December 2 – Special Education Day

Happy Special Education Day!

Today is the 10th Annual Special Education Day. It began began in 2005, the year which marked the 30th anniversary of the IDEA–the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the first federal special education law signed on December 2, 1975.

Some disabilities are visible, some are invisible. Share stories about children with disabilities with your child today.

Oliver written and illustrated by Birgitta Sif (2012)

Oliver is a boy who is a little different. He prefers playing in his own world with his own toys, instead of with other children. He reads, climbs mountains, swims, fights sharks, flies, and plays the piano. Then one day while playing tennis by himself, he loses his ball. He chases it and finds someone else playing by herself. ‘Oliver was a bit different. But it didn’t matter. Olivia was a bit different too.’ Instead of this being the end of the story, it is the beginning.

My Brother Charlie written by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabethe Peete and illustrated by Shane W. Evans (2010)

Callie and Charlie are twins. The are alike in many ways, but different in other ways. One very major way they are different is that Charlie has autism. Callie tells the reader all the things that Charlie can do as well as things he doesn’t do very well.

Susan Laughs written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross (2000)

Susan does and feels things exactly like other children her age. She paints, sings, plays jokes on people, cries, and laughs. Written in rhyme accompanied by beautiful pictures, readers will see that Susan is just like me and you. Then on the last page they will see that Susan sits in a wheelchair.