Did you know?
In the United States, there are 7.3 million children who have a disability. And even though representation in the media has improved, only 3.4% of books published have a main character with a disability.
That’s why, in 2021, a group of four women came together and started Disability Book Week (DBW). Each year during the last week of April, DBW celebrates books that accurately portray the experiences of people with disabilities. This special week works to normalize disabilities through stories with the hope of creating more understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
Disability Book Week highlights a variety of inclusive books for all age groups, covering a broad range of disabilities, like blindness/vision-impairment, deafness, autism/sensory issues, limb differences/prosthetics, ADHD, learning disabilities, and so many more.
The best part is… you can find many of these books at DeKalb Public Library! Contact the Youth Department at (815) 756-9568 ext. 3350 to place any of these books on hold.
This Disability Book Week, let’s use stories to educate ourselves, challenge stereotypes, and start a discussion. Disability Book Week begins on April 20 and ends April 26.