I have some thoughts on disability representation and incidental diversity in #kidlit.

Namely, I'd like to see more of it.

So many times I see books with disabled characters where disability is at the center of the story. We see this for both main & secondary characters.

2. And I just...don't get why?

Why can't we have stories with disabled kids where that isn't the main point of the story?

To illustrate, a few examples!

3. A SNICKER OF MAGIC by @_natalielloyd.

Main character's best friend is a wheelchair user. His story is about dealing with his dad being deployed in the military.

I love this because it's the kind of story that a non-disabled kid might have, too. It's not about tragedy.

4. LUPE WONG WON'T DANCE by @dbhiguera, one of my 2020 faves.

There is a secondary autistic character. We see him dealing with square dancing (the horror!) and middle-school social stuff alongside the main character. He isn't portrayed as super-special or a burden.

5. THE VIEW FROM THE VERY BEST HOUSE IN TOWN by @writemeera--forthcoming next year.

Two autistic friends deal with a peculiar house and their friendship. Their being autistic is part of the story, but it isn't the whole story.

6. Publishers, agents, writers...we need more of this.

We need disabled kids to just do things. Have relationships. Save the world. You know...all of the things that non-disabled kids do in kidlit.

7. There is a place for stories that center being disabled and dealing with ableism.

But, frankly, they are almost always better if written by #ownvoices authors.