As a Chester-based children’s charity supporting disabled young people and their families across the region, we plan to run a series of online book reading events with authors of inclusive children's books, who have first-hand experience of disability. Their stories embrace positive messaging about disability, celebrate our differences and encourage inclusivity. These free sessions will give children of all abilities as well as their families and school communities across Cheshire the opportunity to meet an author, listen to a reading and take part in an interactive Q & A session with the authors, where children are invited to ask their own questions and share their thoughts and experiences. We'll also fund 100 books featuring disabled and/or neurodivergent characters, to families & schools across the region giving long-term impact & a legacy helping grow disability awareness.

What we'll deliver:

• Run a minimum of 12 inclusive author sessions available for Cheshire schools & families to participate in
• Purchase 100 books to be given to schools and families across Cheshire

Why it's a great idea:

There are more than 351,000 children in the UK with a learning disability. 15- 20% being neurodivergent and 11% having a physical disability. Yet, although representation of disability & neurodivergence in children's books has improved in recent years it's estimated only 3.4% of children's books feature a disabled main character. It's vital that our children are able to read about and see disabled & neurodivergent characters. We plan to run a minimum of 12 sessions aiming to reach 11K young people so that: a) disabled children feel represented, included & inspired b) non-disabled children are aware of differences and encouraged to embrace and understand disability & neurodivergence These sessions can be used by schools as ready-packaged resources to support and bolster PHSE lessons and other existing programmes, such as No Outsiders.

Steps to get it done:

• Confirm event schedule
• Promote event schedule to prospective participants
• Live sessions delivered
• Delivery of all inclusive books for schools across community

In January 2024 we trialled a week-long version of this project, which featured 6 notable authors worldwide including Paralympian Danielle Brown MBE who told their own inspiring stories of the importance of inclusivity and disability awareness. Throughout the week more than 5,500 children joined an 'Accessible Authors' session. Danielle Brown MBE says: “People often talk about losing themselves in a story, but I think that it's important to find yourself. It's important to be able to see yourself reflected in the pages of a book, but for far too long disability has been underrepresented and misrepresented. " We want to to expand on this and provide the opportunity for even more disabled and non-disabled young people to have the chance to take part by working closely with Cheshire schools to deliver more events that align with educational objectives. We plan to ensure long term impact and encourage positive attitudes towards disability & neurodiversity.