Local Children’s Author Puts Characters with Disabilities in the Spotlight
By HEIDI PRUITT
The Kokomo Post Staff
In a 2019 study conducted by Cooperative Children's Book Center, only 3.4 percent of children's books featured main characters with disabilities. When speech pathologist and author Kim Spence-Bollinger, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of 2, saw the lack of representation, she was inspired to help make a change.
“Chick in a Purple Chair”
Author Kim Spence-Bollinger
What originally began as a series of short stories about kids with disabilities that Bollinger released in 2014, is now the first book in a series of published children’s books set to release on Nov. 10.
Apart from being a children’s author, Spence-Bollinger also spends a lot of her time doing public speaking. A realization of not having something tangible that the children she spoke to could have and go back to and remember the presentation, inspired her to begin the publishing process.
“I feel like when I’m giving these presentations, I'm not only helping the other kids in the room to understand the kid with a disability, but I'm helping them understand people with disabilities as a whole,” said Spence-Bollinger.
“The series is for kids with disabilities, but it really relates to kids without disabilities,” said Spence-Bollinger.
The first book features a child named Kim and her twin sister Mandy. Kim, just like Spence-Bollinger, experiences and overcomes daily challenges from having Cerebral Palsy.
Kids of Courage Camp Adventures - Kim’s Challenge Book one in the Series
When Mandy is unable to compete in the annual bike race that raises money for Camp U-Belong, a summer camp for children with disabilities, Kim knew she needed to find a way to compete and raise the money herself.
In this 30-page children’s story, Kim’s determination helps her overcome obstacles and challenges while helping other kids just like her.
“We all have a gift or a talent and it’s our purpose in life to try to figure out what those gifts and talents are and we use them to make our world and our community better,” she said.
Illustrations done by Alexis Bollinger
Spence-Bollinger began the process with direction from Miriam Laundry and Miriam Laundry Publishing. When it was time to look for illustrators for her book, she didn’t have to look far. Her oldest daughter, Alexis Bollinger, was able to design and create the illustrations alongside her mother, which proved an even stronger bond between the two.
“It was really awesome, a lot of times if you choose to publish with a company you don’t get as much one-on-one time with the illustrator of your book,” said Spence-Bollinger.
“Once a month we would have a meeting to discuss the illustration process. Lexi is so creative, a lot of times I’d give her an idea and she would elaborate on that in such a way that the illustration was even better than what I had in my own head,” she said.
Spence-Bollinger hopes this book, which not only takes inspiration from her life, but the lives of the children she’s served as a school speech therapist over the last 20 years, illuminates the need for kindness, understanding, and inclusion.
Spence-Bollinger credits her success to those who supported her and included her throughout her life but imagines a world where children with disabilities are more represented and included.
“Growing up I had wonderful people all around me that always showed me a lot of support. But I didn’t know another student with a disability until I went to college,” said Spence-Bollinger.
You can purchase “Kids of Courage Camp Adventures - Kim’s Challenge” on Amazon on Nov. 10, where part of the proceeds will go to the local chapter of Young Champions at Maconaquah Elementary, a program where children of all abilities are able to participate in inclusive sporting events.
Visit Kim Spence-Bollinger’s Facebook page by clicking here. You may also tune in LIVE at noon Nov. 10 to hear more about this book and the author.
Purchase the book by clicking here.
