Children’s Book Reviews Sue Christian Parsons, Ph.D. Rebecca Weber, M.L.I.S.
DISABILITY REPRESENTATION IN CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE: GUIDELINES AND POSSIBILITIES Individuals with disabilities are considered the largest minority group in the United States (Disability Funders Network, 2021). In 2019-2020, 7.3 million students received services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). Disability is a complex diversity, encompassing not only varied forms of disability but also every race, age, sex, and gender. Yet in conversations surrounding diversity and inclusion in books for young readers, disability is still frequently overlooked or excluded. As with any literary representation, we aim for authenticity, but authenticity has a broad range. When depictions are scarce across a body of literature, even an accurate portrayal can skew the big picture as a few books cannot effectively stand for a broad and varied experience. In selecting literature featuring individuals with disabilities, consider the following: The book should recognize and emphasize the humanity of people, not just their physical, emotional, mental, or learning differences. Avoid books for which the theme is ableism or overcoming. Such themes can be harmful, suggesting to non-disabled students that they are better than their disabled peers and putting unnecessary, and often unrealistic, expectations on students with disabilities. Look for books that accurately represent people and the characteristics of their disabilities while not necessarily making disability the only focus of their stories. Books should also show similarities and common interests between disabled and non-disabled individuals, as students with disabilities have many of the same interests, concerns, and goals as nondisabled students. Additionally, while disabled individuals do often encounter barriers, the writing should make clear that any barriers addressed are due to societal limitations, not a shortcoming of the person. Overall, the goal is to tell human stories respectfully, accurately, and engagingly. In selecting the books below, we have considered authentic and accurate disability representation as well as literary quality. For an extended list of thoughtfully vetted selections, we recommend the Schneider Family Book Award. Scan the QR code to access the award list.
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