Edith Cowan University 26 August 2025
Where are the children with disabilities? It’s not kids’ picture books, according to new research from Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) School of Education.
An ECU research study, The absence of disability representation: A critical gap in children’s picture books, has lifted the lid on how children’s picture books are neglecting to adequately represent children with disabilities.
Lead author Associate Professor Helen Adam said the finding followed an analysis on the diversity of main characters and family structures in 90 award listed Australian children’s picture books.
“A glaring omission caught our attention—the almost complete absence of disability representation among characters in the books,” Associate Professor Adam said.
“This lack of inclusion is not only disappointing but also contributes to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes and marginalising of individuals with disabilities.”
Only one of the 90 books portrayed a character with a physical disability.
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