March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month and March 1st was International Wheelchair Day. The aim of these and similar days is to raise awareness about issues facing people with disabilities. I recently had a chance to review a children's book, When Charley Met Emma, that speaks to one issue in particular faced by many people with disabilities - how able-bodied kids react.We've been fortunate that as a family we know many people with visible differences - one of our friends has adopted several children with cleft palate and other facial deformities, one of my co-worker's kids has cerebral palsy, and one of my daughter's classmates is missing part of one arm. Because of this, my children have grown up taking visible differences in stride, sometimes being curious but always being courteous.
Without that exposure, though, it can be hard for parents to show kids examples of appropriate ways to react to people who are visibly different. This book is great - it shows Charley having an inappropriate reaction, then remembering what his mom has taught him about differences, and making it right. The illustrations are simple and complement the story well, and it's a great way to open up a discussion about differences kids might see or have already seen, and how we can get to know people who are different from us.
Amy Webb is an artist, writer, mother and creator of the popular blog This Little Miggy Stayed Home. As a special needs mom she advocates for the disability and special needs community through her writings and interviews on her blog. Her work has been featured in The Mighty, A Cup of Jo, Design*Sponge as well as interviews in DesignMom, MotherMag and the print publication Lunch Lady Magazine. Amy lives with her handsome husband and three beautiful daughters in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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