Rebekah Gienapp

Since I started my business 6 years ago, I’ve reviewed and recommended thousands of anti-bias children’s books. Recently, I’ve been thinking about how to help readers like you evaluate whether a “diverse” children’s book is more helpful than it is harmful. If I had to choose just one category of children’s literature where this matters most, it’s books about disability or books that include disabled characters. That’s because ableist tropes are widespread and persistent in the dominant culture, including in kids’ books.

Reading book reviews and commentaries by disabled and autistic bloggers has helped me perceive problematic patterns that I long ignored. I especially recommend Aisha Ray’s Books for Littles and this piece by Margaret Kingsbury for Book Riot if you want to learn more.

One of the biggest reasons these ableist tropes persist is because so few children’s books about disabled characters are actually written by disabled people. Even books by parents of disabled children often echo some of these negative stereotypes.

Note: I’m using identity-first, not person-first language in this post. If you’re new to the concept, read this.

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Ableist tropes that depict disabled people’s lives as primarily negative

Disabled people who are portrayed as burdens to their families

Children’s books that emphasize this cliché often focus on the experience of the parents or siblings of a disabled character. This might be a mother who continually grieves the able-bodied child she didn’t have, or a brother who’s tired of the additional time and attention his sister receives in meeting her daily needs.

“Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to lead our lives — job opportunities or barrier-free buildings, for example. It is not a tragedy to me that I’m living in a wheelchair.”

-Judith Heumann, disability rights activist. Source.

Disabled characters who continually dream of not being disabled

There are some children’s books, such as Roll With It by Jamie Sumner, that at first appear to portray a disabled main character positively. But as Sumner’s novel progresses, it becomes clear that main character Ellie is constantly putting herself down and thinks she’s ugly. She has no friends. While the tween years are often full of self-doubt for kids, Ellie’s negative self-perception goes overboard and isn’t challenged by other characters.

Related post: How to talk to children about microaggressions

Another offshoot of this ableist trope is the disabled character who’s magically cured, and can then begin to live a happy life.

Head here to view my list of fantastic children’s books starring disabled characters

Disabled characters as villians

This ableist trope shows up in adventure books, fantasy, and fairy tales. Ask yourself: when a character has an eye patch, what does that signal to you? (Add stereotypical Captain Hook to the long list of reasons I don’t like Peter Pan!)

As Margaret Kingsbury points out, it’s not that a villian should never be disabled. But when the only disabled character in a story is a villian (and this happens in book after book), then it leads to children forming stereotypes of disabled people as scary and mean.

Related post: Anti-bias children’s books for preschool and kindergarten

Ableist tropes that exploit disabled characters’ lives for the benefit of non-disabled people

Disabled main characters who don’t have a fleshed-out, realistic personality

Even in picture books, satifsying main characters should have some complexity. But when books star a disabled character, the character is often either overly sunny to the point of being angelic, or an object of pity.

Sometimes disabled main characters are portrayed in a one-dimensional way because this is the easiest way for the author to “teach” non-disabled children about what it means to have a disability. Which brings me to the next ableist trope…

A disabled person’s story that is told through the voice of a non-disabled family member or friend

The assumption with these books is that a non-disabled child couldn’t possibly relate to a story that’s told through the voice of a disabled person. So, a hearing brother tells you what it’s like for his sister to be deaf. A non-autistic sister tells you not to hug their autistic brother.

The heart of the disability rights movement is the belief that disabled people should have the same autonomy over their lives that society gives non-disabled people. Shouldn’t that include telling their own stories as well?

The disabled character who exists primarily to inspire non-disabled people and make them feel grateful

If I had to guesstimate, I’d say at least half the children’s books starring disabled characters that I’ve read use this tired theme. These books are often written by well-intentioned authors who want to teach non-disabled kids not to exclude people with disabilities.

But these books cause harm by sending the message that disabled people primarily exist for the benefit and education of non-disabled people. It’s not disabled people’s jobs to instill gratitude or inspiration in others, nor is it their job to educate non-disabled people.

Related post: 6 ways children can unlearn anti-fat bias