Float

Content Warning: This section contains discussions of ableism.

In Float, Martin includes tropes of traditional superhero narratives combined with coming-of-age character arcs to draw a clear parallel between the campers’ special abilities and the challenges and discrimination experienced by children living with disabilities in the United States. The kids who attend Camp Outlier all need accommodations to help them manage their RISK factors: Emerson needs a weighted vest, Anthony needs flame-resistant clothing, and Zeke needs a skunk as a service animal. Mr. Stink, the skunk, provides exactly the kind of support to Zeke that real-life service animals (such as guide dogs for the visually impaired) provide to people with disabilities. In Float, RISK kids have certain government protections, and they are all entitled to accommodations in school. However, Martin makes clear this was not always the case. She also suggests that RISK kids’ existing rights are under threat from legislation like the RISK Reduction Act, which seeks to isolate, persecute, and endanger those with RISK factors. These details parallel the rise in disability rights activism in the United States and around the world in recent decades, as well as the potential social and legislative threats that people with disabilities still face.