Don't Call Me Special by Pat Thomas

Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability was written by Pat Thomas, was illustrated by Lesley Harker and was originally published in 2001.

   Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability  is a story about what life is like as a disabled child. It is a book that introduces the complex concept of disabilities in an age appropriate manner. It addresses common misconceptions about disabled children, such as: disabled children cannot play sports, do not like to play with other children, are not very smart and do not have feelings. This book emphasizes the fact that though some children who are disabled may learn differently or need a little extra help with tasks, they can still participate and have fun.  Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability helps children learn that there is nothing wrong with being disabled, and those who are disabled should be treated like anyone else. This book helps eliminate the fear children may have because they do not understand what it means to be disabled.

   This book provides a valuable insight into the lives of children who have disabilities. There are many illustrations showing children in wheelchairs or walkers or braces participating in everyday activities, like playing sports or working in class. The goal of this book is to explore questions and concerns that children may have about disablities. It addresses topics such as what a disability is, why people have disabilities, how and why equipment is used and, above all, that children who are disabled, on the inside, are no different than any other child.

   One of the most important qualities of this book is that it emphasizes the fact that making assumptions about people in general, not just about those who are disabled, can be hurtful, harmful and incorrect. In fact, within the first few pages Thomas (2001) states, "Sometimes, when we see people who are different from us, we assume things about them that are not always true... assuming things about people can hurt their feelings and make them feel very left out" (p. 5-6)

  The language in this book is not only age appropriate, it is informative, as well . Though, it does have words that would not be in the average pre-schooler's vocabulary, it does explain what each word means and gives context. The story is full of historical content and complex ideas that are presented in an engaging way. The book is written in such a straight forward, matter-of-fact way that is very beneficial for young readers. None of the concepts surrounding disability are presented in a convoluted way; questions are answered in a clear manner without providing too much or too little information.

   After applying the techniques listed in "10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children's Books for Racism and Sexism," I feel confident that this book would be a great addition to any child's library. This book does not enforce any stereotypes, in fact, it discourages them. The images of children playing sports feature both boys and girls, which prevents perpetuating the sexist stereotype that girls don't play sports. There are children of many different races featured throughout the book, both as disabled and not, which helps show that all children, regardless of their race and abilities, are relevant in today's society. In addition, the adults illustrated in this book feature "grown ups" of many different races and are shown to have many different careers. This addition, however subtle, enforces the idea that children, no matter what their race or ethnicity or disability, can grow up to be whatever they want- success is not limited to one race or ability. There are no loaded words or language used in this book; in fact, there is a section of this book that addresses words that may be hurtful to disabled people. Thomas (2001) gives a historical perspective on why disabled children are sometimes referred to as "special" and why this word may be hurtful. (p. 13)
 

   Pat Thomas is a trained child therapist turned journalist and writes books for A First Look series. A First Look series introduces children to difficult topics, such as death and divorce, and scary topics, like going to the dentist or being bullied. The aim of this book series is to foster a sense of acceptance and equality and to develop a better sense of self. For this reason, I think Thomas is definitely qualified to write such a book. Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability helps children learn that there is nothing wrong with being disabled, and those who are disabled should be treated like anyone else.

   The children who are disabled are, arguably, outside of mainstream culture. They are most certainly depicted as individuals, capable of achieving whatever they set their mind to. Culture is not outright addressed in this book, though many children of different races and ethnicity are clearly represented throughout the book. The book focuses on differences based on ability, not appearance. There is no apparent tokenism in this book. All children and adults are depicted as individuals, regardless of their race or ability. The narrative and illustrations show that gender, race and abilities are never reasons to discriminate (or leave someone out, in more age appropriate terms). This book encourages children to embrace what makes themselves, and others different and unique.

   Many parents of disabled children agree that this book is incredibly effective in addressing the topic of disability. Easter Seals, a company that provides services for those who are disabled, has a blog in which people can chat about effective ways for furthering inclusion and acceptance of those who are disabled. One parent, Paula Finke (2010), a parent of a disabled child, wrote a review on this book. She said that this book gave an accurate depiction of the lives of disabled children and the discrimination they face (p. 1). She also strongly encourages parents and teachers to read this book because it gives such a great advice on acceptance.

Finke, P. (2010, October 9). Book Review: Don't Call Me Special. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
Honig, Bill. (1998). "10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children's Books for Racism and Sexism."        Sacramento, USA: California State Department of Education.

Thomas, Pat. (2001). Don't Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability. New York, USA: Barron's      Educational Series.