Disabilities and Literature Reflection

The concept of disabilities is something that is not visible in the libraries of many teachers nor the bookshelves of many stores. As a future special education teacher, I felt a need to explore books that portrayed some of the issues that some of my future students may be faced with. I chose a variation of books where either the protagonist is faced with something disabling or another character in the story. The text’s I chose to explore are: Thank you, Mr. Falker, Kathy’s Hats, Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry and The Peanut-Free Café’. Because these books vary in topic, there is a lot to be gained. Thank You, Mr. Falker provides readers with a deeper understanding of learning disabilities and it’s effects on students, parents and teachers. It also touches upon issues of embarrassment, frustration, and the benefits of helping. The Peanut-Free Café’ develops the concept of inclusion, change, knowledge and uniqueness. Here a young boy stands out from the rest of his peers due to a peanut allergy.  Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry provides experience from a different perspective. We are able to see the difficulties of a child having a parent with a psychological disability. This book highlights coping mechanisms, mixed feelings from joy to pain. Finally,Kathy’s Hats opens reader’s eyes to terminal illness, uniqueness, coping mechanisms, uniqueness, shared concern and understanding. Although these books vary in topic, severity, age-appropriateness and concept they all intermingle under the spectrum of disability. These books work well in conjunction with one another to provide readers with a broad and well-rounded insight into the category of disabilities and their portrayal in children’s texts. 

**Image was retrieved from www.dvcpa.com