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Talking disability and ableism with kids
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Hi Reader, Do you, your child, or someone they love have a disability? Approximately 1 in 4 Americans has a disabilty, but it's not something most of us talk with children about very often. I've been busy the last 2 weeks creating new resources and updating an old one to help you have conversations with kids of all ages so that all of us can better understand - and dismantle - ableism. (If you're new to the term, I'd sum up ableism as all the beliefs, behaviors, patterns, and laws in our society that devalue disabled people and discriminate against them.) New book list: Chapter books that challenge ableism (with suggestions for ages 7 - 14) There's so much variety in this list, from one of my favorite historical fiction books about a community in Massachusetts where both hearing and deaf people used sign language in the early 1800s to a novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent kid who pushes his family to see he's ready for challenges outside a self-contained classroom. Theater kids will love the book by Wicked performer Ali Stroker, which focuses on a girl who knows that she can dance along with the rest of the case while using her wheelchair. I've included the novel my son and I read together soon after realizing he had ADHD, which prompted a lot of good discussion. Some of these books explicitly unpack different forms of disability and how it shapes the main character's life. Others simply show disabled kids living their everyday lives. (It's important to read both kinds of books!) My favorite is a book by disabled co-authors that shows why extra attention (including positive attention about how "you're so amazing") can be so uncomfortable for kids. I've included two excellent books that unpack concepts like ableism and access for young readers, without being boring. There are fun stories: one about an exuberant and little bit naughty puppy and his best friend (a wheelchair user) and another about a long day exploring the beach, where the main character happens to be disabled. New family-friendly resource guide: Learning about disability and taking action against ableism This guide is available for Pay What You Can pricing starting at $3. (I don't want cost to be a barrier, so please reply to this email if that's more than you're able to pay.) This 16 page guide ncludes:
Happy learning, Rebekah Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice |
Raising antiracist kids
Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Hi Reader, The last week and a half has given me all the feelings, and I do mean ALL of them. You've probably heard that the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, perhaps the most important piece of civil rights legislation in the past hundred years. Just days later, the Tennessee State Legislature called a special legislative session to carve up Memphis' majority Black Congressional district. It was a three day clown show where legislators disrespected hundreds of protestors who showed...
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