Disability Discourse in Thai Children’s Literature

Abstract

        Books serve as a significant medium for instilling social consciousness and ideologies from early childhood. Accordingly, this study aims to examine how Thai children’s literature, written by Thai youth authors with disabilities, narrates disability and disabled individuals within various discursive frameworks. It investigates whether children’s literature serves as a platform for disability resistance, a reflection of disability in the real word, or a reproduction of stereotypical representations. Key theoretical concepts including disability studies, narration, and the social construction of meaning form the theoretical foundation of this study. Regarding methodology, this study employs qualitative research and utilizes textual analysis to collect and interpret the data. The findings reveal that disability is represented across six major discursive dimensions. The medical model frames disability as a form of deficiency or impairment that requires treatment. The charitable or welfare-oriented model positions people with disabilities as inferior and in need of assistance. The social model identifies the challenges of disability within societal and environmental barriers, rather than within the individual. The cultural model interprets disability as a social construction. The legal and human rights-based model emphasizes the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, advocating for equality and non-discrimination. The religious model frames disability as a divine test or spiritual challenge bestowed by God. The study also finds that the dominant disability discourse varies depending on the type of disability portrayed in each text. Moreover, the authors present a range of perspectives toward these discourses, including supportive, critical, and negotiated stances.