Your seven-year-old watches a movie where a wheelchair user teaches the main character to "appreciate life." Your teenager rolls their eyes at another magical cure ending. Your child with a disability asks why the disabled characters on TV don't look like anyone they know. They're spotting patterns that media creators have relied on for decades, patterns so common they have names: inspiration porn, the tragic burden narrative, the magical cure, and the overwhelming likelihood that the disabled character on screen is played by someone without a disability. The question isn't whether to discuss these patterns with your child. It's how to give them the language to recognize what they're seeing without turning every movie night into a seminar. What Inspiration Porn Is. The term comes from disability activist Stella Young, who described it as content that exists to make non-disabled people feel better about their own lives. The disabled person in the story isn't a full character with wants, conflicts, and agency. They're a narrative device designed to inspire, motivate, or teach someone else a lesson. The tell is simple: if you removed the disabled character and replaced them with a motivational poster, would the story function the same way? If yes, you're looking at inspiration porn. The kid in a wheelchair who exists to teach the protagonist gratitude. The blind mentor whose wisdom comes from "overcoming adversity." The Deaf student whose main function is to inspire the hearing characters to be kinder. These stories use disabled people to make...

Identify harmful disability tropes and give your child language to recognize authentic vs. performative representation.

Beyond Inspiration Porn: How to Talk to Your Child About Disability Representation in Movies and TV

Your seven-year-old watches a movie where a wheelchair user teaches the main character to "appreciate life." Your teenager rolls their eyes at another magical cure ending. Your child with a disability asks why the disabled characters on TV don't look like anyone they know. They're spotting patterns that media creators have relied on for decades, patterns so common they have names: inspiration porn, the tragic burden narrative, the magical cure, and the overwhelming likelihood that the disabled character on screen is played by someone without a disability. The question isn't whether to discuss these patterns with your child. It's how to give them the language to recognize what they're seeing without turning every movie night into a seminar. What Inspiration Porn Is. The term comes from disability activist Stella Young, who described it as content that exists to make non-disabled people feel better about their own lives. The disabled person in the story isn't a full character with wants, conflicts, and agency. They're a narrative device designed to inspire, motivate, or teach someone else a lesson. The tell is simple: if you removed the disabled character and replaced them with a motivational poster, would the story function the same way? If yes, you're looking at inspiration porn. The kid in a wheelchair who exists to teach the protagonist gratitude. The blind mentor whose wisdom comes from "overcoming adversity." The Deaf student whose main function is to inspire the hearing characters to be kinder. These stories use disabled people to make...

For the first time in High Definition, Disney's The Sword in the Stone brings the delightful story of young Arthur to a new generation of viewers, as well as those who have enjoyed the musically charged animated film over the years. This movie focuses on the innocent little orphan boy who becomes King of England due to his destiny, not his birthright. The story starts when England is in "one big medieval mess." The king has died leaving no heirs. However a sword embedded in a stone on an anvil proclaims the legend that whomever can pull the sword out of the stone will be king. That person will be someone of pure character. Of course, all the men in the area try their strength at the enchanted sword, but no one can pull it out of the stone. A man who works at a castle took in the little orphan and puts Arthur to work doing all kinds of tasks while training him to be a squire. Young Arthur is nicknamed Wart, and is happy to do whatever he can to help. He's a sweet young lad whose life is changed when he meets Merlin, a wizard who teaches him about the world. Merlin is an interesting character who has been to the future and knows all that will happen. He teaches the boy that true power is in higher learning and sets to improve Arthur's knowledge of the world. Along the way, Arthur learns his inner strength. ...

Disney's 'The Sword in the Stone' HD release depicts Arthur's rise from orphan to King through wisdom, featuring new extras.

The Sword in the Stone 50th Anniversary Edition Combo Pack

Disney's 'The Sword in the Stone' HD release depicts Arthur's rise from orphan to King through wisdom, featuring new extras.

"I Am A Child Just Like You" by Travis Breeding is a beautiful book that seeks to teach children acceptance and understanding for those who are "different", and to look past those differences and find the things that they have in common. The book is told in the voice of Mason, a boy with Autism, who uses everyday examples to help us understand him. "I Am A Child Just Like You" has beautiful illustrations by 14 year old Kimberly Freeman that help Mason's words come to life. Mason tells us how he is different: "You might like Spiderman and I like Thomas the Train. I think in pictures, you might think in words". He also shows us how he and his peers could be the same: "I am like you. I like to play with toys. I like to run around and jump up and down". Mason gives us some great insight into the reasons for his actions: "I want to follow the rules, but I don't like rules that are not written where I can see them". "Sometimes I think about too many things at once and have a meltdown." His words of wisdom could be used to help school-aged children as well as their parents, understand the mind of a child with autism: "Please be patient with me, so I can learn how to interact with you." Author Travis Breeding was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 22. Growing up, he knew that he was "different" and...

Travis Breeding's book teaches children to accept those with autism, highlighting commonalities and providing insight into autistic minds.

Book Review: I Am A Child Just Like You

"I Am A Child Just Like You" by Travis Breeding is a beautiful book that seeks to teach children acceptance and understanding for those who are "different", and to look past those differences and find the things that they have in common. The book is told in the voice of Mason, a boy with Autism, who uses everyday examples to help us understand him. "I Am A Child Just Like You" has beautiful illustrations by 14 year old Kimberly Freeman that help Mason's words come to life. Mason tells us how he is different: "You might like Spiderman and I like Thomas the Train. I think in pictures, you might think in words". He also shows us how he and his peers could be the same: "I am like you. I like to play with toys. I like to run around and jump up and down". Mason gives us some great insight into the reasons for his actions: "I want to follow the rules, but I don't like rules that are not written where I can see them". "Sometimes I think about too many things at once and have a meltdown." His words of wisdom could be used to help school-aged children as well as their parents, understand the mind of a child with autism: "Please be patient with me, so I can learn how to interact with you." Author Travis Breeding was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 22. Growing up, he knew that he was "different" and...

The second edition of Dr. Thomas W. Phelan's influential guide, All About Attention Deficit Disorder , explains in layman's terms the symptoms and treatments for this all too common condition. All About Attention Deficit Disorder asks the reader, What is your ADD IQ? The book focuses on what the symptoms, impact, and prognosis of ADD are. Dr. Phelan also talks about the diagnostic process doctors use to evaluate for ADD in straight-forward language that parents will appreciate. He outlines some answers to common questions about an ADD diagnosis, then explores treatment options, including medication “myths and misconceptions.” This book is an essential tool for helping people understand the idiosyncrasies of this disorder. Dr. Phelan writes with warmth and wisdom. His chapter on behavior management in children ages 2 – 12 is a wonderful example, as it focuses on changing the way parents think about disciplining their children with ADD/ADHD by first stressing that children are not “little adults.” Instead, he encourages parents to think of themselves as “wild animal trainers.” As happens quite often in this book, the reader will be drawn in by Dr. Phelan's easy-to-understand explanations: being a wild animal trainer does not mean to use whips or be abusive. It requires choosing a largely nonverbal method that effectively gets the child to do what the "trainer" wants. Although this book is essential for parents struggling to understand their child's diagnosis, it can also be an excellent resource for adults who may not have had the...

Dr. Phelan's book 'All About Attention Deficit Disorder' explains ADD symptoms, treatments, and offers hope for management.

Review: All About Attention Deficit Disorder

The second edition of Dr. Thomas W. Phelan's influential guide,  All About Attention Deficit Disorder , explains in layman's terms the symptoms and treatments for this all too common condition.  All About Attention Deficit Disorder asks the reader, What is your ADD IQ? The book focuses on what the symptoms, impact, and prognosis of ADD are. Dr. Phelan also talks about the diagnostic process doctors use to evaluate for ADD in straight-forward language that parents will appreciate. He outlines some answers to common questions about an ADD diagnosis, then explores treatment options, including medication “myths and misconceptions.” This book is an essential tool for helping people understand the idiosyncrasies of this disorder. Dr. Phelan writes with warmth and wisdom. His chapter on behavior management in children ages 2 – 12 is a wonderful example, as it focuses on changing the way parents think about disciplining their children with ADD/ADHD by first stressing that children are not “little adults.” Instead, he encourages parents to think of themselves as “wild animal trainers.” As happens quite often in this book, the reader will be drawn in by Dr. Phelan's easy-to-understand explanations: being a wild animal trainer does not mean to use whips or be abusive. It requires choosing a largely nonverbal method that effectively gets the child to do what the "trainer" wants. Although this book is essential for parents struggling to understand their child's diagnosis, it can also be an excellent resource for adults who may not have had the...

Successful Transitions: How Do You Raise Wise Children? All parents want to raise wise kids. But where does wisdom really come from? Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. Our children may have good information about their medical conditions. However, even when they have enough education and intelligence to drive good decisions, that does not always translate into the wisdom needed to take good care of themselves especially with an illness like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, or diabetes where the results of poor care may be decades away. So where does wisdom come from? Don't we hear that "Wisdom comes from trial and error?" There are plenty of sayings: "Wisdom comes from experience" or "Wisdom comes from the school of hard knocks," etc. Unfortunately, wisdom only comes with trial and error if the error is accompanied by negative consequences that can be correlated. The correct way of stating that, as unpopular as it may be in modern-day America, is: "People have to suffer the consequences of their mistakes and poor choices." This means that when our children make a mistake, we don't just automatically always rescue them. Instead, we respond by loving them, talking it over with them, and providing ideas about how they might get themselves out of a challenging situation. Parents who raise children without wisdom usually do it by making two common mistakes. First, they try to make sure their children don't...

Wisdom in kids comes from experiencing consequences of their actions, teaching how to cope, not from parents fixing their mistakes.

Transitions: Raising Wise Children

  Successful Transitions: How Do You Raise Wise Children?    All parents want to raise wise kids. But where does wisdom really come from?    Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. Our children may have good information about their medical conditions. However, even when they have enough education and intelligence to drive good decisions, that does not always translate into the wisdom needed to take good care of themselves especially with an illness like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, or diabetes where the results of poor care may be decades away.   So where does wisdom come from? Don't we hear that "Wisdom comes from trial and error?" There are plenty of sayings: "Wisdom comes from experience" or "Wisdom comes from the school of hard knocks," etc.   Unfortunately, wisdom only comes with trial and error if the error is accompanied by negative consequences that can be correlated. The correct way of stating that, as unpopular as it may be in modern-day America, is: "People have to suffer the consequences of their mistakes and poor choices."   This means that when our children make a mistake, we don't just automatically always rescue them. Instead, we respond by loving them, talking it over with them, and providing ideas about how they might get themselves out of a challenging situation.   Parents who raise children without wisdom usually do it by making two common mistakes. First, they try to make sure their children don't...

Wisdom in kids comes from experiencing consequences of their actions, teaching how to cope, not from parents fixing their mistakes.

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Special Needs
Articles

Beyond Inspiration Porn: How to Talk to Your Child About Disability Representation in Movies and TV

The Sword in the Stone 50th Anniversary Edition Combo Pack

Book Review: I Am A Child Just Like You

Review: All About Attention Deficit Disorder

Transitions: Raising Wise Children

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Beyond Inspiration Porn: How to Talk to Your Child About Disability Representation in Movies and TV

The Sword in the Stone 50th Anniversary Edition Combo Pack

Book Review: I Am A Child Just Like You

Review: All About Attention Deficit Disorder

Transitions: Raising Wise Children

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles