Update MARCH 2020 – Consider Defunct. No longer publishing work.

Woodbine House specializes in books about developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism. The books they publish are written for and about children with certain disabilities. Their titles cover AD/HD, autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, early intervention, inclusion, special education, communication skills, and more. They were founded in 1985.

They particularly focus on books that are written expressly for parents or other family members of children with disabilities. They also consider books written for individuals with disabilities, professionals, or a general audience. They have separate guidelines for children’s book submissions. They are also interested in young adult books with the intended audience being teens with disabilities.

They stress that while previous publishing experience is not required or expected and most of the submissions they receive are unaganted, it is essential that the author has hands-on experience with one or more children with disabilities and that the book they write reflects that experience.

This is a niche publisher with a very clear focus.  They are not looking for a general audience and they do not have good distribution but they seem to be connected to their readership. They largely sell books libraries, support organizations, schools, hospitals, and other nonprofits.

To learn more, go to their submission guidelines which are embedded in the FAQ section of their website. All submissions must be mailed in to be considered.