Blog

The most common wheelchair-using character has acquired paraplegia, but why is this particular narrative so prevalent, and at the expense of all others?

Writing disability respectfully can be difficult, especially in the midst of large, seemingly contradictory conversations about representation. How should frustrated or concerned authors approach this?

We take a close look at the state of recognizable representation of visibly disabled characters on book covers.

To help authors make informed decisions about what language to use, we talk about disability terminology — from outdated words and cringe-worthy phrases to straight-up ableist slurs, and everything in between.

Since our founding exactly three years ago, we’ve built up an impressive bank of reviewed titles. Now, we’re making the search for good representation even easier.

What was originally intended to be a one-month event has now reached its third birthday, and we could not be more ecstatic!

If you looked at me as a teenager, particularly during my freshman year in high school, I would not have stood out from my peers. If you looked closer at my dominant right hand, though, you’d see there was a significant problem.

I appreciated the nuance present in both Izzy’s portrayal as an undiagnosed teen with bipolar disorder and in the reactions of those around her.

We recap the highlights of our #diklSFF Twitter chat, including a link to the full Storify.

Eli is a refreshing wheelchair-using character who regularly surprises and aids the protagonist with his skill set and mind.

Authors must allow their depictions of epileptics to catch up with modern medicine, instead of disseminating ancient beliefs and clichés for the sake of drama.

Vivi’s struggle with bipolar disorder was portrayed accurately and compassionately, and I would highly recommend the book for readers who want to understand the illness better.

We’re excited to welcome Yahong Chi to our team as our social media coordinator!

Portrayals of scoliosis in fiction often lack realism. Why is there so little reflection on the factors that affect a person’s journey?

Magic and technology often minimize disability in SF/F. How can authors meaningfully engage with disability and the ways that speculative elements can affect disabled characters?

We sat down with NYT bestselling author Leigh Bardugo to talk about her most recent series, its depiction of disability, and more!

Six of Crows portrays disability with incredible nuance; it’s realistic, respectful, and perfectly integrated into the characters and story.

Speculative fiction is work that focuses on difference, work that immerses us in it. But the choices we make when building a fictional world can reflect on the world that we live in now. So how do we worldbuild with disability in mind?

Our reviewers interview author and Disability in Kidlit editor Corinne Duyvis about disability tropes, survival in the apocalypse, and writerly research.

An emotionally wrenching book, but a worthy one, and one that treats its autistic protagonist with every bit of the realism and respect that she deserves.

I highly recommend this book to readers with disabilities who enjoy fantasy, particularly amputees. It’s great to see one of our own portrayed authentically and centered as a main character in an exciting adventure.

When we talk about disability and sci-fi/fantasy, the first thing many will think of is the magical disability trope. But what does this trope entail and imply? And how can you subvert it?

This series is a fascinating look at how a writer can acknowledge the “magical cure” trope and improve on the portrayal in later books.

I related to Mahlia’s struggle with the harsh words hurled at her because of her limb deficiency — sometimes wanting to prove herself and sometimes wanting to keep her distance.