Characterization of Developmental Disability in Children's Fiction
Keywords
Development Disability, juvenile literature, Characterization
Abstract
Based on the Dyches and Prater (2000) guidelines, characterizations and plots in 34 eligible children's books published during 1999-2003 were evaluated; 36 characterizations are discussed in detail in terms of each guideline. Results showed that, compared to a previous study (Dyches, Prater, & Cramer, 2001), characters with developmental disabilities made more deliberate choices, were educated in more inclusive settings, were more accepted in their communities, and served in more helping roles; and more commonly the disability was only one of many character traits. Also a wide age spectrum was portrayed, and several characterizations represented people from minority races or cultures. Over half of the characters with DD had autism spectrum disorders, and almost half of those characters had Asperger syndrome.
Original Publication Citation
Dyches, T. T., & Prater, M. A. (2005). Characterization of developmental disability in children’s fiction. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 40(3), 202-216. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23879716?seq=1
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Taylor, Tina M. and Prater, Mary Anne, "Characterization of Developmental Disability in Children's Fiction" (2005). Faculty Publications. 7375.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7375
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2005
Publisher
Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Language
English
College
David O. McKay School of Education
Department
Counseling Psychology and Special Education
Copyright Status
© Division on Developmental Disabilities
Copyright Use Information
https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
