SARASOTA – A Suncoast preschool is being portrayed through a children’s book.
“It’s a cool way for kids with disabilities to see themselves painted in that celebratory light as opposed to focusing on the things they can’t do,” said Director of Development at the Haven and Author of ‘My Disability is my Superpower’
Former news journalist, Hallie Peilet-Young is bringing the Selby Preschool to life through a children’s book that highlights seeing the ability in disability.
“I just thought, our preschool is so special, I’ve never seen a preschool where its kids with and without disabilities being taught together and what if other kids knew that this exists and what if parents could teach their kids, this is how you should treat kids with differences and for kids with disabilities, to read this book where they’re the hero,” said Peilet-Young.
‘My Disability is my Superpower’ seeing the ability in disability is based on the Selby Preschool, which lives on the Haven Campus, a non-profit which offers programs and services for children, teens, and adults with disabilities across their 32-acre campus.
“I see it in our own kids at our preschool, they learn this starting at age one, because they have kids in our class that are in a wheelchair, or have down syndrome and they’re not pre-wired to think that there is anything wrong because there is not, so the more that you get used to it and the more you integrate it in everyday life, from that young age, I think the better, because you don’t see disability, it’s just, that’s my friend, so it be great if every kid could grow up that way,” said Peilet-Young.
The preschool, provides kids ages 1 through five, a high-quality, early childhood education. In addition to meeting the educational, therapeutic, and emotional needs of each student, regardless of ability. Director of Kids Spot at Selby Preschool, Tara Hawkins, says the book will help teach kids about empathy.
“It also teaches kids to be kind to everyone and that everyone can participate in whatever activity it is, yes sometimes it needs to be modified but everyone can participate,” said Director of Kids Spot at Selby Preschool at the Haven, Tara Hawkins.
Hallie hopes the book will help kids learn to celebrate each other’s differences.
“I hope that someone reads this somewhere else and knows that there’s a place like this out there and it gives them hope for themselves, if they do have a disability, or it just makes them realize to be more accepting and compassionate to those who have differences,” said Peilet-Young.
The book is already a #1 new release on Amazon on Books for Bullying.
To purchase the book, you can visit the Amazon website here.
