Arts Council England to fund project on disability representation in children's books

Arts Council England (ACE) will fund a pilot project exploring the representation of people with disabilities in children’s books for three to 11-year-olds. Announced at The Bookseller’s Children’s Conference, the project is aimed at supporting publishers and creators who represent the realities of those living with a disability. 

A steering group and wider advisory network are starting to take shape with confirmed names already including authors Elle McNicoll, Lisette Auton and Lizzie Huxley-Jones. Disability activist June Eaton is also taking part, as is reviewer and inclusion advisor Habeeba Mulla.

Experts and ambassadors from disability organisation Promoting a More Inclusive Society (PAMIS) and the charity Changing Faces are also on board. They will be bringing in expertise and lived experience across neurodivergence, physical disability, chronic illness, profound and multiple learning difficulties and visible difference.

Discussions are also taking place with other individuals and organisations, including industry experts across publishing, education, academia and the third sector. 

The goal of the steering group and advisory network is to develop robust criteria, which will be used to explore how disabled people are represented and where the gaps and opportunities are. As this criteria evolves, it will be tested on a sample of current children’s books.

Sarah Crown, literature director at Arts Council England, said: "At Arts Council England, diversity in literature, and especially in children’s literature, is a national priority. We have invested in the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education’s Reflecting Realities report for five years now; their annual survey of ethnic representation has become a touchstone for the sector. 

"Now is the time to expand to other characteristics. We are inviting a team of experts with lived experience of disability and neurodivergence to lay the groundwork for a similar study of disability representation. This investment is timely and necessary, and we are looking forward to seeing the work progress in partnership with the whole publishing sector.”

The draft criteria and outcomes will be shared at the 2024 London Book Fair (LBF) on Tuesday 12th March. The aim of the discussion-based session at LBF will be to collect further feedback before deciding on the best way forward, with a view to seeking funding to carry a second-phase review of recent children’s books.

The project was announced by consultants and authors Beth Cox and Alex Strick, both late-identified neurodivergent, who will be supporting the core teams and dealing with administrative aspects so that the steering group can focus on leading the development of the criteria. 

Cox and Strick said: "We really hope that this is the last time our voices will be the loudest on this project as we know that others have much more relevant experience to bring, but we are delighted to have the opportunity to play a role in building on the groundbreaking work of the Reflecting Realities research with a project focused on the representation of disabled people, and providing support to the core teams that will lead this project.”

Anyone who wants to contribute in helping bring a range of experiences to the steering group and wider advisory network is encouraged to reach out to the organisers on Instagram, @DisabledRealities or by contacting Cox at beth@bethcox.co.uk.