Where are the disabled heroes of children's and youth books?
Discussion at the Helsinki Book Fair
Location: Messukeskus, Messuaukio 1, stage: Fiskehamnen/Kalasatama
Time: 28.10.2022, at 10.30–11.00
People with a norm-breaking disability are virtually invisible in children's and young people’s literature. In the discussion arranged by Culture for All Service in collaboration with The Finnish Illustration Association, various actors in the literary sector discuss how the literary field can be made more inclusive. The starting points of the discussion are two new Finnish books: Karin Erlandson's (text) & Hannamari Ruohonen's (illustration) picture book Pussel: en bok om rättigheter (Ålands handikappförbund, 2022) and Heini Saraste’s (text), Kalle Könkkölä’s (text) and Väinö Heinonen’s (illustration) picture book Alla funkar olika. Bok för barn om funktionsnedsättningar (Lärum 2022, in Finnish Into 2017).
Participants of the discussion are the chairperson of the Finnish Illustration Association, illustrator Maija Hurme; poet Sanni Purhonen, illustrator Hannamari Ruohonen, as well as activist and the chairperson of Association For culture on equal terms Amu Urhonen. Moderator is Executive Director Rita Paqvalén from Culture for All Service.
Tickets
Day admission to the Helsinki Book Fair is 17/11 euros (if purchased online until 12.10. at the latest), 18/12 euros (if purchased online 26.10. at the latest), 21/13 euros (if purchased online during the book fair 27-30.10.) or 23/15 euros (if purchased from the entrance during the book fair). More information about tickets on the Helsinki Book Fair's website.
Accessibility
The discussion will be in Swedish and it will be interpreted into Finland-Swedish Sign Language. The Fiskhamnen/Kalasatama stage is accessible. All entrances to Messukeskus are accessible, the passage between the various spaces is accessible and there are accessible toilets on all floors. Assistance dogs are welcome and personal assistants have free admission. Taxis can drop off passengers at the entrances and free accessible parking spaces are available. At the entrances there are wheelchairs that you can borrow - if you want to book them in advance, contact Messukeskus at the address asiakaspalvelu@messukeskus.com. Read more about the accessibility on the website of Messukeskus.
