REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN SCHOOL ENGLISH TEXTBOOKS: AN INCLUSIVE PERSPECTIVE

Literature plays an important role in developing attitudes of sensitivity towards and acceptance of diversity. A category of diversity, often overlooked in literature or subjected to biased and stereotypical representation is disability. This paper examines the portrayals of people with disabilities across English textbooks published by private publishers popularly used across Delhi for classes VI to VIII. It examines their capacity for developing attitudes of sensitivity towards people with disabilities. The rationale for selecting textbooks is that it is the mostly widely used reading material available to students across the state. Findings of the study suggest that while there are chapters on disability in almost all English textbooks, the range of disabilities included is limited. More realistic and inclusionary portrayals of people with disabilities is also required. Suggestions have also been provided for teachers teaching English textbooks on how to address the representation of disability in English textbooks.