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Reading to understand the limitations of others

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Books about disabilities, written especially for children, can help children cope with their own problems and have empathy for the difficulties of others. Books can remove the mystery and widen our view of what ‘normal' is.

“Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability” explains what disabilities are and good ways to treat people. This book effectively deals with assumptions and stereotypes. It is written by Pat Thomas and illustrated by Lesley Harker.

You can talk with your young child about different ability levels among your family members. Perhaps your child can roll on the floor better than Grandma or reach under the coffee table easier than you can. If there is someone in their life with a disability you can explain the situation and read this book.

What do you do when you have a friend who has problems? “Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book” is about a boy who has a good friend with autism. He goes out of his way to help his friend participate in neighborhood activities and deal with everyday frustrations like a closed pool or someone wanting to touch his toys. It is written by Celeste Shally and illustrated by David Harrington.

This is a good book for all children to read to learn what it means to be a real friend. This relationship is not easy but it shows the rewards as well as the challenges. Brainstorm with your child ways they can be a better friend, then invite a friend on a field trip and try out your ideas.

“Nathan's Wish: A Story about Cerebral Palsy,” written by Laurie Lears and illustrated by Stacey Schuett, is a great book about a boy confined to a wheelchair discovering his ability to help others. He helps to care for a wounded owl and learns to deal with his own limits.

If your child uses a wheelchair, you might look for ways they can help around the house. Perhaps all that is needed is to arrange items for a particular chore within reach. You can visit the Austin Science Center to see animals that have physical problems and cannot be returned to the wild, just like the owl in the story.

“Hi, I'm Adam” was written and illustrated by 10-year-old Adam Buehrens. This book is his own story of having Tourette syndrome. He misbehaves even when he doesn't want to and struggles for acceptance. The book ends on a hopeful note.

Your child can write their own story after reading this one. Do they ever have trouble getting the acceptance and understanding they need? Do they have a friend or family member with problems like the one in the story?

By including stories like these on your bookshelf, you help your child develop a wider view of the world and its peoples with all their differences. Let's help our children to have a world where all children are accepted and included.

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