September 4, 2024
As the summer comes to a close and students head back to school, the Content Team would like to highlight an exciting project led by one of our own.
Senior Content Assistant Lee Burkwood has organised a company-wide group of employees to review all the Accelerated Reader and myON titles that feature neurodiversity and neurodiverse characters. Here’s what Lee had to say about the project.
What made you want to do the neurodiverse content review?
‘As someone that is part of the Neurodiverse Employee Resource Group at Renaissance, and who is autistic myself, I wanted to make sure that the content we produce on neurodiversity is positive and particularly affirming for neurodiverse students. Unfortunately, when I was at school, I did not have that many good books on neurodiversity to read. So, I want to see neurodiverse students now get the opportunities that I didn’t.’
What do you hope to achieve through the review?
‘What I hope to achieve is to see how much Renaissance is living up to our values as a company that we have around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The results from our review will highlight the best books on neurodiversity we have and take action on any problematic titles. This can involve adding content warnings, and even, in more extreme cases, having a book removed from a product. Going forward, this review will hold us accountable for ensuring the books we select on neurodiversity are of a high standard.’
Has anything surprised you about the content of the books you’ve reviewed?
‘Naturally, older books on the system are likely to have outdated and problematic language. However, I have been surprised that some books from the mid-2000s did refer to neurodiverse conditions as “diseases” and suggested there were certain foods that caused “symptoms”. Luckily, most of the books we’ve come across so far haven’t had these issues.’
As children are heading back to school, is there anything you think teachers can do specifically to support their neurodiverse students?
‘There are a number of things that teachers can do. Firstly, they should encourage their neurodiverse students to read positive and accurate books about neurodiversity to help them embrace their different way of seeing the world.
They should also have a zero-tolerance approach to any bullying they receive and they should regularly teach neurotypical students about neurodiversity so the neurodiverse students are more likely to be accepted by their classmates.
Lastly, each neurodiverse student learns in a unique way and as much as they can, teachers should try to individualise how those students are taught so they can help them fulfil their potential.’
Here are a few of the reviewers’ favourite books about neurodiversity that they’ve come across so far:
Brilliant Bea by Shaina Rudolph, illustrated by Fiona Lee
LY | Quiz # 244465 | BL 3.5 | Magination Press
With help from Ms. Bloom and some new friends, Beatrice discovers that learning differently is not something to be afraid of, and that dyslexia does not define who she is. The co-author is Mary Vukadinovich.
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
MY | Quiz # 238422 | BL 4.3 | Knights Of
When she discovers that her small Scottish town once burnt people as witches simply because they were different, a neurodivergent girl refuses to let them be forgotten.
When I See Blue by Lily Bailey
MY | Quiz # 243387 | BL 5.5 | Orion Children’s Books
Ben’s brain makes the smallest things feel impossible. But when he meets April, he might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain. An authentic story about living life with OCD.
It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin Reynolds
MY | Quiz # 243089 | BL 5.6 | Scholastic Children’s Books
Twelve-year-old Eddie Gordon Holloway, who has ADHD, has concocted a genius plan to avoid chores, especially the dreaded L-A-U-N-D-R-Y. On the day of the Beach Bash, Eddie’s pile of dirty laundry is found by his mum. Eddie’s day has just taken a turn for the worst.
Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens by Marieke Nijkamp et al.
UY | Quiz # 240484 | BL 5.2 | Farrar, Straus, Giroux
This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. The stories cover various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more.
The Content Team is proud to support Lee, and we are looking forward to seeing the results of his review. Keep an eye out for more positive and affirming titles soon.
Lucy McGraw
Editorial Assistant