Abstract

A Century of Depicting Characters With Disabilities in Newbery Award and Honor Books Merna Kay Raines Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, BYU Educational Specialist Between 1922 and 2021, 426 books received the Newbery Award, with 64 books featuring characters with disabilities. However, it was not until 1931 that the Newbery Honor Award was given to recognize the author of a book featuring a character with disabilities. Newbery Award-winning books are considered quality literature and are found in most libraries and classrooms. Understanding the portrayal of characters with disabilities is important because students easily access these books. This content analysis used a rating scale to evaluate the eligible books (n = 64) regarding items such as types of disabilities, personal demographics, authentic portrayal, social relationships, exemplary practices, and point of view. From this sample of 64 books, there were 88 characters with a disability as defined by the 14 disability categories designated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The findings suggest that the depiction of characters with disabilities in Newbery books does not match the proportion of students with disabilities in the United States. The racial diversity portrayed in these books should better reflect the diverse population of students in special education. Overall, there has been a positive trend in portraying characters with disabilities since the authorization of IDEA in 1975. Educators should choose books carefully for teaching or therapeutic purposes. The study also highlights areas for future research and practice.

Degree

EdS

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/