In this episode children’s author and disability advocate Gavin Clifton talks to TLC’s Aki Schilz about the magic of reading for children, how assistive technology opened up communication that changed his life, and the empowering format of memoir.
Gavin Clifton is a UK-based children’s author, inspirational speaker, disability advocate and lyricist. Known professionally as The Disabled Writer, Gavin was born with cerebral palsy and a severe speech impairment. His lived experience is central to his creative and advocacy work, which focuses on inclusion, representation and changing perceptions of disability. Using assistive technology to communicate, Gavin delivers powerful stories and talks that challenge assumptions, celebrate difference, and show what is possible when disabled voices are truly heard.
Gavin writes inclusive, unfiltered and accessible children’s stories that centre disabled characters, placing them at the heart of meaningful and impactful narratives. His books give children permission to be themselves and to ask honest questions about disability, acceptance and difference. His published titles include the Amazon bestselling Max and the Magic Wish, Paddy the Polar Bear Teddy, and Anya and the Enchanted Wheelchair. Through these stories, Gavin highlights the importance of representation while encouraging empathy, curiosity and understanding in young readers.