2009 National CEC Convention and Expo
I had the opportunity to attend my first National Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention and Expo in Seattle this year. Highlights include a full-day session on co-teaching by Marilyn Friend, Marlee Matlin’s keynote presentation, and the opportunity to chat with special educators from all around the nation!
Disabilities in Literature
From the massive amount of information presented, I want to share with you one bit that you can take and use today. Elizabeth Potts, Ph.D. and Director of Special Education Programs at the University of Virginia, featured a wonderful handout at a poster session, The Characteristics of Children’s Literature with Main Characters on the Autism Spectrum, which lists of book that have main characters on the autism spectrum. She was kind to share a PDF version of the handout so you have access to it too!
The image above is from the cover of the book, Ian’s Walk: A Story About Autism, winner of the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award in 2000, which recognizes fictional children’s books with positive portrayals of individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
The framers and sponsors of this award believe the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award can make a great impact toward the general public’s recognition of the positive societal contributions of individuals with DDD, greater understanding and acceptance of teachers and school-aged peers of students with DDD, and encouragement of authors and illustrators to publish quality literature including characters with DDD.
Share other books you know with main characters with disabilities (as long as it is a positive portrayl) in the comments below.