Lead the Conversation About Disability with Confidence - Part 1
Let’s Talk . . . Disability.
Have your kids ever asked about disability and you weren’t sure what to say?
Your child whispered in the grocery store, “Why is he in a wheelchair?” and you froze.
How do you talk about a classmate’s invisible disability, like autism or dyslexia?
You want to teach your kids to be empathetic and inclusive, but how?
You’re not alone. Many parents feel unprepared to talk about disability — either because they didn’t grow up with those conversations themselves or because they’re afraid of saying the “wrong thing.”
That’s why we created LEAD — a simple way to LEAD the conversation about disability with confidence:
🌱 L = Learn Together
💛 E = Encourage Empathy
❓ A = Address Curiosity
💬 D = Define & Embrace
Disability is not something to fear—it is part of our human diversity and every community. By starting these conversations with kids — whether they have a sibling with a disability, are learning to understand their classmate, or see an individual with a disability in the community — you’re raising them to grow up to be disability-inclusive adults.
Last month, we introduced LEAD on our social media pages. This month, we are excited to break down each letter and provide parents with scripts and resources to make it even easier for you to put into action. Keep scrolling for tips on L = Learn Together.
L = LEARN TOGETHER
Explore books, toys and media to learn directly from disabled voices.
Here is what we want you to know . . . you don’t have to be the expert about disability. {You might need a little direction—but that’s where we come in.} One of the most powerful things you can do is learn alongside your kids. That’s why the first step in the LEAD framework is L = Learn Together.
Learning about disability history and different types of disabilties will help your children to see the value of all human beings.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO LEARN TOGETHER
📚 Read Books - Books are one of the easiest ways to start the conversation about disability. The books we recommend provide opportunities to learn about disability history and to hear the perspective of disabled individuals. You can find these books in your local library or you can shop using the links provided.
Books for elementary aged children:
We Want to Go to School!: The Fight for Disability Rights by Maryann Cocca-Leffler and Janine Leffler (Linked Here)
Fighting for YES! by Maryann Cocca-Leffler (Linked Here)
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel (Linked Here)
Books for tweens and teens:
Rolling Warrior by Judith Heumann with Kristen Joiner (Linked Here)
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper (Linked Here)
Looking for more options? Check out this list!
🧸 Play with Inclusive Toys - Kids learn best through play so why use those moments to LEAD the conversation about disability. Include toys in your home by adding a new character with a disability to your kid’s favorite toy collections.
Barbies (Linked Here, Here, Here and Here)
Hot Wheels (Linked Here)
Legos (Linked Here)
Little People (Linked Here)
🎥 Watch Media - Introduce your child to disabled voices and characters while watching TV or a movie.
Arthur (animated series available on various platforms) - episodes “When Carl Met George," "The Wheel Deal," and "Lend Me Your Ear,"
Bluey (animated series available on various platforms) - episodes “Turtleboy,” “Army,” and “Surprise”
Out of My Mind - available on Disney+
Sesame Street (animated series available on various platforms) - episode “Meet Julia” (Julia is included in many other episodes as are other disabled actors and characters)
Wonder - available to rent or buy here
{All links are affiliate links. We make a very small percentage of any sales of the items we promote, but shopping our links do not increase the price for you. It’s a win-win!}
SAMPLE SCRIPTS
“Let’s choose a book about someone who uses a wheelchair. I would love to learn more about their story with you.”
“This doll has a prosthetic leg. People with prosthetics can walk and play just like everyone else.”
“I don’t know the answer to that question, but let’s look it up and learn the answer together.”
“Did you notice this character in the movie has autism? Let’s talk about what that might mean.”
✨ Extra Tip: Keep answers short and positive. Kids don’t need the “whole lecture;” they just need a doorway into empathy and acceptance.
We hope today’s tips have been helpful! We hope you remember that you don’t have to have all the answers. The goal isn’t to memorize every fact about disability — it’s to create a home where learning is encouraged. By talking about disability openly, you’re helping your child see disability as part of the beautiful diversity of life.
If you would like to download a PDF of “L = Learn Together” with the resources and scripts, add your email below. Then, come back next week for the next step in our LEAD series: E = Encourage Empathy. We’ll dive into how to help kids imagine how others feel and practical ways to model inclusive actions and kind words.
At BRIDGED, we are passionate about disability education. In addition to supporting conversations about disability at home, we also support conversations at school through our award-winning Disability Awareness Programs. Our school-based programming cultivates a disability-inclusive environment through education and experience. Programming is available for K-12 students in both public and private schools. You can learn more by clicking here.
