top of page
Representation of Disabled People in UK Children's Books
About the Project
Reflecting Disability was initially launched as a pilot scheme in October 2023 with the intent of exploring the representation of disabled people in children's books for 3–11 year-olds.
The project has been led by disabled people and aims to support publishers and creators in their efforts in representing disabled people in the books.
The project builds on the existing annual Reflecting Realities research*. Reflecting Disability aims to develop an equivalent study into disability representation.
*Reflecting Realities is run by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE). The study aims to quantify and evaluate ethnic representation in UK children’s literature.
What impresses me most about this whole project is how disabled and neurodivergent voices have been centred right from the start. The Steering Group members, of which I was very proud to be a part, were made up of disabled and neurodivergent folks, as well as many of the wider team, and the review team. This exemplifies "Nothing about us, without us" – we are not being done to, we are leading the way, disabled-led, right at the centre of creating change and holding to account.
Lisette Auton, Author, poet, activist, performer and Steering Group Member
bottom of page