The Power of Inclusive Literature with Allison Boot, Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023

Ever wondered why we need more inclusive literature? Come, sit awhile, and listen to Allison Boot, Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023 and an established author, as she talks about her fascinating journey into the world of disability-inclusive literature. Allison, with her books “Just the Way You Are,” “The Magic Within,” and “Love the Way You Dance,” is breaking stereotypes and nurturing empathy among young readers. She also shares her challenges and triumphs in developing an often overlooked yet essential genre.

Moving into a more personal realm, Allison opens up about her experience as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023. Hear about the friendships she's forged, how she's utilized her title to propagate the importance of inclusive literature, and her preparations for a national title. Learn how her platform has acted as a beacon of awareness, acceptance, and hope, proving that people with disabilities can live full, equitable lives.

Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.

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Chapters

• 0:02 Advocating for Inclusive Literature
• 9:15 Ms Wheelchair Ohio
• 27:00 Spreading Disability Awareness Through Inclusive Literature

Transcript

Male Voice: 0:02

Welcome to OOD Works, the podcast, a show about unique individuals and services provided by opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities, the state agency that helps individuals with disabilities find a job and be more independent. Here's your host, Kim Jump.

Kim Jump: 0:18

Allison Boot is a passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. She wrote books including “Just the Way You Are,” “The Magic Within,” and “Love the Way You Dance” to spread a message of self-acceptance to young people with disabilities. A former participant with opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities, Allen is also Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2023, and she's using her platform to advocate for more inclusive literature, which I cannot wait to hear about. Allison, welcome to the podcast.

Allison Boot: 0:55

Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Kim Jump: 1:00

Well, the pleasure is all mine. And I'm curious, Allison, how did you get into writing in the first place?

Allison Boot: 1:09

I loved to write ever since I was a kid. When I was a little girl, it just became my way of expressing how I was feeling and my emotions, because I found it easier to express them through characters and in stories. And then, the older I got, the more I realized what a valuable tool writing could be when it comes to advocating and standing up for myself. So that's how I dove into it more as I became older. And the main reason I started writing disability-inclusive literature is because I've always loved to read. I've always said that you can't be a writer unless you're also a reader. But growing up, I didn't see characters that look like me in the books I read. So I really wanted to change that, which is one of the main reasons that I write stories featuring characters with disability.

Kim Jump: 2:19

I love that and you use the expression inclusive literature. Can you explain to folks who are listening what you mean by inclusive literature?

Allison Boot: 2:34

In my case, I'm talking about inclusive literature in the sense that my literature features characters with disabilities. By inclusive literature, it could also include characters of different ethnicities or races, characters from LGBTQIA class community. That's the beauty of inclusive literature it is an equally inclusive and can cover all kinds of different characters and a really broad spectrum of stories that can represent anyone. That's the beauty of it and that's why I love it so much.

Kim Jump: 3:33

Yeah, and you spoke about as a young girl in reading hoping to find characters that look like you or noticing the fact that none of the characters looked like you. Can you talk more about that?

Allison Boot: 3:53

Yes, growing up there just wasn't characters in real chairs or really with any kind of disability in popular literature outside of like Tiny Tim type characters or Quasimodo. Those are two of the main stereotypes. I would say in the last, like maybe 10 years or so, there's been a little bit more of a push, just because there is thankfully more visibility and acceptance in society now. But there's still a long way to go in this regard, which is one of the reasons why I worked so hard to write the stories that I write.

Kim Jump: 4:51

Yeah, and as a parent I just want you to know I really appreciate that because I think through seeing through a character's eyes or in reading through a book, that opens up brand new possibilities for children.

Allison Boot: 5:12

Yes, that's what I want. I want young readers to be able to see themselves in the characters that I write and in inclusive literature. I really try to push to give young readers heroes that resemble them, that they can relate to and look up to, so that they know that they're capable of doing anything that they set their minds to and that they can have really big dreams and do what they want to in this life and live it to the fullest, even with their disabilities.

Kim Jump: 5:54

Yeah, it's powerful, absolutely powerful. What role, Allison, do you think inclusive literature plays in helping to develop empathy in readers? Oh, so much.

Allison Boot: 6:15

I think a lot of it goes back to education and awareness, because empathy can't come into the play until those two things happen. And a lot of kids, if they don't know someone with a disability or someone that is from a different community than one that they might be from, they're not going to understand those differences because they haven't been exposed to them. So educating them through stories is a really fun way to expose them to that and help them understand the differences in a way that's not intimidating and a way that can be fun.

Kim Jump: 7:12

Yeah, that's a great point. That is a really fun way to get through.

Allison Boot: 7:19

Yes, yeah. So I would say that that's definitely the role that plays and that it's an educational tool that creates awareness and just is fun for kids.

Kim Jump: 7:35

Yeah, yeah, it's just fun. Along the way that you've been advocating for inclusive literature, have you come up against challenges and kind of? If so, how have you responded?

Allison Boot: 7:51

Yes, I think a lot of the challenges that I've seen go back to those stereotypes that I spoke about earlier, the Tiny Tim-type characters or Quasimoto. Quasimoto is to be what people think of when they think of characters with disabilities. So just kind of having to break through that expectation has been a challenge and then also just breaking into more of a children or young adult type genre audience because, as I said, growing up I didn't see characters that looked like me in the books I read For years. You would only read about disability in self-help or parental advice books. There were a lot of stories, so to speak, that included characters that were told from our point of view. So just sort of developing the genre and overcoming those stereotypes have been the main challenges.

Kim Jump: 9:12

Sure, yeah, that makes sense. Well, congrats on your title as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio. What led you to take on the competition?

Allison Boot: 9:28

Well, I'm from Dayton originally, but I lived in Illinois for six years with my well, he was my boyfriend at the time. Now he's my husband. We lived there for six years and decided to come back to Ohio because of the pandemic and needing to be closer to family as a result of the home care crisis. But when I came back here, I noticed that a lot of my friends had either moved away or were at different stages in their life. So one of the main reasons that I chose to do Ms. Wheelchair Ohio was just to meet more people. I mean, aside from broadening my inclusive literature platform, was just to meet more people, specifically women with disabilities that I could relate to.

Kim Jump: 10:40

Sure. Do you feel like the competition gave you that? Have you developed new friendships? Yes, I definitely have.

Allison Boot: 10:48

It's been very nice, even though the other ladies are from different parts of Ohio, so we stay in touch over Zoom. Mentoring is a big part of Ms. Wheelchair Ohio as well, so I've been able to help the other ladies also expand their platforms and plan for future competitions, just in my role as the title holder and a mentor, which I have really enjoyed, and they are all wonderful ladies and wonderful advocates, so it's been really great to connect with them.

Kim Jump: 11:30

Super. How do you think the platform is helping you spread awareness for inclusive literature?

Allison Boot: 11:41

I have gotten to do so much as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio, and talk to people that I wouldn't have normally gotten to talk to, such as state legislators, Brian Lampton - for example, the president of the Green County Board of Commissioners, Rick Perales. He's very nice and he's a wonderful advocate for those with disabilities. He's been one of my main sponsors as I prepare for the Ms. Wheelchair America competition. So just getting to talk to individuals like that and tell them about the importance of inclusive literature and how it can have on readers, specifically children, and how it can help to kind of shape the way that they think about those that are different from them I've been talking about those things for quite some time, but having the title and being able to talk to very important people has just been a game changer.

Kim Jump: 12:57

Yeah, that's excellent. I'm happy that you're getting those opportunities. That's super. Are you comfortable talking about your disability?

Allison Boot: 13:07

Yes, I have several policies. I was born with it because my mother was in a par accident while I was in utero.

Kim Jump: 13:21

And have you always been a wheelchair user?

Allison Boot: 13:26

Yes, Okay, I've used a car wheelchair since I was six.

Kim Jump: 13:31

Okay, since you were six, gotcha, and you had shared with me, Allison, that you are a former participant with our agency Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, can you talk about that a little bit?

Allison Boot: 13:49

Yes, I graduated from West Carrollton High School and when I was graduating and preparing to go to college, the school psychologist actually connected me with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and told me that they would be able to help me plan for college and beyond. And that's what they did and I've always been very grateful for the experience with them. The program actually helped to pay for my undergraduate education at Wright State. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from there and a Master of Arts from the University of Dayton, also in Communication. I wouldn't have been able to go out and get my master's if it wouldn't have been first working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities to get that Bachelor's. So I've always been grateful for that. And then I worked with a job counselor through the program as well after getting my Bachelor's, to help me to find my first professional job at the Access Center for Independent Living in Dayton, Ohio. I worked as their communications coordinator for a while.

Kim Jump: 15:35

Super, that is fabulous. I'm so glad that the agency was able to be helpful to you with education and that support into your career. And now look at you.

Allison Boot: 15:52

I would definitely recommend them to others because transitioning from high school to college or college and beyond or just in general times of transition, are very difficult for anyone, in particular those with disabilities. So it's very important to have people at those times of transition to help you plan and kind of work through the challenges. And that's for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities did for me, so I definitely hope that others look into the organization and take advantage of what's offered.

Kim Jump: 16:39

Well, thank you for that. I really appreciate it, Allison, and you'll be happy to know that through Governor DeWine's most recent operating budget for OOD, we're able to do even more for students and have counselors that are designated to colleges throughout Ohio. So you are a testament to why that's just so powerful, and I really appreciate hearing you emphasize how it's so valuable during times of transition. That's a great point.

Allison Boot: 17:13

Yes.

Kim Jump: 17:16

Yeah, tell us what happens next as you go on to compete for the national title of Ms. Wheelchair America.

Allison Boot: 17:29

Yes, actually leave, and less than a week to do that. I will be leaving on Sunday to go to Grand Rapids in Michigan for a week for the competition. This year it'll be myself and 17 other title holders competing Right. Ms. Wheelchair America is about empowering women with disabilities and just giving us a platform to talk about whatever it is that we're passionate about In my case, inclusive literature. Very important to emphasize that it's not a beauty pageant they don't even like to call it a pageant. It's an advocacy competition. So basically, out of the state title holders, they're looking for the most articulate representative of the disability community. So that's what it comes down to our advocacy platform and communication skills. But I think even more so than the competition and becoming Ms Wheelchair America, the beauty of this whole thing is just being able to connect with other women advocates with disabilities, because it's very rare that so many of us get to be in one room and talk to each other and to know each other on the level that we are. And I'll tell you, I've participated in some Zoom calls but some of the other ladies just so we can try and get to know each other prior to the competition. And I already feel so connected to them and can't wait to meet them in person, so I'm sure it's going to be very powerful. I would also be remiss if I didn't say that Congress, Ohio, actually has the bragging right that the Ms. Wheelchair America competition started there. Okay, cool. Back in the 70s, Dr. Phillip Wood, I believe was his name was taught to some people about patents and got to thinking how it wasn't fair that some of his patients with disabilities didn't have one to participate in. So he started a competition in Ohio and it got so much attention that Ms. Wheelchair America was created from that. So I just think that's very cool that Columbus Ohio has Ohio in general. After I can write that Ms. Wheelchair America was started here.

Kim Jump: 20:55

I agree I didn't realize that history that's fascinating and we're recording in August 2023. So by the time this comes out, you'll have already competed, but I'm sure listeners would agree with me that we are rooting for you. We want to see Allison Boot the Ms. Wheelchair America 2023.

Allison Boot: 21:18

It would actually be 2024. Oh four, yeah, right. But yes, thank you, I am really hoping. But regardless, I'm just very excited and honored to be able to represent Ohio in the competition. But yes, I am hoping to bring it home for us and it would actually be the first time ever, even though Ms. Wheelchair America was started in Ohio. If I do win, it'll be the first time that Ms. Wheelchair Ohio has won Ms. Wheelchair America, so I'm really hoping for that.

Kim Jump: 22:01

Yes, it's time. I think it's five time. Wow, Even more reason for you. That's fascinating. So you're going to do the competition, the national competition, and then kind of what's next after that for you.

Allison Boot: 22:20

Well, I recently went to my local Barnes and Noble bookstore to speak to them about arranging a book signing and I'm very excited to say that they responded favorably. So I will be planning that for after national. So I don't have a date in mind yet because I've been very busy preparing for the competition, but that will be coming up. And I'm actually working on a fourth book right now as well, which I'm hoping to have published by December. The three books I have published now they're young adult books. This one's slightly different because it's geared towards younger children, but it's actually about a unicorn and a wheelchair.

Kim Jump: 23:18

Oh, I love it.

Allison Boot: 23:19

Which I'm very excited about. I have had the opportunity to go to some elementary schools and talk to children, as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio, about inclusive literature and just spreading awareness and acceptance in general. I have gotten to not only show them my books but talk to them about what they want to read. So I'm really hoping that little girls will respond to the story about a unicorn and a wheelchair. Because who doesn't love unicorns?

Kim Jump: 24:00

Exactly, exactly. That's super fun. Good luck as you finish that up. I'd like to invite you to tell listeners where should they go if they want to connect with you or take a look at the books you've published so that they can purchase them?

Allison Boot: 24:20

Yes, I have an author website. It's Allison, “M” as in Marie, Boot “author “ dot com (https://allisonmbootauthor.com/) . They can go there or they can look me up on Amazon. Again, my author name is Allison M. Booth. If they want to learn more about the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio competition or me and what I've been doing as the reigning title holder, visit MsWheelchairOh.org. I encourage you to go there if you would like to learn more about the competition. It's open to women wheelchair users in. Ohio ages 21 and up. There are Ms. Wheelchair organizations and I believe about 24 other states have active organizations right now. As I said, this year the Ms. Wheelchair America Competition will include myself and 17 other ladies.

Kim Jump: 25:48

Awesome. Well, I want to definitely encourage everyone to go visit those places. Let's support Allison. We'll make sure the links are in the show notes too, to make it easy for folks to find you.

Allison Boot: 26:03

Yes, and I also have social media. On Facebook, it's just Ms. Wheelchair Chair Ohio 2023 Allison Boot, and on Instagram mwoah2023_AllisonBoot. So you can also follow me on those platforms to find out more about what I've been doing as a state title holder, and I will be posting photos and videos from the Ms. Wheelchair America competition next week. Oh, that'll be fun.

Kim Jump: 26:51

Yes, yes, definitely. That's great. Well, Allison, as we wrap up and you know, wish you well as you go to compete. Any final thoughts you'd want to leave listeners with? Yes?

Allison Boot: 27:06

Yes, what I really want people to understand is that my platform - Yes, it's about inclusive literature, but it's also just about spreading disability awareness and acceptance throughout Ohio and society in general. I just want people to know that people with disabilities can still live full, equitable lives with our disabilities and that we don't necessarily need to overcome them or be cured of them, right? We can live full, happy lives as people with disabilities, and inclusive literature, particularly disability-inclusive literature, is a way to show and celebrate that.

Kim Jump: 28:05

A transcript of today's episode is available at OOD.Ohio.gov forward slash podcast. We welcome you to subscribe and leave a review. We're on social media at Ohio OOD. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? We can help. OODWorks.com.