theChat.scot

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Talking about…Some people have a disability

As parents we can help our children to understand disability and to respect everyone.

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Talking about disability

Talking about disability may be something you do in your family day-to-day. Your child may have a disability, or a sibling or other family member. Most children will have classmates with a disability. The text here is offered to support whatever conversations you have and can be adapted to your child’s circumstances.

A disability is when a person finds it difficult (or maybe impossible) to walk, see, hear, speak, learn, or do other important things. A disability can be something to do with your body. Or a disability can be about how you learn or understand the world around you.

A disability can be something a person was born with, or it can be because the person has been ill or had an accident.

Many people have a disability. Sometimes you can see that someone has a disability, for example if they use a wheelchair. Sometimes you can’t see a disability, like maybe someone is deaf or is autistic.

People with disabilities usually understand how it affects them, and they can usually do most things just like other people. They might just do them differently. If you think a person with a disability needs help with something, ask them first.

It’s okay to ask polite questions about a person’s disability. It’s never okay to be mean to someone because of their disability.

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Films and animations about children

In these films Luke and Winnie talk about themselves. You can watch together and chat.

Luke is 9 and has Downs Syndrome.

Winnie is 9 and has Cerebral Palsy

Whenever you use content on a platform like YouTube, please cue the film you intend to play in advance, check it is the film you want to view, and skip adverts.

In this animation Nick’s friends talk about understanding his autism (scroll down on the page for the video).

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Books

You might like to read these books together. Your library might have them, or you can ask them if they will order a book for you.

Find out about how these iconic figures owned their differences and overcame obstacles.

Remarkable athletes that have won gold medals, set world records and climbed mountains.

The metaphor of a flowing river helps the boy understand his difficulty in getting his words out.

Leo doesn’t feel like he fits in with other children. An illustrated picture book about being different and finding friends.

A story about neurodivergence. Abigail can find it difficult to concentrate in school.

Beatrice struggles with reading and writing, she is also a natural and brilliant storyteller. A story that demonstrates that a learning difference like dyslexia doesn’t define who you are.

For younger children: A boy named Charlie describes the activities he shares with his friend Isabelle, a girl with Down Syndrome.