A boy in a wheelchair

[JaimeLea]

Would a parent want to read a bedtime story to their handicapped child, if the young boy in the story was wheelchair bound? Or would they be concerned that their child might object to the subject matter?

Um do non-disabled children object to seeing children in books who move like them? No, don't think so. Why would a disabled child object?

I reckon they'd be pretty pissed off to be described as 'handicapped' though. If you're writing such a book then you need to do a lot more research.

Why on earth would any child object to that?

(Yes, BTW, "handicapped" is considered pretty offensive in the UK.)

Oh and nobody is wheelchair 'bound'. People who use wheelchairs also spend a lot of time OUT of the chair. Some people walk as well as using a chair, some transfer independently, some will need to be hoisted. Nobody is bolted in to their chair.

Um.

Hopefully you don't mean to cause offence but please say wheelchair user, not wheelchair bound.

I think the character and plot would be the most important factor in whether the child listening to the story liked it or not

Lots of children enjoy the secret garden. Ok, it ends with Colin walking etc, but he is bed bound to begun with. Tiny Tim survives, but never recovers. It all depends on the story.

Er what? Really?

What a strange question.

I think children's book should use characters from all different backgrounds and abilities. I'd encourage a book that has children with disabilities.

And as previous posters have said please don't say handicapped or wheelchair bound.

It took me ages to even understand the OP - I thought the question was "Would you read your child a bedtime story?" at first. I thought, um, you do know they don't sleep in the chair!

Then I realised what it was but it's still baffling.

Should adult wheelchair users be offended by wheelchair-using characters on TV?

Being generous, though agreeing with previous posts, it may be nice to see children's literature featuring disabled or SN children. I know MN Riven's dd did a lovely short story - will try to find the link in a mo. I think you need to look at this area a bit more closely though OP as you are coming across as very insensitive.

Wheelmouse

Are you asking if children who use wheelchairs would be bored, or upset by reading stories about other children who use wheelchairs?

I would say no, as long as the subject was either really positive OR if it really reflected the issues they might face. Or both.

I am now thinking of Heidi, where fresh cow's milk, mountain air, and a bit of exercise solves all. That would be a bad idea.

What about 'what Katy Did' - now granted she recovers and granted Cousin Helen is one heck of a pill BUT the point of the book is that Katy has to learn how to live a useful and fulfilled life when her's is turned upside down. It's about adjusting. It doesn't conceal the physical and emotional pain she feels either.

It depends.

Are you going to write one, OP?

If so, I'm opting for 'probably offensive'.

I apologize for sounding insensitive. I struggled with the wording of my question and obviously got wrong. In the bedtime story Jaime Lea and the Bumblebee the young boy is a wheelchair user. The story is written with a lot of sensitivity and there are many thought provoking ideas for young children. The most important being, be yourself. Do not waste time wishing that you could be someone else. But, thank you, the question I was asking has been answered. If the story is interesting enough it will be enjoyed by all children, equally.

Only if there was something particularly objectionable about the boy which was directly related to his disability: we have a tacit understanding that I am not to read A Christmas Carol aloud without killing Tiny Tim off in some gruesome fashion.

As a parent, I struggle with The Secret Garden because of the implicit Christian science message that if only you have the right attitude your disability will go away.

Heidi's not a favourite either, for similar reasons: the unspoilt child of nature is healthy and robust and the spoilt rich little girl is disabled.

But an ordinary child who just happens to be using a wheelchair- can't see a problem. Don't seem to find many of them in fiction though.