Gina Conger
My Sister Emma is a project very close to my heart. I have worked with the disability community for many years and every sensory difference/ability detailed in this book reflects my experiences within the community. The story follows two siblings who take a trip to their neighborhood park. The siblings, Nathan and Emma, are twins. Emma has autism and spells on a board to communicate. Kids run up to Emma while they are at the park and talk to her. Nathan assists Emma in communicating with the other kids by holding her letterboard up and providing auditory feedback to her while she points to each letter that makes up the words she wants to communicate. The other kids are surprised she spells and ask her to come play with them. Emma finds more peace being in nature alone, with minimal noise, so she says no, but thanks anyways. Then she hears a plane; she loves planes. Every time she hears one she runs to the window or looks up at the sky twisting her fingers and humming. She finds the plane and not long after that they leave the park for the day. My hopes for this book are to educate and raise awareness about presuming intelligence in those with disabilities, specifically autism, inspire inclusion at a young age, and, perhaps most importantly, give children with autism, especially those who point/spell to communicate, a character to relate to. Hopefully, this children’s book will educate the next generation and truly impact the mainstream social perspective on those with disabilities/different abilities. 3
