- Caitlin B.
- Monday, September 12, 2022
Understanding diverse experiences of people who are differently abled is made easier using children's books.
When it comes to diversity in children's literature, we are seeing progress (although maybe not as much as you'd think: NEA Discusses Why We Still Need Diverse Books) in the inclusion of a wide range of characters and experiences. The umbrella of diversity is wide: not only is it important to share stories of people of color, people with various religious beliefs, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, families, teachers, librarians, and other caregivers should also share and value stories of people with disabilities. The same way that we intentionally choose books that reflect the everyday experiences of diverse communities, the books we choose about people with physical and mental disabilities-including those dealing with mental health challenges-need to be intentional. This means including responsible fictional accounts alongside inspirational tales of overcoming obstacles to achieve a wild feat. While inspirational stories are just that--inspirational--there is a risk of tokenizing people and minimizing lived experiences. Care should be taken to help young people understand that learning about a person doesn't mean that they have to be hero, but also help them develop the understanding that all humans are multifaceted. Sometimes a person just wants to feel like everyone else.
On the surface, I exhibit factors which grant me a great deal of privilege: I am white, middle-class, and college educated. I also live with unseen disabilities including ADHD and depression. I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type) at eight years old. The last twenty-six years have taught me innumerable lessons about the differences in my brain and my functionality compared to someone whose levels of dopamine and norepinephrine are higher (ADHD Neuroscience 101). Learning to manage my ADHD in a world that does not easily accommodate neurodivergence is a lifelong task. I'm really fortunate to have found an excellent psychiatrist, tons of literature, and a wide variety of resources to help me continue to navigate my neurodivergent brain.
I wish that my eight-year-old self had access to stories about children living with ADHD; it often felt lonely, particularly because I was a hardworking, creative, overachieving people-pleaser who wasn't physically disruptive to others in the classroom. Instead I was often labeled "flighty," "messy and unorganized," or "space cadet" by teachers and coaches and other adults in my life. Even though I tried my best to stay organized and neat in school, executive function dysfunction and working memory deficits often won out. I'm much more resilient now but I still have to fight those feelings of shame, embarrassment, and deficiency when I'm not at my best. I read articles, talk to other adults with ADHD, and am developing a community of support where other people understand where I'm coming from and the toll it can take to navigate a world that has little patience for deficiencies.
All of this serves to focus once again on the importance of providing books to children that are both mirrors and windows (5 Reasons Why You Should Read a Diverse Book). Reading a book like Honestly Elliott (McDunn, 2022)--in which titular Elliott navigates enthusiasm for cooking and the frustrating experiences that come with living with ADHD--would have been a great reassurance at nine or ten years old that I wasn't the only one struggling to manage ADHD despite my best efforts. A book like this is also a great window for a child who knows someone with ADHD and is learning to navigate empathically with them (or really, any child). To me, the greatest beauty of children's literature is that books help us empathize with those who are different from us or who have different lived experiences than our own. One of the reasons Charlotte's Web remains a classic is Charlotte's empathy towards Wilbur. The story transcends the characters' circumstances and stations in life and teaches the reader that even someone very small can save a life, friendships exist in unlikely places, and everyone deserves a second chance.
For this list, I have chosen an array of books that depict human experiences with disability (both mental and physical). Some of the books on the list are biographies, others fictional stories, but all serve to broaden a reader's understanding of the world and grow their ability to empathize with others. I believe all anyone wants in this world is to be seen and understood and if we make a bit of effort, we can give and receive that gift freely.
You can check out these books at any Richland Library location or call The Children’s Room at Main (803) 929-3434 and we will happily place holds for you.