In my reading experience, it’s still fairly uncommon to run into characters with special needs, whether they are main or supporting characters. That’s why, when I discover one in a book, it makes my heart happy.
I have a fifteen-year-old son who has severe autism, epilepsy, ADHD, and a speech impairment. So when another author takes the time to paint a realistic view of a special needs individual — including both the challenges and the joys — I appreciate it even more.
I think that’s why I’ve tried to do the same in some of my books, whether we’re talking about special needs that are present from birth or those that result from an incident later in life.
In Marrying Emma, I wrote about a hero who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident and a heroine who has dealt with a congenital heart condition all of her life that eventually led to a heart transplant. While their challenges are very different, they can relate to the worry that others see them as less than whole.
Lynn in Starting Anew has a sister with Down’s syndrome. They were always close growing up until one of Lynn’s life decisions resulted in her parents turning their backs on her. But when her sister becomes an adult and starts to have heart problems, Lynn insists on being a part of her life again.
But I think my favorite character with special needs is Gideon: A little boy with autism who I introduced in Finding Peace, the first book in the Love’s Compass series. As soon as I wrote about him and his single mom, Serenity, I knew that they had to have a story of their own.
I enjoyed giving glimpses into what it’s like to love a child with autism, but it wasn’t until their book, Finding Faith, that I could show this in more detail. I hoped my readers would see how much of a blessing it is to raise a child with special needs, but also understand some of the many challenges that can often feel overwhelming.
The more time they spend together, the harder it is to imagine a future apart.
Single mom Serenity Chandler is determined to do anything to provide better opportunities for her son, Gideon. Moving away from her family support system so Gideon can attend a special school seems like the right choice, even if it means her entire life is about to change.
The satisfaction of helping children and being a part of their lives is one reason Aaron Randall loves his job as a music therapist. When Hope Academy instills a dating policy, he doesn’t give it a second thought. Until the new coworker who’d caught his attention turns out to be the parent of one of his students.
A love they never expected is just out of reach. With Aaron’s job and Gideon’s education hanging in the balance, they’ll have to rely on faith to find their way.
Do you enjoy reading about individuals with special needs? Is there a particular medical condition or situation that you feel ought to be addressed or included in more books? I’d love to hear from you!
Melanie D. Snitker is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes inspirational and sweet romance novels. She and her husband live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country with their two children who keep their lives full of adventure. They share their home with two dogs, a guinea pig, two lizards, and four frogs. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, baking, computer games, and hanging out with family and friends.
If the author has a personal connection, in any way, to a condition that would be one to highlight.
Yes I do like reading with people with disabilities and special needs. Read a few with a child with autism. Also books with PTSD and people suffering after accidents. I remember a book where the little girl had cancer. I am sure there are others. I subjects like Cerebral Palsy would be good as while the child has challenges they can often still be bright just trapped in a body that doesn’t work right.
I remember reading a heroine with diabetes and trying to hide it. I would love to see something like chronic migraines covered or MS. I have friends with it who struggle at times but then have good periods when in remission.
Yes, I do enjoy reading about special needs characters. I have two great nephews with autism. I would like to see a bi-polar character and the struggles they face. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
As a person with a disability (quadriplegic), I am drawn to stories of others who struggle with special needs. I have read only one story where the female lead had a spinal cord injury and another where the male lead had a spinal cord injury. Both books were “secular” romance novels, so I would be interested in reading a faith-based romance with such characters. I actually have an idea for one and hope one day to write it.
I recently discovered Valerie Bodden’s books, and she includes a number of characters with special needs, and treats them with respect. I learned a lot from reading her stories.
Oh, Tiffany! You need to read Sown in Peace by Joy Avery Melville! Also, Finding Courage by Anne Perreault. Both of these are great stories dealing with disabilities. April’s Angel by Danni Roan has a quadriplegic in it. Really great books! I’ve read them all!!
I do like to read books with people with disabilities in them. I’ve read quite a few! I mentioned some in my response to Tiffany. Autumn MacArthur’s newest book, See Me, in the Chapel Cove series has a heroine with an eye condition, Hallee Bridgeman has a book with an autistic boy (not that I can remember the name of it now), and Karen Kingsbury has a book with an autistic boy in it, too.
I enjoy reading about any character dealing with challenges. I connect most with those dealing with depression and PTSD (my own experience) and deafness (my wife has worked as a church interpreter for the deaf). However, given that the challenge is treated realistically, the hurdles that the characters face are all part of the conflict of the story. Such conflict is common to the storytelling whether the issue is physical, social or emotional.
Emma St. Clair’s “Falling for Your Best Friend” features a heroine who is neuro-atypical (likely Asperger’s Syndrome) and that challenge is core to the love story being told. I loved how the story was handled and how they got to their HEA.
The sense of realistic portrayal really makes the difference. It depends on the experience of the reader, though. I might not know whether something like epilepsy is being dealt with truly unless I had personal connection with someone who suffers from it.
In general, I have found that special needs characters have been portrayed well, often better than cross-cultural or specialized work characters have been.
Yes! Valerie’s Hope Springs series is wonderful!
Thanks, Mary! I agree, and a note to the readers at the end letting them know that would be a good way to connect the two as well.
All of those are great ideas. I truly think any challenge that people might face are good because that’s the truth in life – we all have our own challenges and things aren’t always easy. Praise God He’s there through it all!
That’s a great idea! Awww about your sweet great nephews <3
Thanks so much for sharing, Tiffany! I’m glad Trudy was able to suggest a couple of books for you. I agree that there are many different challenges that aren’t shown enough in books.
Oh that’s great! I’ll have to check them out. Thanks for mentioning them, Margaret!
I love that there are so many of them out there. I’m glad you were able to recommend some to Tiffany, too. Thank you!
That book by Emma St. Clair was incredible, wasn’t it? I loved how it was handled, too. Let me to read the rest of the series!
I agree, realistically portraying the challenges are so important and make all the difference. Because not everything is roses and sunshine. And while I think we all read to escape real life, we also get a sense that we’re not alone when we read about a character who works through something we are facing ourselves and still manages to overcome their situation, even if it’s as much acceptance and finding the strengths in what they face.
Hi, yes, I love reading books that have characters with special needs, this is life happenings and I think they are very helpful for people that are going through it. I think that a book with RA would be nice, Thank you for sharing about this. Have a great day and a great week.
Especially when the path of acceptance and patience is the outcome! Well said.
I do like books that feature people with disabilities. I have a member of my family with high functioning. autism. I love being with her. She’s so smart and precious.
I think this is important <3 I have a niece with down syndrome – she teaches us a lot!
Great post. Thx for sharing.
I like books featuring characters with disabilities.
My husband is totally blind, so I had a blind hero in one of my novels. I find that having a personal connection helps. Some books I’ve read don’t always portray blind characters realistically, IMHO.
I read Karen Kingsbury’s book “Unlocked” years ago about an autistic 18 year old in his senior year of high school. My son is in the Autism spectrum, though he can function almost as well as a “normal” person, you can’t really tell from the outside. But I really enjoyed the book because it gave me insight to what he might be going through, like maybe times he’s in his own world in his head.
I do like stories that feature characters with special needs because it can help me understand someone who struggles in a certain area in life. It also helps me be more understanding and patient of what they may be going through. Empathy is a great thing to have for others, I think!
Thanks, Alicia, for responding and for the suggestion. I hope you’re having a wonderful evening!
That’s wonderful, Mary! <3 <3
Thanks for sharing, Your niece sounds like a sweetie!
Hi Cecilia,
That’s awesome you wrote a blind hero in one of your novels. I agree that having a personal connection definitely helps.
Thanks for sharing, Trixi! I’ll have to check out Karen’s book, thanks for mentioning it. I’m glad your son is doing well!
If it’s done tactfully and realistically, then it’s fine. If someone randomly throws in a token character just because they think it will make the work diverse, I don’t respect that.
I think a book with someone with epilepsy in it would be great especially with proper way to help the person. I think it’s a great idea.
I agree and its interesting how often people with illnesses (like pain) fit into 2 categories those who learn to live with the issue and make the best of it and those who don’t and tend to do the poor me or why me and basically give up.
I know my pain has helped me witness to others cos I understand. (One who doesn’t really believe in God was so happy for me to pray and share in a prayer group something that had happened,)
The special needs community means a lot to me as our daughter has health issues that require specialists, a lot of lab work, monitoring, and she has some slight delays. I’ve incorporated that into my writing because these are real situations many live in. Hannah and I wrote a series together, non IR. Match Made in Heaven features a heroine with a diagnosis similiar to Hannah. Restoring Christmas highlights a special needs class that I left open-ended for readers to discern, but I wrote as if the kids were on the spectrum, and their teacher is the hero. I’m glad you spotlighted this topic, and I am inspired by how God is using you as a wife, mom, and author. I continue to pray for you all.
Attitude totally makes a difference, that’s for sure!
Oh, I completely agree! Throwing in a character just to be able to use that hashtag when advertising it is not cool.
Great idea, Amy!
Thanks so much for sharing, Julie. I love that you and Hannah wrote a series together – what an amazing thing to do!! <3 <3
I was also going to recommend Valerie Bodden’s Not Until Now, where the heroine has a spinal cord injury. It’s beautifully written.
I am in the upper level of middle age. I have torn quad tendons on both legs. I also have arthritis. Due to the quad issue, I am not able to have knee replacements. I will have to be in a wheelchair at some time. I have not found many books out that write about people as they age that have medical conditions that do not allow them to be able to get out and do as they please. There are a lot of books that talk about retirement, traveling, losing their spouses and finding new love. God bless you for writing books about those with disabilities.