Revues de livres — Disabilities, Dragons and Other Magical Discoveries: A Kid's Guide to Understanding and Living with Disabilities  (2000)

Rick Enright
Thames Valley Children's Centre,
779 Base Line Road E.
London, ON  N6C 5Y6
69 pages; $19.95 plus shipping and handling

This book is an overview of some common disabilities, accompanying symptoms and social aspects of having a disability and aims to provide information to kids with disabilities, families and friends.  Disabilities are compared to dragons; sometimes they are scary, dangerous, and magical, but by learning the dragon's secrets it can be controlled and understood.

The introduction describes the book's use as a resource and leads into explaining cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, spina bifida, and spinal cord and brain injuries. A basic overview of each disability and brief explanations of associated problems and interventions are provided. The symptoms section covers bladder, kidney and bowel function, communication, contractures, hydrocephalus and shunts, mobility, scoliosis, seizures,  the senses and the brain. The next section called Social Stuff includes the topics: disability and death, education and careers, family, friends and the rest of the world, independence, and understanding yourself. The book concludes with a user guide and a word guide and glossary of terms.

The parent of a nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, Christine Johansen, assisting in this review found the book a nice resource, providing a wide variety of information for the ready child. Parents reading the book first and then reading it with their child and adding more specific detail was recommended as it may be unclear to children which symptoms would be associated with their disability. Christine was startled to turn to the Social Stuff and find Disability and Death as the first topic. Parents may need to be warned that this topic is covered. The last two sections covering independence and understanding yourself were seen as excellent chapters, encouraging children to take responsibility in these areas. The illustrations add humor to serious topics.

This publication provides a good basic overview of some disabilities and associated problems and is recommended as a learning tool for kids age seven to teen years and for their families, friends and teachers.

— Kim Ferguson; Christine Johansen (parent)