Disabilities 'should be in books'

4.44.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Dec 2006

Disabled children should be better represented in story books to increase children's understanding and awareness of disabilities, a charity says. Scope said there were 770,000 disabled children in the UK who had "virtually no role models in literature".

Its campaign, In The Picture, says having disabilities in books could help parents to discuss difficult issues.

"The books we read as children have a profound effect on our attitudes, values and development," Scope said.

"Research shows that children as young as three form prejudices against people who are visibly different. They are more likely to accept disability if they see images of disabled people at an early age."

Author of the report, Penny Dickinson, said: "We need to develop a more inclusive culture for these young children, right from the beginning of their lives.

"When one child saw an image of a girl using a walking frame she immediately pointed it out and said she'd found someone else 'like her We all need images 'like us' to prevent us feeling isolated."

Scope patron and children's health expert, Professor Sir David Hall, said: "Sharing information with children under the age of six can appear to be a daunting task to parents and the people working with families, but imagine how it must feel to have little or no idea about what is happening to you. Information is vital to us all. Information for children, and particularly disabled children, is fundamental to improving the quality of their lives."

The Publishers' Association said it supported the campaign.