Keremeos resident and author Della Barrett is hoping to change the way people view children with disabilities through her new book Gus Gets Going.
Barrett鈥檚 son Joshua, now 30, was born with cerebral palsy. Until Joshua was six years old, he used a buggy for mobility.
Finding uplifting books and other media for her son, that viewed his disability in a positive light was a constant challenge, explained Barrett.
鈥淎ll the books for children with disabilities were negative鈥� so we wanted an upbeat one,鈥� said Barrett.
She hopes Gus Gets Going will uplift other children with disabilities by showing them and along with all other kids that they are more than capable of enjoying childhood.
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The book, which was released, on Aug. 1, details the story of a young boy whose mobility was previously neglected by his preoccupied family on summer vacation. However, things turn around for young Gus the following summer when he鈥檚 given freedom by his new wheelchair, enabling him to play with other children on his own free will.
鈥淭his year he鈥檚 got freedom in his wheelchair. He can get himself up the ramp to play with the kids. He can get himself along the dock to go fishing. He can get himself to the beach even if his sister is flirting with the lifeguard,鈥� Barrett said with a laugh.
Barrett, 60, has had many poems and short stories published in the past, but this is her first full-length children鈥檚 book to be published. She couldn鈥檛 be happier with the result.
Gus Gets Going was published by Penticton based publishing group Cobalt Books.
The book, which is available for purchase at the Pharmasave in Keremeos, was inspired by Barrett鈥檚 experience raising her son. The book is also available for purchase on Amazon and to rent across the Okanagan at Okanagan Regional Libraries.
Barrett also expects the book to be found in school libraries across the Okanagan come September.
The main thing Barrett hopes children and adults alike take away from the book is inclusion.
Barrett says she hopes the books encourage children to 鈥渟ee other kids in a wheelchair as no big deal鈥� that it鈥檚 nothing to be scared of, or worry about.鈥�
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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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