, preceptors, managers, and supervisors
Career counselors and disability services professionals
Allies, family members, and colleagues of people with disabilities
All book royalties are donated to initiatives that support and educate a more disability-inclusive dietetics workforce.
About the Author :
Suzanne ("Suzi") Domel Baxter, PhD, RD, LD, FADA, FAND earned a BS degree in dietetics from Texas Christian University and a MS degree and a PhD degree (both in nutrition) from Texas Woman's University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. She has worked as a dietitian in a residential school for children with disabilities, in a hospital clinic for adults, in school food service, and for the Women, Infants, and Children Program. Most of her career was in nutrition research. She acquired a mobility disability in 2010 which caused her to resign her Research Professor position late in 2016. She has presented widely on nutrition and authored many peer-reviewed publications including several on disability. She is now a disability advocate. She co-founded the Disabilities in Nutrition and Dietetics Member Interest Group within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This group launched on June 1, 2023, with her as the Inaugural Chair. She was recognized as the "Outstanding Dietitian of the Year" in 2012 by the South Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She received the "Monsen Award for Outstanding Research Literature" in 2017 from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was recognized as one of "Today's Dietitian's Annual Showcase of Ten Dietitians Who are Making a Difference" in 2025. Her illustrated children's book titled "When I Grow Up, I Can Be a Dietitian!" was published in 2024. Cheryl Iny Harris, MPH, RD is a private practice dietitian based in Virginia who specializes in digestive disorders. She was recognized as one of the top nutritionists in the DC metro area by the Washingtonian and was selected as the "Emerging Dietetics Leader of the Year" for Virginia. She has presented widely on nutrition and authored several peer-reviewed publications on Ehlers Danlos syndrome, POTS, Mast Cell Diseases and on living with disabilities.
Review :
"Through the different voices and viewpoints expressed here, disabled readers may find more of their own experiences reflected in these pages, and nondisabled readers will receive insights into a world they've likely never considered... An involving, multivoiced look into the lives of disabled diet specialists." -Kirkus Reviews
Praise for this Book
"This book...emphasizes the need for inclusive practices and representation in nutrition, making it a must-read for anyone dedicated to advancing equity for individuals with disabilities." -John D. Kemp, President & CEO, Lakeshore Foundation
"This document provides a plethora of information and compelling autobiographies." -Ethan A. Bergman, PhD, RDN, CDN, FADA, FAND, MDiv; Past President, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
"This book will help recruit others living with a disability to know there is a place for them in the profession of dietetics." -Evelyn F. Crayton, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND; Past President, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
"...a beacon of empowerment for future generations." -Peter D. Poullos, MD; Founder & Co-Chair, Stanford Medicine Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity
"Highly recommended for dietetics professionals, educators, guidance counselors, and HR teams." -Mary Russell, MS, RDN, CD, FAND, FASPEN; Past President, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
"We can all benefit from a deeper understanding of the strength and resilience required for those living with a disability in order to achieve one's goals." -Naomi Barbor, MS, RD, LD; Clinical Nutrition Manager, Dietetic Internship Director, Center for Human Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic
"This book is essential reading for dietitians, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of nutrition and disability. It serves as both a practical guide and powerful call to action." -Rebecca Cline, MPH, Special Assistant to the CEO, Lakeshore Foundation
"This book can be recommended to anyone contemplating a career in dietetics as well as for Human Resource Departments to guide them in hiring individuals with a disability and by anyone who wants to be inspired by the true and very personal stories that are shared here."-Jean Daniello, MS, RDN, LDN, ADCES; Nutrition Director, Regional Institute Children and Adolescents Baltimore, Maryland Department of Health
"The authors' personal stories and experiences combined with practical resources, make this book essential reading for anyone committed to building a more diverse and accessible dietetics workforce." -Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, DipACLM, FAND, FAHA; Assistant Professor of Population Health and Disease Prevention, University of California, Irvine
"The principles included can help all people learn to thrive, regardless of if they have a disability, and can foster empathy so that we can all advocate for better accommodations as needed."-Wendy Phillips, MS, RD, LD, FAND, FASPEN; Regional Vice President, Morrison
