Daily Herald opinion: Getting inclusion right: A reminder to consider what’s actually ‘special’ in special needs
As we read on Monday about a South Barrington woman’s connection to a popular book series, we took particular note of what some readers found appealing about how the story dealt with her Down syndrome.
In the next installment of the Harry Moon Books series for young readers, “GiGi’s Journey,” GiGi Gianni will become the series’ first character based on a real person. The series follows eighth-grader Harry Moon in a fictional Massachusetts town, and in this version, GiGi is showcased as one of Harry’s fellow students and friends.
And what’s remarkable about her story is that it’s not her syndrome that makes her remarkable, says her mother Nancy, who named the nonprofit achievement centers she founded in Hoffman Estates 20 years ago after her daughter.
“It feels so secondary in the book, and that’s what we love about it,” Gianni told our Eric Peterson.
Us too.
Often, we have a tendency to emphasize the “special” in special needs when we talk about inclusion of people with different abilities in mainstream society. Yes, certain individuals have needs or difficulties that require accommodation by friends, family and society at large, but that is not necessarily what defines them as individuals.
Franco Gianni, GiGi’s older brother and senior director of development for GiGi’s Playhouse, said the plot is built around the character’s singing, confidence, pride in herself and dedication to friends.
Franco and Nancy also noted that one of the features of “GiGi’s Journey” that stuck out for them was how true the depiction is to the real-life person who is their sister and daughter.
It all seems on its face like a simple enough reflection, but in practice, how often do any of us base our assessment of a person on the abilities that make a person “special” rather than the disabilities that make them so? That’s a critical distinction, and to the extent that the Harry Moon story is able to impress it upon us, it deserves contemplation.
“The key to inclusion is exposure and understanding,” Franco said, and “understanding” starts with seeing the whole person, not just the disability, an observation that extends beyond Down syndrome to, really, any other condition — whether it be disability, skin color, religion or any other personal characteristic that sets someone apart from the crowd.
Steve Goerth, vice president of strategic partnerships for Harry Moon Books, said that in addition to becoming the series’ first character based on an actual person, GiGi will also become its first recurring character, telegraphing that she’s likely to appear in future episodes.
Buffalo Grove-based Harry Moon Books was launched in 2014 by author Mark Poe and aimed at 7- to 12-year-old readers. Not surprisingly, “GiGi’s Journey” will be sold at the 61 locations of GiGi’s Playhouse in the United States and Mexico as well as in traditional retail and book stores. It is now available for preorder, just ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on Friday. And once the book is in stores, GiGi herself will take part in personal appearances and signings.
“I’m so excited to be a part of Harry Moon,” GiGi said in a statement about the book. “I can’t wait for everyone to read about the magical story me, Harry and GiGi’s Playhouse go on!”
We can’t either.