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Books, Movies, and TV

Disclaimer

Horizons to Hope provides resources for informational purposes only and does not endorse or recommend any listed provider or service. Users are encouraged to conduct their own research and due diligence before engaging with any resources referenced on this site.  Horizons to Hope strives to provide accurate and reliable information; however, we cannot guarantee the completeness or validity of external content. We assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or the services offered by linked providers.

Stories Featuring Children with Diverse Abilities

(Fiction and Non-Fiction)

Books About Intellectual Disabilities

Non-Fiction / Memoirs

• I Am a Superhero Expert: Growing Up with My Autistic Older Brother — Josh Stehle
• Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome — Jason Kingsley & Mitchell Levitz
• The Reason I Jump — Naoki Higashida
• Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism — Temple Grandin
• Born on a Blue Day — Daniel Tammet

Fiction

• Flowers for Algernon — Daniel Keyes
• Mockingbird — Kathryn Erskine
• Rules — Cynthia Lord
• Al Capone Does My Shirts — Gennifer Choldenko
• Marcelo in the Real World — Francisco X. Stork
• Out of My Mind — Sharon M. Draper

Books About Mental Health Conditions

Depression

• All the Bright Places — Jennifer Niven
• It’s Kind of a Funny Story — Ned Vizzini

Anxiety

• Finding Audrey — Sophie Kinsella
• Every Last Word — Tamara Ireland Stone

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• OCDaniel — Wesley King
• Turtles All the Way Down — John Green

Bipolar Disorder

• When We Collided — Emery Lord
• A Tragic Kind of Wonderful — Eric Lindstrom

ADHD

• Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key — Jack Gantos
• Focused — Alyson Gerber

Films That Showcase the Power, Potential, and Resilience of Every Child

(Includes autism, Down syndrome, anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, bipolar, selective mutism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disorders.)

• The Unbreakable Boy (2025) — Autism & brittle bone disease — true story
• Stand Clear of the Closing Doors (2013) — Autism — boy flees into the NYC subway
• Silent Fall (1994) — Autism — child is only witness to parents’ murder
• A Boy Called Po (2016) — Autism — single father raising autistic son
• The Rainbow Kid (2015) — Down syndrome — teen on journey across Ontario
• My Feral Heart (2016) — Down syndrome — young man adapts to care home life
• Any Day Now (2012) — Down syndrome — adoption case involving neighbors
• Far From the Tree (2017, documentary) — Down syndrome & other differences — real families
• So Damn Easy Going (2022) — ADHD — Swedish teen facing life and relationships
• Thumbsucker (2005) — ADHD — teen struggles with identity, school, medication
• Trapped in Silence (1986) — Selective mutism — trauma-based communication block
• My Child Won’t Speak (2010, documentary) — Selective mutism — follows young girls
• Speaking in Silence (short) — Selective mutism — London-based documentary short
• Just Like You: Anxiety & Depression — Youth and adults share lived experiences
• Jimmy (2013) — Mild intellectual disability — emotional family-based story
• Tru Confessions (2002) — Developmental disability — twin sibling dynamic
• White Frog (2012) — Autism — teen coping with grief and family perception
• Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) — Down syndrome — young man pursues wrestling dream

Family TV That Encourages Acceptance and Inclusion

• Atypical (Netflix) — Autism spectrum — independence, identity, relationships
• The Healing Powers of Dude (Netflix) — Social anxiety disorder — support dog at school
• The A Word (BBC) — Autism diagnosis impacts family relationships
• Ralph & Katie (BBC) — Down syndrome — couple navigating adult life
• Speechless (ABC) — Cerebral palsy — assistive tech, inclusion, and family life
• There She Goes (BBC) — Intellectual disability from chromosomal disorder — family perspective
• 13 Reasons Why (Netflix) — Depression, trauma, and suicide in teens

Review a Resource:

I am a Superhero Expert

December 12, 2025

This memoir by Josh Stehle is a well-written account of his experience growing up with his autistic older brother. It’s often funny, insightful, and highlights the positive brotherly connection that they share. It’s a quick must-read for autism parents and siblings.

Nicole Neri
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