Major
Psychology
Advisor
Webster, Kathleen
Advisor Department
Psychology
Date
5-2022
Keywords
child development; fiction; children; developmental disorders; autism
Abstract
SUMMER CALVERT (Psychology) Representing Neurodivergent Children in Fiction Sponsor: Kathleen Webster (Psychology) To recognize aspects of the self within the other is a goal universal to the human experience. The ability to relate to our peers grants us the dissuasion of insecurities or loneliness that might otherwise fester within our minds. Fictional characters and stories can have a similar effect on us. For this reason, the importance of neurodiverse representation in children’s books cannot be understated. When it comes to developmental disorders, many children may go undiagnosed until adolescence or even adulthood; this does not mean they aren’t struggling, or unaware that something about them distinguishes them from their peers. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 10, but I knew something about me was different well before that. Barring No, David!, a children’s book about a disruptive child, none of the reading material my young mind was exposed to ever really left me feeling seen. It’s my hope and belief that positive representation can help improve a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Stories that positively represent neurodivergent characters may also encourage acceptance and understanding of these children amongst their neurotypical peers. I made the decision to avoid assigning a particular disorder to my protagonist, as I’m aware that many children do not yet have diagnoses. I want kids to be able to see parts of themselves reflected in my protagonist’s behavior without having to define anything, especially because of the overlapping symptoms and high comorbidities of different developmental disorders. To prepare to write my story, I researched ADHD, autism, SPD, and dyslexia. I also reached out to multiple neurodivergent peers to interview them on their own childhoods, their relationship with their diagnoses, and to receive feedback on what I’d written. Additionally, I am illustrating this story myself, as I wanted to challenge my creative skills on another level.