The world of storytelling is one where infinite possibility exists in infinite combinations. You can
write about anything you want, and invent characters who are as real or far-removed from reality
as you so choose. The world of literature is, therefore, pretty diverse, and home to some of the
most interesting literary characters around. With that being said, we’re not sure how diverse the
world of fiction is in regard to disability and the challenges faced by people all over the world.
Now, on the one hand, we do get why some people might choose to craft a story without any
elements in it which reflect the real world. For many folks, media and literature are forms of
escapism and so they may not want to see themes in there which are evocative of the real
world. This is understandable to a degree, but we still feel a pressing need to push for more
forms of representation in books for a few simple reasons.
First of all, many people are born with a disability. This means that they will spend their whole
lives surrounded by, and battling, their disability. It will dominate the way they look at the world
and shape their experiences of it. Therefore, if they grow up reading books about people with
disabilities who go on incredible adventures and do things which they shouldn’t normally be able
to do, it creates an incredible sense of accomplishment and motivation. Maybe these kids can
do something, and be someone heroic or brave or push past their limitations just like the
characters in the book.
Another thing that we should also consider when it comes to disability in literature is how
important it can be for books to hold a mirror of some type up to social issues. Within a literary
analysis, the world around a book is often considered to be an important part of its very soul –
many popular works often took inspiration or commented on themes and problems of the time.
A good literary work in the 21st century can do exactly that. By addressing some of the
challenges and issues faced by people who have a disability, we put a mirror up to society and
force it to look carefully at what it thinks and does with people.
With all being said and done, it is true that there are books and plots emerging with people who
have a disability. However, we would love to see more of these amazing works. They represent
a willingness on part of authors to explore what might be uncomfortable topics, and to do so in a
very mature, sensitive way. By drawing attention to these issues – however far-removed from
the world of the non-disabled reader they may be – we help to break down some of the stigma
and challenge surrounding them. That is how we grow and learn as people, by exposing
ourselves to things we may know little about.