Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
This feature urges Community Builders to challenge ableism early by reading together to “normalize disability as a natural part of our world.” Picture books make the work concrete: one title rejects the myth of “normal,” another centers communication through American Sign Language, and a third invites readers to notice how a child who is blind or has Low Vision maps a city through sound and touch. The message is advocacy, not pity—families can name prejudice and practice inclusion at home, at school and in the community.
The curation names real harms children with disabilities face and insists on authentic voices. A swimmer is bullied in The Mermaid with No Tail; whispering and stares follow the heroine of Mia the Masterpiece; and Aven Green’s chapter-book adventures model day-to-day acceptance in classrooms. A middle-grade protagonist states she also has cerebral palsy, grounding the story in lived experience and showing agency instead of tokenism.
The list exposes structural harm and models resistance. A historical novel shows a scientist targeting a Martha’s Vineyard community of people who are Deaf, even experimenting on residents—clear exploitation that readers can identify and reject. Another novel follows a child navigating Crohn’s disease, medication side effects, and peer/church pressure, while a nonfiction collection centers innovators with disabilities whose contributions are often erased.
Finally, these books move communities from talk to practice: a child who is nonverbal navigates a crowded parade and communicates through movement; an early reader depicts the honest adjustment to hearing aids; and Aven’s stories model inclusive classrooms. For Community Builders, this list functions as a blueprint—use it to audit events, programs, and spaces so People with Disabilities are centered in planning, welcomed in participation, and included in decision-making.
Read the Full Article: 12 Books for Kids That Celebrate and Uplift People With Disabilities.
By: Sara Rowe Mount
