Hello and welcome to Episode #1 of The Storytime Clinic!!
In this episode, we take a look at physical disability through the eyes of Ade, an almost-ten year old who is AWESOME at football – and also happens to need a leg brace because of a childhood polio infection. Ade lives in the book ‘Cyborg Cat – Rise of the Parsons Road Gang’ written by wheelchair basketball star and Paralympian Ade Adepitan.
Can I just say, this book cover is pretty awesome! Book-Ade grows up thinking that superheroes don’t look like him (they don’t have disabilities), so I’m glad author-Ade and illustrator Carl Pearce make a point of tackling this deficiency head-on with the ‘Cyborg Cat’ persona.
A disability is any impairment of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. About 10% of childhood disabilities are physical impairments, however disability can also affect vision, hearing, moving, thinking, social interactions and so on. Children with disabilities may need different levels of accomodations, assistive technology or devices, depending on the severity of their condition.
Some children with disabilities struggle with self-image, and feeling isolated or excluded because they are different. Having good support systems can help these children thrive – particularly ride-or-die friendships like Ade’s crew, the ‘Parsons Road Gang’.
Our Three Takeaways from ‘Cyborg Cat’ were:
Focus on the commonalities – We are more alike than we are different. This understanding can help kids (and adults!) reach beyond their comfort zones and form great friendships.
Avoid making assumptions – often people underestimate or limit people with disabilities due to faulty assumptions. Instead, make an effort to find out a person’s individual story.
Advocate for Disability Rights – The experience of living with a disability can be significantly impacted by the built environment and societal perceptions. What kind of supports are available to disabled children in your community? How can they be made better?
So, because I got a little overzealous, I have two more books to recommend:
When Charley met Emma by Amy Webb – this is a picture book for younger kids that illustrates how to teach children kindness and respect in a first encounter with another child who looks different. There is now a second book out in the series, called Awesomely Emma, where Emma learns to advocate for herself. (Also, check out the Disability + Differences Spotlight page on Amy Webb’s blog – it’s a nice compilation of conversations with families of children with rare medical conditions).
All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimental – this is a picture book for early readers that tells the story of a young girl involved in the Disability Rights Movement in the United States, and focuses on one particular event known as the Capitol Crawl.
Thanks for stopping by! Have you read any other good children’s books on physical disability? Drop a title in the comments!
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Interested in other children’s books touching on health conditions? Check out our bookshelf!
I enjoyed the story. Very inspiring
Thank you so much! 🙂