3 replies to this topic

[writer guy]

Hi folks!

So I'm starting a new topic right after registering, which might not be the best idea, but I want to actually get your advice on some stuff. I was commissioned in the winter of 2009 to write a YA novel for an independent publishing house. The publishing house specializes in books for children with physical differences. My particular book--aimed at middle school to early high school readers--will be the first relatively big novel from the publishing house, though they've had some pretty significant success in the non-fiction department.

The main character of my novel is in a wheelchair due to having suffered a shot in the back when his parents were attacked (and killed). The focal point of the story is not being in a wheelchair, however. The goal is to have being in a wheelchair a fairly insignificant factor. It's simply a fact of his life, not something that is focused on heavily. However, I want to convey a lot of the everyday challenges paraplegic individuals experience. I myself have never been wheelchair-bound, so I'm having difficulty incorportating realistic descriptions of everyday challenges.

ANY help in this would be greatly appreciated. Any advice on specific matters that a young high school boy might have trouble with. I won't be touching on any pubescent matters. But basically anything else would help immensely.

Thanks a ton, everybody!
Elliott

[Tetracyclone]

E-
Actually, we have lives. I suggest you read through old threads. There is more than enough information already on this site.

Edited by Tetracyclone, 23 March 2011 - 10:31 AM.

[nomis]

A major problem for kids with wheelchairs is being left out. Kids are always ducking off where wheelchairs don't go and more often than not forgetting about ol'wotshisname in the 'chair. Or friends are fed up with the restrictions on them to include ol'wotshisname. Kids don't like being slowed down.

I like your approach of minimalising the significance of the wheelchair...just don't under-do it.

[cripple]

I broke my neck when I was 15, right in the middle of high school. I spent 9 months in hospital then went back to school a few months after that. I didn't really have a problem with feeling left out, I'm lucky to have great friends that have always been willing to go out of their way to make me feel included in most things.

There were obviously some things I missed out on though. I was always fairly active and missed participating in P.E., or playing football (soccer for all you Americans) with my friends at lunch.

I had a problem with the school being paranoid about my disability. I went out of grounds at lunch time with my friends to go get some food at the shop, when I came back there was a member of the support staff waiting for me with a grumpy face on. I then got asked where I was and why I didn't ask a member of staff before going. I asked what the problem was and they replied with "What if something had happened to you?", like I was some sort of child running across a road. They started a BS spiel about how I could have fallen out my chair and gone dysreflexic (I don't even think she knew what it really was, probably just saw it on a piece of paper and got all paranoid). I retaliated with "What if someone with a nut allergy accidentally eats something containing nuts and needs an EpiPen?", as this is just as dangerous if not more so. They wouldn't really listen and wouldn't let me go out without letting someone know first, at east I managed to persuade them I didn't need someone to supervise me as I went out.