Parents Published Children's Book on Disability
A new book helps parents normalize wheelchair use when explaining spinal cord injuries to their toddlers.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Special Needs
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Juan and Valeria Hernandez have published a children's book titled Why Does Daddy Use Wheels to explain mobility aid use to their family. The book, which is available in English and Spanish, recently reached the number one ranking on Amazon in the Children's Physical Disabilities category.
Why it matters
The authors created this resource to fill a gap in children's literature, providing a way to normalize the experience of living with a disability for families navigating similar health transitions. By framing the narrative around their own experience, the book helps parents have age-appropriate conversations about mobility aids and physical differences.
The National Institutes of Health reports that 18,000 new spinal cord injuries occur annually in the United States, with roughly 300,000 people currently living with such injuries. These statistics highlight the broad reach of the demographic seeking resources for explaining these life changes.
The players
Juan Hernandez
An author and father living with a spinal cord injury since 2021.
Valeria Hernandez
An author and mother who co-authored the book with her husband.
The details
The book illustrates a family dynamic centered on normalizing wheelchair use through the perspective of a toddler. By creating a narrative around the daily life of a father using a wheelchair, the authors demonstrate that mobility aids are a functional part of a family's routines. The project emerged after the couple found limited existing literature addressing how to explain these concepts to young children.
Timeline
Juan Hernandez suffered a spinal cord injury in 2021.
Juan Hernandez walked down the aisle at his wedding in 2023.
The couple welcomed their daughter Mila in September 2026.
The book was published in October 2026.
Health Landscape
This publication addresses the social and familial integration of the population tracked by the National Institutes of Health spinal cord injury surveillance programs. It represents a shift toward more accessible, representative literature for families managing the daily realities of permanent physical disability.
If you are managing a physical disability, integrating honest and age-appropriate language can help children process the family's changing dynamics. Consider discussing your child's specific questions or concerns with your physician or a child development specialist if you notice persistent anxiety regarding your health changes.
The takeaway
Using literature to normalize physical disability can help children adjust to a parent's changing health status. If you are struggling to communicate complex health information to a toddler, consult your primary care doctor for referrals to child life specialists who can provide age-appropriate language.
Further reading
For resources on navigating developmental milestones and family transitions, visit our Special Needs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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