Children’s fiction has a huge lack of disabled characters, which means many children find
they do not have characters that they can relate to in the books they read.
There have recently been advances in the toy industry, with the sale of
so-called ‘disability
dolls’ but as yet we’re not seeing this coming across into
our children’s books – why is this?
It may be the case that for many authors it just doesn’t occur to them to write in
a disabled character, but in a world where all the information we could
possibly want is at our fingertips, this doesn’t feel like a good enough
excuse.
Introducing Roxy
the Raccoon
These
thoughts led us – Truth & Tails – to write a children’s book about a
disabled character called Roxy the Raccoon, an independent and intuitive
raccoon who uses a wheelchair.
Truth
& Tails is run by three people: Phoebe Kirk (that’s me), Alice Reeves, and
Ben Galley. All our books are aimed at ages 5-8 years, and focus on messages of
understanding and acceptance; so we felt it was only right to create a story
about disability and how the world can be made a more enjoyable, workable place
for all.
Making the
forest accessible
In
creating this book, we asked people in the disabled community about their
experiences with accessibility to help us get this book as spot on as we could.
We took a great deal of direction from their helpful critique, especially in
determining that the focus of the story should be on Roxy educating her friends
on the right ways to help not only her, but all of the animals in the forest.
By
encouraging her friends to be mindful and to make a few small changes to their
environment, Roxy teaches them how to make the forest a more fun and inclusive
place for everyone. With a few small changes, everyone living in the forest
will be able to access all of the different places, from Brad the Beaver’s dam,
to the treetop of the tallest tree.
Over
the course of the story, Roxy’s friends learn how to think of others and
include everyone in their fun activities, without diminishing Roxy as a
personality and putting her into the typecast of a victim. We wanted to
challenge damaging and incorrect tropes, showing a disabled character as a
capable individual and not weak or helpless in any way.
Teaching
children to accept differences
Books
with disabled characters are not just beneficial for disabled children, but for all children to understand how they can be
kind, helpful and accepting of others who may be different from them. We
believe it is incredibly important to encourage younger generations to grow up
with the tools they need to accept and help other people with kindness and
dignity, and this is something we try to get across in our books.
Phoebe
Kirk
Truth
& Tails
To
find out more about Roxy the Raccoon and other Truth and Tails stories, visit the Truth and Tails website.
What’s your view
on disabled characters in children’s books? Can you recommend any books? Let us
know in the comments below.
