Arts Council England (ACE) will fund a pilot project to explore the representation of disability in children’s books for ages 3 to 11. The project, announced at the Booksellers Children’s Conference, aims to support publishers and creators to represent the realities of people living with a disability.
A steering group and wider advisory network are beginning to take shape, with authors Elle McNicol, Lysette Orton and Lizzie Huxley-Jones already confirmed, disability activist June Eaton has also joined, as has critic and inclusion advisor Habiba Mulla.
Experts and ambassadors from disability organisation Promoting a More Inclusive Society (PAMIS) and charity Changing Faces will also be taking part, bringing their expertise and lived experience on neurodiversity, physical disability, chronic illness, severe and multiple learning disabilities and visible difference.
Discussions have also been held with other individuals and organisations, including industry experts from publishing, education, academia and the third sector.
The goal of the steering group and advisory network is to develop robust criteria that will be used to explore how disability people are represented and where there are gaps and opportunities. As the criteria evolve, they will be tested on a sample of current children’s books.
Sarah Crown, head of literature at Arts Council England, said: “At Arts Council England, diversity in literature, particularly children’s literature, is a national priority. We have invested in the Primary Literacy Centre’s ‘Reflecting Realities’ reports for five years, and their annual survey of ethnic representation has become a touchstone in the field.”
“Now is the time to expand to other attributes, and we’re bringing in a team of experts with lived experience of disability and neurodiversity to lay the foundation for similar research on disability representation. This investment is timely and necessary, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the entire publishing industry.”
The proposed criteria and findings are due to be presented at the 2024 London Book Fair (LBF) on Tuesday 12 March. The aim of the discussion session at LBF is to gather further feedback before deciding the best way forward, with a view to seeking funding to carry out a second phase review of recent children’s books.
The project is presented by consultants and authors Beth Cox and Alex Strick, both of whom have later-diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders, who will support the core team and take on the administrative side, allowing the steering group to focus on leading the development of the standards.
Cox and Strick said: “We truly hope this will be our last voice on this project, as we know others will bring more relevant experiences to the table. However, we are pleased to have the opportunity to offer our support to the core team leading this project, building on the groundbreaking work of our Reflecting Realities research, on a project focused on disability representation.”
If you would like to contribute to bringing a range of experiences to the Steering Group and wider advisory network, please contact the organisers on Instagram @.The reality of people with disabilities Alternatively, contact Cox at [email protected].