Special Ed kids read, too!

By Jeannine Perez, Ph.D.

"The chief test of civilization is amount 'difference' it can tolerate and absorb - one characteristic all primitive societies a horror diversity."

—Sydney Harris
Teaching Exceptional Children
Vol.32 No.3 Jan/Feb 2000

In reviewing and selecting multicultural literature for children, it's easy to overlook a large segment of our society, the 'culture of the different.' I see differences as positive, but being perceived as different can also be a source of pain and feelings of rejection. Marching to a different drumbeat, by choice or not, isn't always easy. A good selection of literature addresses the challenges, achievements, pain and joys of being (in some way) different. Children and adults better understand each other when offered multiple perspectives.

The Invisible Woman

Thrust into the world of the different several years ago by an injury, I learned a harsh truth. As I struggled painfully in my walker, I realized I was invisible! Busy, bustling people glanced at me, and then away, as though I were not there.

There are reasons for our reactions to differences. We may feel unsure of how best to help. We are uneasy, and avoid eye contact. We may even feel threatened by what we cannot control or understand, and throw a cloak of invisibility so as not to see. I knew this, of course, but at the time it was cold comfort. It was also a revelation. Invisibility is a common experience for adults and children with disabilities, who are often made to feel like non-beings.

Being invisible impacted my teaching style and made me rethink my choices in children's books. For one thing, I broadened my concept of "special needs." Children feel different for many reasons. Physical disabilities certainly, but also other, less obvious factors can set children apart: different ways of speaking or learning, toxic environments or rejection at home, emotional traumas or a behavioral disability. Good literature and storytelling expand awareness of the depth of human complexity, and help us begin to appreciate and accept diversity in our community, in our own school, and, if the stories really speak to us, within ourselves. This is true multiculturalism.

Guideposts to Selecting Literature

I keep these things in mind when selecting literature for my classroom:

universal themes of overcoming adversity (myth and folklore)

characters and stories that show diversity is a plus

plots that emphasize choice

Overcoming Adversity: the Heart of Myth and Folklore

Here is an instance in which myth and folktales go beyond entertainment. Mythical heroes and heroines face challenges and tests. Although the tales usually end "happily ever after," these endings are seldom the result of easy answers. They are set in motion because of a change in the main character, not in the surroundings. Think of universal themes with variations across all cultures: Cinderella, The Ugly Duckling, Jack the Giant Killer. With these archetypal characters, changes begin internally: a shift in self perception, a willingness to take risks, and also an acknowledgement of possibilities. As the character grows and changes, the perceptions of others are in turn affected. In challenging situations, and often with few resources beyond the will to triumph, these characters exert powerful influence in their own lives and eventually effect change. Heady elements for children who may have little control over physical circumstances!

Add nuances and layers of meaning to folktales by hunting for variations of popular stories. For example, The Rough Face Girl by Rafe Martin (Algonquin), Murfaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe (African), The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo, Cinderella Bigfoot, Laughter Ever After by Mike Thaler (familiar European, but with a humerous twist), and Vasilisa (traditional Russian), are all variants of Cinderella, one of the world's most universal of themes. There are many more.

Although myths and folktales are most attractive to younger children, older students can enjoy them, too. Include a class discussion about the underlying themes, and how they relate to your students' own lives.

Diversity is a Plus

Reading about diverse characters and situations empowers children to recognize they are not alone. We all need to see ourselves at least occasionally in the books we read. Unfortunately, while the quality and quantity of books celebrating people from different cultures are on the rise, books that feature differently-abled children as protagonists or major characters are harder to find.

The 1972 film Butterflies are Free featured Eileen Heckart as a children's author. To inspire her blind son, she created a series about a blind boy named Danny Dark who solved mysteries and went on heroic quests. The screenwriter who invented that bit of characterization was ahead of his time (he still is). Nevertheless, with diligent searching books can be found.

Choice is Key to Survival

Books that offer choices to their characters are also important. To a child who is confined or limited by circumstances, choice often seems like a priviledge reserved for others. One of the most important skills a teacher can pass on to her students is the ability to recognize options. "I can't do this!" becomes, "What can I do to get past this obstacle?" With self confidence they decide, "I can switch plans or figure out how to change conditions. Maybe I need a different goal. It's OK to ask for help, or I can do it in a different way. Perhaps I'd rather do something else instead." Options are a powerful tool for daily survival, and key to long-term success. Good books reinforce this spirit.

The Path from Acceptance to Change

Respecting differences is never enough. Change is a part of life. First we acknowledge, then celebrate changes for the adventures they can become. To do that, we don't need books spotlighting differences as anomalies, and we don't need sugar coated plots or easy answers. For me, a physical barrier became a time to grow, and I lived a happy ending. Not all physical, emotional or behavioral challenges are so easily 'fixed,' however. Satisfying books reflect changes, struggles, and endings that are not always expected.

Here are some books with a diverse array of protagonists who choose not to let their "differentness" define them:

Joey Pizga Loses Control by Jack Gantos. Joey Pizga, the unlikely, disaster-prone hero first introduced in Joey Pizga Swallowed the Key, is back and better than ever in this excellent sequel about a bright child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). With his "meds" (medication) finally under control, Joey turns to his next challenge -- getting to know his estranged father. But his father thinks medication is for sissies, and Joey faces a painful decision no child should ever have to make: please his father, or do what he must to take care of himself? A Newbery Honor book. Reading level: ages 9-12.

Bluish by Virginia Hamilton features a trio of girls who form a fragile friendship. One of them, Natalie, has leukemia and uses a wheelchair. How they work out the dynamics of their relationship and come to terms with Natalie's "differentness" makes for compelling reading, with a little bit of an edge. Reading level: ages 9-12.

Freak the Mighty by W.R. Philbrick. Here is an odd couple, if ever there was one: Max, a large, lumbering, learning disabled boy, known as the class "retard," and Kevin, a nerdy, brilliant boy with a condition that limits his growth (he's 2 feet tall). Together they are greater than the sum of their parts. Their unlikely friendship leads to adventure and self-discovery, and allows them to achieve together what they could not achieve alone. Reading level: ages 9-12.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse presents Bille Jo, a girl of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl in the time of the Great Depression. An accident robs Billie Jo of her mother and leaves her hands badly damaged. Drowning in his own sorrow, her father is unable to offer comfort. Written in blank verse, Out of the Dust is a haunting portrait of a child who struggles to survive in bleak circumtances. Billie Jo finds no easy answers, but she does survive. Winner of the 1998 Newbery Medal. Reading level: ages 9-12.

Tangerine by Edward Bloor. Paul Fisher is a legally-blind 7th grader who, with the help of his thick-lensed eyeglasses, is nonetheless a first-rate soccer goalie. When the family moves to Florida, however, things change. Paul's new school classifies him as "handicapped" and therefore ineligible to play. While Paul tries to deal with his new "disabled" status, his older brother, who seems to have a perfect life, is self-destructing. A complex story with many strands, Tangerine was nominated for multiple awards. Reading level: young adult.

A good resource for books featuring differently-abled children is Exceptional Parent Library: A Special Needs Bookstore on the Internet at www.eplibrary.com. (Click on "Our Products," then "For Young People.")

*****

Jeannine Perez, Ph.D. has been teaching in the classroom for 24 years, focusing on early childhood and special education. She earned her Masters in Early Childhood, another in Counseling, and a Ph.D in Art Education/Art Therapy from Illinois State University. To keep busy while recuperating from an injury, she prepared for and achieved National Board Certification. Perez presently teaches an inclusive fourth grade class at Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico.

Dr. Perez is the author of three books:

Explore and Experiment: Adventures in Nature and Science for Young Children, First Teacher Press, 1988.

Hands-On Science, First Teacher Press, 1991.

Peace in Any Language, Humanics Publishing, 2002.

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