Gavin’s Magic Wish to Be an Author Comes True

Gavin Clifton, from Wales, has recently fulfilled a long-held dream of becoming a published children’s author.  He hopes that his first book, ‘Max and the Magic Wish’ will do more for children than just entertain them, however.  Gavin lives with Cerebral Palsy, and he’s used his own experience of growing up with a disability to write the story.  He hopes that the tale’s message of disability positivity will inspire young readers to not only treat others with kindness but to accept themselves.

Disability Positivity

Thirty-nine-year-old Gavin, who is also a disability activist and blogger, has spent most of his life campaigning for disability positivity and acceptance.  When he received his diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy as a child, doctors treating him expected his disability to hold him back.  Despite this negative assumption, growing up, Gavin attended a mainstream school and lives a fully independent life; being able to walk, talk using a communication device and drive his own accessible car.

Gavin says: “As I have gotten older, I thought to myself ‘what would my life be like if I wasn’t disabled?’ but I can in all honesty say at this moment in time I wouldn’t change a thing.” (BBC News Online, 2021)

Max’s Wish

Gavin’s first book tells the story of Max, a young boy who, like Gavin, lives with Cerebral Palsy.  During a family holiday, Max meets a magical fortune teller who offers to grant him his greatest wish.  Max’s wish however, isn’t to be like everyone else.  Instead, it’s for everyone else to accept him and his differences for what they are.  The central message of the book is simple, says Gavin.  Rather than trying to change yourself for others, start loving yourself and others will do the same.

He says: “Beauty shines through in the most unexpected of places and this happens when you start being yourself.” (Gavin Clifton Online, 2021)

A Response to Negativity

Gavin particularly hopes that the positive message from Max’s Magic Wish will help educate children and teach them to reject the hurtful comments levelled towards people with differences on social media.  Even if the book can’t combat all the negativity online, Gavin is simply happy to make a difference.

Gavin concludes: “If I can write my story in a way that will teach kids that tackling everyday life with disabilities doesn’t have to always be looked upon through a different perspective to able [bodied] people…this journey has been worth the while”. (South Wales Argus, 2021)