Books That Cater to Different Special Needs

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Children and adults with special needs often don't see themselves represented in mainstream media. Books that feature characters with similar experiences help them feel seen and understood. When children see characters with special needs in books, it normalizes their experiences and challenges, reducing feelings of isolation and difference. Here are some books you can share with your child(ren) of all ages.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Children:

• "All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism" by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer

• "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

Teens:

• "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

• "Rules" by Cynthia Lord

Adults:

• "Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism" by Temple Grandin

• "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's" by John Elder Robison

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Children:

• "Cory Stories: A Kid's Book About Living with ADHD" by Jeanne Kraus

• "Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets" by Barbara Esham

Teens:

• "ADHD: Non-Medication Treatments and Skills for Children and Teens" by Debra Burdick

• "Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder" by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey

Adults:

• "You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!" by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo

• "Taking Charge of Adult ADHD" by Russell A. Barkley

Dyslexia

Children:

• "It's Called Dyslexia" by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos

• "Tom's Special Talent" by Kate Gaynor

Teens:

• "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

• "The Alphabet War: A Story About Dyslexia" by Diane Burton Robb

Adults:

• "The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Smartest People Can't Read...and How They Can Learn" by Ronald D. Davis and Eldon M. Braun

• "Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level" by Sally Shaywitz

Physical Disabilities

Children:

• "Zoom!" by Robert Munsch

• "Susan Laughs" by Jeanne Willis

Teens:

• "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

• "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio

Adults:

• "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death" by Jean-Dominique Bauby

• "Laughing at My Nightmare" by Shane Burcaw

Visual Impairments

Children:

• "The Black Book of Colors" by Menena Cottin

• "Do You Remember the Color Blue? And Other Questions Kids Ask about Blindness" by Sally Hobart Alexander

• “My Alphabet is Very Clear” by Nana Journal Print

Hearing Impairments

Children:

• "Can You Hear a Rainbow? The Story of a Deaf Boy Named Chris" by Jamee Riggio Heelan

• "The Sound of Colors" by Jimmy Liao

• "My Happy Ears" by NaTyshca Pickett

Teens:

• "Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick

• "El Deafo" by Cece Bell

Adults:

• "Deaf Like Me" by Thomas S. Spradley and James P. Spradley

• "Train Go Sorry: Inside a Deaf World" by Leah Hager Cohen

These books not only provide representation but also foster understanding and empathy for individuals with various special needs.