{"id":243731,"date":"2021-04-30T09:39:25","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T14:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=243731"},"modified":"2021-04-28T23:32:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T04:32:05","slug":"book-children-empower-peers-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/book-children-empower-peers-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"New book helps empower children to interact with peers who have disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A new book aims to help educate and empower children on how to interact with people who have disabilities. Amanda Owen and Ashley Wedding, executive director and public relations director for Puzzle Pieces<\/a>, a Kentucky non-profit that serves people with intellectual disabilities, teamed up to write<\/a> \u201cOwen the Wonderer and the New Kid in Class,” which was released on World Down Syndrome Day.<\/p>\n

On her website<\/a>, Owen said the book is meant to encourage children’s healthy curiosity about people who are different. Instead of teaching children that it’s rude to stare and to help keep them from feeling tongue-tied when they ask questions, Owen and Wedding wanted to give parents and educators the tools to have conversations with their children about disabilities, which will then lead to greater acceptance and respect.<\/p>\n

The book centers around Owen, a young student who is curious about a new student named McKenzie, who has Down syndrome. Through the story, children learn the right questions to ask. The end of the book includes guided discussion questions for parents and teachers, such as how they can help include others who are different.<\/p>\n