Students with Disabilities Underrepresented in Literature

A recent study revealed that children with disabilities are rarely, if at all, featured in children’s books. In the last 35 years less then 24% of children’s books honored with the Newberry Medal had a main, or even supporting character with a disability.

 Children often read books seeking characters that they can identify with. Students with disabilities are left to look in most cases. The study found that “characters with disabilities were most likely to be supporting characters and were often used to boost the emotional growth of those without disabilities rather than to develop in their own right.” 

Among the concerning themes the researchers found are:

• The representation of characters with disabilities in Newbery books is not proportionate to the current school population of students with disabilities.
• White school-age characters with disabilities were overrepresented, black and Hispanic characters with disabilities were underrepresented, and Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native characters were not present at all.
• In some of these books, authors eliminated characters with disabilities through death, being sent away or discovery of miraculous cures.

 There have been recent movements though to create more inclusive literature. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series follows Percy Jackson who is a student with a disability and his disabilities don’t diminish his status as a hero. There are other publishing companies that spotlight students with disabilities and their struggles and successes. 

 

Comments

[JMD]

Unfortunately, the same can be said about TV shows and movies -- little or no representation of kids with disabilities, especially neurological disabilities. What also irks me is that some movies portray kids with neurological disabilities (socially inept Aspies) as the bad guys.