Phillipe Menard reads to his two-year-old son, Gavin, the book “Felicia McCan” in hopes he will learn a lesson.
The book tells the tale of a girl who is legally blind. Her classmates are initially fixated on her magnifier, which she uses to help her read, but in the end, Felicia stands out for another reason: her energy and charm.
“I would want him to learn what they learned,” Oshawa native Menard said. “You don’t have to be the exact same as everyone else to get around in life.”
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The message of the book resonates with him, as both he and his son have cerebral palsy.
“I was an outsider,” he said.
“People put labels on you. When I was born, doctors [said] I couldn’t write or speak. I proved them wrong.”
“Felicia McCan” is just one of three books the Ontario government has published to encourage inclusion among kids. Each book features characters who feels they are “different,” and Felicia’s character is inspired by the author’s experiences, as she is legally blind, too.
“I want [children] to take away the message that the main character is able,” Toronto-based writer Carolyn MacDiarmid said. “They still have a lot of offer.”
“My hope would be that we engage…kids at the youngest possible age to emphasize how important it is to integrate people with disabilities,” Minister Responsible for Accessibility Tracy MacCharles said.
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Menard hopes that by reading the book to him, his son will have more confidence in his abilities.
“Different is good,” he said.
Public libraries and elementary schools can order copies of the books for free through Publications Ontario.
The books are made to be accessible to everyone; all have clear, large print, and English, French and Braille versions are also available.
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