Centering Disability In Youth Books

Quite coincidentally, two excellent blog posts came out within a day of each other that address the issue of disability and #ownvoices representation in children's books.

The first published on Tuesday April 27 is entitled How Can I Tell If This is a Harmful Representation of Disability  on S. Bryce Kozla's blog. Bryce has been a thoughtful leader and thinker on the topic of disability justice in libraries. Her post is a great starting point for us to think about the books we have in our collections as well as how to evaluate them to determine whether the books and other media contain harmful representations.

The second post published on Wednesday, April 28 ran on the Book Riot blog. In her article The Current State of Disability Representation in Children's Books, Margaret Kingsbury takes an in-depth look at the state of disability representation through an exploration of publisher and #ownvoices book creators responses. Using CCBC statistics and centering the voices of book creators, her article amplifies Bryce's points and enriches our understanding of disability representation.

Serving Children with Disabilities in Libraries: A Beginner’s Guide

Where should I begin?  This can sometimes be the most challenging part about developing library services to children with disabilities.  Fortunately, while there isn’t a one-stop-shop when it comes to expanding your knowledge in this area, there is a plethora of resources out there that can help you on your journey to becoming an advocate for children with disabilities.  Basically, what that means is that the first step is to learn.  And we are in luck, because Renee Grassi over at the ALSC Blog has compiled some of her favorite resources for creating better service to children with disabilities.  Check out the full list HERE.

Toy Guide

Thanks to Tessa Michaelson Schmidt for this timely information:

Last week the 2012 Edition of the Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids was released by Toys“R”Us.  This is a helpful resource for identifying toys and playthings for children’s areas and library programs.

http://www.toysrusinc.com/press-room/releases/general/2012/toysrus-unveils-2012-edition-of-the-toysrus-toy-guide-for-differently/

History of the Guide and Its Impact on Families of Children with Special Needs

For nearly two decades, the Guide has served as a trusted resource for family, friends and caregivers of children with special needs, providing a carefully selected assortment of toys that can help kids explore new worlds and achieve personal victories. Each of the nearly 100 toys featured in the 64-page resource has been selected in partnership with National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible to children of all abilities. Each item featured helps children with physical and cognitive disabilities develop critical skills through the power of play, including fine and gross motor, visual, language, creativity and more.

In addition to toy recommendations, parents will also find value in the Guide’s “Top Ten Tips for Buying Toys,” prepared by the National Lekotek Center, as well as “Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs,” which were created with guidance from leading safety and special needs organizations to help avoid playtime injuries.