“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Albert Einstein

Every individual has potential, which can be groomed and developed into something productive. While it is undeniable that every child has to face his/her own battles, we must never forget that differently-abled children might require a little help in doing so. As a society, we ought to be more inclusive towards these children.

One way we can achieve that is through books. We often overlook the importance of books, and how much of a difference they can make in the lives of children. Here is a list of books beneficial not only to parents of a child with special needs, but everyone.

On Their Own
by Anne Ford

‘On Their Own’ is a compelling guide by Anne Ford, mother of an adult daughter with learning disabilities, on the challenges faced by parents of learning-disabled children. This parent-to-parent book has tips to help you figure out how – and how much – to let go. It guides you through high school, college, workplace, and life after when your child is on his own. You can turn to ‘On Their Own’ for guidance, for answers, for direction.

There’s a Boy in Here: Emerging from the Bonds of Autism

by Judy Barron and Sean Barron

‘There’s a Boy in Here’ is written by the mother-son duo of Judy and Sean Barron, which showcases a mother’s struggle to ‘reach’ her son, as he retreats further into the repetitive behaviour and rituals of autism. Through the book, Sean also shares stories to provide a balanced view of the educational challenges and reasons behind his behaviour. While most therapists disagree with the implied conclusion that autism can be cured, the book does provide added insights into the family dynamics and challenges facing students with autism-spectrum disorders.

Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids 

by Chris Biffle

Published in 2013, ‘Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids’ offers a new and comprehensive way to engage with students. The book is especially useful for special education teachers. By providing alternative methods for connecting with students and finding ways to make the learning process fun, the Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) method can reduce frustration and increase engagement among children and adolescents with learning disabilities. Biffle provides a thorough overview of WBT and offers step-by-step guidance on implementing this cutting-edge teaching method in the classroom, allowing teachers to make the most positive impact on the lives of their students.

Wings to Fly
by Sowmya Rajendran (author) and Arun Kaushik (illustrator)

Wings to fly is a story of Padma Shri Malathi Holla, the famous sportswoman and Arjuna awardee who braved her disability to make India proud by winning gold at the Paralympics. The book traces the cause of her disability to a polio attack when she was about a year old, which took away the strength in her legs. Despite undergoing a number of surgeries and living in a medical centre for as many as fifteen years, Malathi continued to be wheelchair bound. Her story is an inspiration for all.

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder 

by Carol Stock Kranowitz

In her book, Kranowitz strongly urges for early intervention and pushes parents to make themselves aware of their children’s sensory processing issues from the beginning. She also provides helpful awareness pointers such as recognising that insurance doesn’t always cover the cost of therapy, mainly because the disorder is not included in the latest issue of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Only with support from family and friends, the stress of raising a specially-abled child can be reduced to a large extent. It is not only the responsibility of parents, but also that of the society to make them feel more included and accepted in this world.

Also Read: Looking at the Bright Side of Life