Books do more than tell stories. They teach us who belongs in the world.
From a young age, we learn what is normal and what is not by the characters we see in books and across media. We learn whose voices matter, whose lives are interesting, and who gets to be the hero. Even though we know we cannot base real life on screens or main characters, we so often do. When certain people are missing from stories, that absence is felt, even if we cannot always name it at the time.
That is why representation matters.
For people with disabilities, especially hidden ones, it is easy to grow up feeling invisible. When books and media don't reflect real differences in bodies, brains, or experiences, it can send the message that those stories are less important, and that those people don't belong.
Representation is not about forcing diversity into stories. It is about telling the truth about the world we actually live in. A world full of different people, different needs, and different ways of experiencing life.
Why this matters for kids
Kids notice more than we think.
They look for themselves in stories. They look for clues that tell them who they are allowed to be. When they never see a character who is like them, it can create a feeling that they do not fit in the world.
But when a child does recognise themselves in a story, something shifts. They feel understood. Less alone. Like maybe they're not the odd one out after all.
And this is not just important for disabled kids. Representation helps all kids grow empathy and understanding. It teaches them that difference is normal, not something to be feared or fixed.
Why lived experience matters
I believe the best representation comes from lived experience.
I'm autistic, though I didn't know that growing up. I just knew I often felt out of place. Social rules felt confusing. The world could feel loud and overwhelming. I loved books, but I rarely saw characters who felt anything like me.
I often wonder if I had read more books about autistic girls when I was younger, I might have understood why I felt so different.
Hidden disabilities were rarely shown in a way that felt real. Physical disabilities were often turned into lessons or moments of inspiration, instead of simply being part of everyday life.
That absence stays with you.
Why I write the stories I do
I write the books I needed when I was younger, and the books my children need now.
I write from my own point of view as an autistic person navigating a world that was not built with me in mind. I also write from the perspective of a mother raising children with hidden disabilities and their own ways of communicating.
My stories aren't about fixing people or smoothing out differences so they feel more comfortable for others.
They're about making space.
Space to exist as you are.
Space to be different without explanation.
Space to belong.
I want my stories to feel honest and familiar. I want readers to feel seen, and I want others to walk away with a little more understanding than they had before.
Stories stay with us
Books have a quiet power.
The stories we read shape how we see ourselves and how we treat others. When representation is done well, it can remind someone that they are not alone.
That is why representation matters.
And that is why I write.
I have written two children's books in the Brave The ESSA series and 3 middle-grade fiction books in the ESSA High series, all of which represent neurodivergence and other hidden disabilities. And there is more to come!
Lisa x
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