TV star Oti Mabuse debuts inclusive children’s picture book!

2 mins read

Friday 18 June 2021

Tags: hemiplegia, HemiHelp, inclusivity, disability awareness

Oti with a copy of her book

Oti Mabuse, star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s The Masked Dancer, has released her first children’s book. And working with Contact, Oti has made her book disability inclusive – fantastic news!

‘Dance with Oti: The Bird Jive’ follows a class of children as they meet at Mrs Oti’s dance studio for the very first time. Some are nervous, some are excited. We follow them as they learn The Bird Jive and are surprised by an unexpected visitor!

Oti worked with us to research her character Martin, who has hemiplegia, and Naira, who has a cochlear implant.

Oti says: “I wanted my book to make all children feel included and show that dance is for everyone! I believe my dancer Martin is the first character with hemiplegia in a non-specialist picture book.

“As part of my research, I got in touch with a fantastic charity called Contact, which supports UK families with disabled children – whatever their disability or medical condition – with the vital advice and information they need.

“I was blown away by all the services Contact offers families just like Martin and Naira’s in my story. As well as support for families living with hemiplegia through the charity’s HemiHelp service, Contact also offers a free parent helpline, workshops, parent guides, and the other practical and emotional support which Contact provides to thousands of families every year.”