Interviews

JESSICA GOES TO SCHOOL

March 19, 2022
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Dubai based Paralympian Jessica Smith launches the first children’s book of ‘Just Jessica’ series that asks us ‘Wouldn’t things be boring if we were all the same?’

Award winning Australian Paralympic swimmer, internationally recognised advocate for positive body image, diversity & inclusion, and disability awareness, Jessica Smith has launched the first book in her new ‘Just Jessica’ series for children – Jessica Goes to School

Inspired by her own personal journey into parenthood, as the mother of three young children, Jessica’s books are written around the themes of disability and acceptance. After growing up with her own limited resources on these topics, Jessica wanted to create characters that represent, what and who, kids see in everyday life.

Jessica Goes to School is a heart-warming story about being proud of who you are and embracing what makes us different. In the first book of the Just Jessica series, it is Jessica’s first day of school and she is very excited. She can’t wait to meet her new teacher and make friends but the day moves in an unexpected direction when a boy points out that Jessica only has one arm.

Jessica Smith draws on her own experiences in the Just Jessica series. This book is a perfect bedtime read to encourage chats around important topics about our world, with beautiful illustrations by Hasina Shafad.

Jessica Goes to School is available from March 15th, via The Dreamwork Collective, on Amazon.ae and in local book stores.

“Diversity and disability or people of determination are people we are all going to come into contact with,” Jessica says. “It’s important we learn how to be understanding and accepting of all abilities at a young age. When I was a child, I never saw myself represented in books or the media. With the Just Jessica series I am introducing topics of diversity and body image to my readers by sharing my own experiences. The books are about difference in all it’s beautiful forms – with these books I hope that other children can find representation of themselves within them, and also give other readers an insight into inclusion and the differences that we have within society, amongst us everyday with ‘Just Jessica’s everyday adventures with understanding, acceptance and friendship”

Jessica Smith is an Australian Paralympic Swimmer, public speaker, children’s author, and the Chief Operating Officer at ‘TOUCH Dubai’ – an inclusive talent agency and disability consultancy which aims to educate society about the importance of inclusion, both from a professional and a social model.

Since retiring from her swimming career Jessica has gone on to become an internationally recognised advocate for positive body image, diversity & inclusion, and disability awareness.

An accomplished speaker and MC, Jessica has taken the stage at hundreds of events around the world – where she shares her personal journey and expertise.

Jessica’s dedication to both sport and the community was recently recognised when she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, one of the country’s highest honours.