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When to Use a Book that Talks about a Disability

Your Path: Circle of Inclusion Home Page "" Accommodation, Accessibility, & Awareness "" Children's Books Review Guide "" Section 2 "" When to Use a Book

 

Issue
Why Yes?
Why Not?
Suggested Book
Child has a seizure in front of other classmates. Other students in the classroom have many questions to ask about what happened to their friend. If parents, child, and educational staff all are in favor of using a book, the book may help answer several of the other students' questions in a way that they can understand. The book may make the child feel "different" and embarrassed. The whole class knowing that she has epilepsy may make her stand out and feel more uncomfortable. Lee The Rabbit With Epilepsy, Deborah M. Moss
New child with a disability enters classroom. Family would like to use a book to help explain their child's disability. May help other children understand and be more empathetic to the new student. May cause the child to stand out more. May make the student feel more uncomfortable. Hooway For Wodney Wat, Helen Lester (Speech)
General education students start to ask questions about the students in their school with disabilities. Help other children understand why some students may look or act a little different from them. May help children not be fearful of people who are different. May cause the students with disabilities to feel more "different." May make other students notice more differences than similarities in others. We Can Do It!, Laura Dwight
Other students want to know where and what a student does when he/she goes to physical therapy. Will answer some questions children have about physical therapy. May help the child feel more accepted in the classroom. The student receiving physical therapy may not feel comfortable talking about his/her own therapy. Rolling Along with Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Cindy Meyers

 

 
Your Path: Circle of Inclusion Home Page "" Accommodation, Accessibility, & Awareness "" Children's Books Review Guide "" Section 2 "" When to Use a Book
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