The article, Dynamic Characters with Communication Disorders in Children’s Literature by Carolyn D. Sotto and Angel L Ball, focuses on quality children’s literature that feature characters who play dynamic, active roles in the story and happen to have a communication disorders. Sotto and Ball selected eighteen children’s books that provide positive role models who have communication disorders and promote understanding of diversity. Characters with a hearing loss are included under their broad category of communication disorders. Two of the books on Sotto and Ball’s list feature Deaf or Hard of Hearing characters. Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman is part of a short series on Moses, a young deaf boy. Moses Sees a Play is included in my own text set. Patrick Gets Hearing Aids is also found on Sotto and Ball’s list of recommended books. Patrick, a rabbit, is diagnosed with a hearing loss and is fitted with hearing aids to improve communication with his classmates.
When selecting appropriate pieces of literature, Sotto and Ball considered several things. Books that featured the character with a communication problem as weak, timid, withdrawn or spineless were immediately discarded. Sotto and Ball did not want children who may identify with these characters to feel a sense of diminished self-esteem. Instead, they searched for books where the “main character is a capable, resourceful hero who happens to also have a communication disorder (42).” They looked for books where the character was “able to participate in an adventure, interact with others, and show personal growth regardless of their disability (42).” According to Sotto and Ball, “These books can be used to help provide positive role models for students, as well as expose them to characters with communication impairments within the context of a well-written story (42).” They go on to claim that, “Children can learn from these books about the struggles that the people with communication impairments face with everyday issues and attitudes (42).”
It is important to consider the language and connotations applied to Deaf and Hard of Hearing characters by Sotto and Ball. Members of the Deaf community may not appreciate being considered as having a communication disorder. It is a commonly held belief among Deaf culture and the Deaf Community that deafness is not an impairment in need of fixing. To consider Deaf characters as having a communication impairment may be quite offensive. Many Deaf people may more accurately consider hearing people who do not know how to sign to be the ones with the communication disorder. Although the terminology and categorization of Sotto and Ball may be controversial, their criteria for choosing pieces of literature is still valid and respectable. Even if a Deaf person does not consider themselves to have a disorder, they might still respect the positive characterization elements required of the chosen literature as previously mentioned.
While compiling my own text set on disability, specifically, deafness, I considered many of the same things Sotto and Ball did. I critically looked at the role of the character who was either deaf or hard of hearing. All of the books I chose feature characters who are active, vivacious and perform typical “kid things.” None of them rely on characters without a hearing loss to do things for them. They are independent and resourceful on their own. I believe my chosen texts would fulfill Sotto and Ball’s requirement of providing a positive role model. Deafness and hearing loss are accurately portrayed in my text set, providing typical children broadening the “perspectives of student readers to diversity in the world (42).” Children who may personally identify with the featured characters are provided with positive role models who are “problem solvers, protectors, heroes and friends (42).” Overall, Sotto and Ball identify several important elements to consider while choosing appropriate children’s literature that can be applied beyond literature that only features characters with communication disorders.
Ball, Angel L., Sotto, Carolyn D. “Dynamic Characters with Communication Disorders in Children’s Literature.” Intervention in School and Clinic Vol. 42, No.1. Sep 2006: 40-45.
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