A child's world is shaped by what they see. We've seen some fantastic examples recently of deaf celebrities being celebrated on TV (Thank you Rose Ayling-Ellis!). However deafness, hearing technology (such as hearing aids or a cochlear implant) and sign-language rarely feature in mainstream books. There are some fantastic stories, for all ages, that feature deaf characters, and we’re looking to share them with both deaf and hearing children.
Reading about deaf characters promotes empathy and understanding among both deaf and hearing children. It fosters a sense of compassion and appreciation for diverse perspectives and experiences. Through exposure to different narratives, children develop empathy for others and learn to celebrate differences rather than fear or stigmatise them.
At ODCS, we've curated a list of 33 books, featuring deaf characters and/or deafness, to promote representation of deafness in children's stories. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have.
Registered Charity no: 297689
A local group of the National Deaf Children’s Society
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