Disability-and-Health Books

The book was in perfect condition and the shipping was swift. Would happily buy from again...

This is a worthwhile purchase, it answers a lot of questions. It is easy to read and would recommend it to new and experienced diabetic patiets and parents and friends and families.

This excellent book has been a mine of information for both my adult daughter and my three year old grand-daughter. Both of whom are insulin dependent diabetics. Although some of the tips are specifically aimed at Americans, or those with insulin pumps, the main thrust of the book is for all diabetics and their families.

This is a good book with interesting tips and ideas for teens and college age kids. While the book does deal with the topic of drinking and insulin, it is not in a "lush/Greek chug" kind of manner. I don't recall anything about pot in there (especially in it being OK) but I would agree that it is more of an adult read. Once you have read it,then pick what you want to discuss with your children about the ideas from the book. It is a realistic look at how teens and college kids handle life with diabetes. While you may dream and hope your child never wants to touch alcohol in college, will dilligently change out their sites and watch their BG levels, we all know that in the end they are all possibly forgotten when having fun with friends, under the stress of finals or what not. This book helps you prep them and yourself for ways around these scenarios and how to deal with them. Better to be informed than in the dark.

As the parent of 4-year old recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes I was unsure of what her life would be like. This book gave me great hope that she will be able to live a very normal life. I found it very encouraging. Yes, all kids make mistakes and most make some un-wise choices. The Loy brothers are no exception and I found it interesting to see how they handled some normal teen situations. The Loy brothers are my heros and I hope my daughter is able to live her life to it's fullest like they are.

The context of epidemics is important. What happens to the poor people who have drug resistant tuberculosis? Market mechanisms do not serve the interest of global health equity. The cost-efectiveness argument is weak. Poverty limits freedom of choice. AIDS education falls short. Arguments about limited resources should not prevail. There is a global web of unequal relationships. Structural violence and cultural difference have been conflated in AIDS studies.

Anthropology and medicine have blind spots. Virchow understood medicine had biologic and social underpinnings. There is not enough high-tech medicine to go around. Inequality itself is a pathogenic force. The author's interpretation of modern plagues has been shaped by work in Haiti and Peru. As scientific and medical communities tried to make sense of AIDS, the author was drawn into the discipline of the sociology of knowledge. World systems theory, one of the newer anthropological theories, could posit that Paul Farmer of Harvard and Haiti is a conduit for resources.

In many instances of disease emergence, social topography is more important than geographic topography. The differential political economy of risk is described. The major risk factor for AIDS is poverty. Personal agency has been exaggerated. From typhoid to tuberculosis to AIDS, blaming the victim is a theme in the literature. Being sick results from structural violence, not from bad personal choices. The author lived in a village in rural Haiti when both AIDS and political violence arrived. Haitian cases of AIDS defied the risk-grouping descriptions prevalent in the 1980's. The Haitian epidemic of AIDS originated in the United States.

Recent circumstances in Haiti include deepening poverty, gender inequality, instability. The author and other physicians and health workers have learned that a belief in sorcery among Haitians does not preclude adherence to a biomedical regimen. Furthermore, high cure rates for tuberculosis, (often a twin affliction of AIDS), are possible in settings of extreme poverty. Juxtaposing treatment with prevention are false debates.

The author has traced the march of inequality as it affects health care in a myriad of ways. Endnotes and an extensive bibliography follow the text of this excellent work. Everyone should buy it, everyone should read it.

An enlightening and insightful book that passionately sets a higher standard for those involved in medicine or any type of humanitarian work. He is passionate about what he says, but careful not to make assumptions that have not been well documented and researched. The book challenged my thinking when it comes to health care, poverty, and our social duty to take action against injustices in the world.

By claiming "social reform," Farmer contradicts his stance as an American citizen: Haiti has no money to support its own citizens, that's why the US and others are doing Haiti's job. But, the US has to care for its own citizens as well therefore has to first work on its own AIDS patients within its boundary. If the US does that as its social reform, Haiti instantly dries up.

Irritating mistakes somehow got through inspection: PAligre Dam? PEligre? (P. 174) PuertO Plata? PueltA? (P. 119)

Farmer, a physician-anthropologist and activist, examines both the way that poverty and inequality result in the spread of HIV and TB today and the flawed justifications for inequitable access to treatment. His ethnographic analysis provides a powerful complement to standard epidemiological work, and this treatise on the danger as well as the immorality of inequity in medical care is largely convincing.

Farmer illustrates several broad themes effectively with case studies from Haiti and Peru. One is the idea that most studies overemphasize individual agency, failing to recognize serious "structural" factors, such as the pressure that extreme poverty exerts on people to engage in unhealthy behaviors and the problems introduced by economic inequality. (One example of the latter is that in unequal countries like Peru, second-line TB drugs are available because of demand by the rich, so doctors also prescribe them to the poor who can only afford them intermittently, which generates drug-resistant strains of the disease.) Another theme is that people in rich nations tend to place heavy weight on "strange" cultural beliefs and customs in explaining high disease prevalence, whereas actual epidemiological research tends to show that these factors carry little weight relative to poverty-related factors. While he uses AIDS in Haiti to illustrate this tendency, it applies perfectly to popular Western conceptions of AIDS in Africa: the popular media tend to emphasize cultural practices such as wife inheritance and a strong sex drive, whereas epidemiological research fails to support a major role for these.

A third theme, which Farmer often trumpets but not as convincingly, is that many of the trade-offs voiced by policymakers are ultimately false. One example is the question of whether to treat tuberculosis with drugs or prevent it (e.g., by investing in economic development). He then uses the success of his clinic in Haiti as an example of both treating and preventing TB. The ultimate argument is that the wealthy have no right to withhold their wealth from the poor. However, he gives us no clear sense of how the resources to generalize this to the world at large should be marshaled. While the trade-off may be philosophically false, the practical application is unclear.

But even without a plan of action, Farmer illuminates key problems in the analysis of infectious disease spread and makes a convincing plea to share the wealth (and the technology).

Too long . Written with sientific dicipline & detail and burdened by too much specialized medical terminology for the popular reader . The idealism is admerable and the conclusion are justified but it speaks to the medical profession more than to the general public . A slow diffucult book to read . Sombody else should write the same book for the popular reader and for leaders in public policy .

ADD is not just a mental disorder. Those of us who are ADD or know somebody with ADD are very much aware of that. There is so much more to ADD than just a text book definiton. Dr Emery introduces us to a different concept of ADD. I bet most people who are ADD themsleves can relate to many of his ideas.

This is very well written book on the subject of ADD. Many of his ideas and suggestions can still help those people who choose to see ADD as only a negative problem. This book is also set up so that an ADD person can read though it with ease.

I have Attention Deficit Disorder. I was diagnosed way back in the 3rd grade. I am 24 years old now ans was on Ritalin all theway up to Concerta until just last year when I found out medication wasn't the answer for my Add thanks to Dr. Kevin Ross Emery and his wonderful Book Managing The Gift. It gives people wonderful insights on how Emotional Coffee Breaks, good diet, good sleeping patterns,and protocols developed by a medical intuition do really help those affected with ADD. Dr. Krvin Ross Emery also goes to schools with parents to talk to teachers about the child's IEP or Individualized Educational Plans and works with thefamily and the student to make sure the child gets the adequate and wonderful education the child deserves instead of labeling the child with a disability. ADD is a gift not a diffability.

People stop putting the book down and open your brains to a new idea and new ways of thinking instead of being so close minded. Maybe Dr. Levy needs to take a closer look at his life and take some courses in ADD or early childhood education itmight help him think better. Get a life Dr. Levy.

Take a 13 year old boy with no self-esteem, no self-confidence, a failure in school, academically and social, started taking Ridlin in hopes to a means with no end; put him with Dr. Ross-Emery, NOT RASS!!, and what do you get?? A-B student, teachers dream student, makes new friends daily, plays any sport that is available at school, even if he is not the best on the team, has become STRUCTURED in his life, does his homework, if OFF Ridlin, takes life as it is, has accepted his own worth, and now thinks he can do anything, which all equals the power one gifted person gave another. Thank you Kevin Ross Emery for your support, for giving Cody back his life, giving us a family, taking the Attention Defecit and for teaching Cody to MANAGE HIS GIFT. Jacqui and Bill

This book contains some interesting ideas, based on Emery's private practice. However, they are offered in a vacuum. The author does not discuss current research, or other alternative practitioners widely known in this field. Can one man's intuition with individual patients carry over in a meaningful way to schools, or other psychologists? If not, where do poor parents go to help their children? Emery has made a contribution here. It will be richer if he develops useable, tested protocols with professionals for widespread application. Ths book, is a starting point. Despite its flaws, I recommend it.

In this book Dr. Emery has explored new territory and techniques for managing ADD. He discusses the four levels - physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual - impacted by ADD. "Emotional coffee breaks", using checklists, learning in motion, modification of diet, and timed learning are a few of the strategies explored as alternative approaches to medication. While Dr. Emery recognizes that medication can be useful in some cases, he offers other methods for parents to explore. He offers suggestions to help children with anxiety, shame, and isolation which children with ADD often experience. Steps to help your child, your child's educational rights and additional resources are discussed. Sections of the book deal with adults with ADD too. As a parent of a teenager with ADD I highly recommend this book to parents of ADD children.

I didn't really expect that the dictionaries for people with Asperger Syndrome(AS) would be published. But I don't believe the dictionary will guarantee 100% to catch the social lives of people with AS. Of course, I do see the author's intention; to help Aspies(people with Asperger Syndrome) cope more smoothly with their society. And I know it can be quite useful to remember the idiomatic and pragmatic expressions shown in this dictionary when it comes to making conversations more lively. However, that's not everything for Aspies, because overuse of those idioms makes communication more unnatural, awkward, and even confusing. Therefore, to understand the idioms is one thing; to overuse them quite another. Of course, I agree with moderate use of them, though.
After all, I could have given 5 stars to this book with more specific examples. For Aspies and Non-native speakers of English, it might be better to deal with What Did You Say? What Do You Mean?: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Metaphors written by Jude Welton.

Maybe a little over complex, but great collection of metaphorical and idiomatic expressions, amazing how complex language is becoming!

This is an excellent book and not just for people with Asperger's. I think that many of our young people today do not have a grasp of idioms and everday expressions. This book is an excellent resource for high school teachers and students.

Not just for Asperger sufferers is this dictionary of everyday expressions, a reference tool which has been revised and expanded to include some 5000 expressions to reveal the meaning of everyday idiomatic expressions. People with Asperger Syndrome have difficulties with social communication: here entries are clearly explained, cover British and American English alike, and clarifies phrases commonly used - and confused - in social situations. Any library will find it an excellent language reference.

You wouldn't get this book to learn phrases to use... you would use it to understand other people.

There is just one small problem... most people misuse expressions a lot because they have incorrectly assumed what they mean or heard someone else use them wrong, so you could never be sure what is written here is what was actually meant, and it does nothing to help with people's lack of clarity and precision and honesty when speaking in general, which as a person with AS myself I have found a bigger problem than understanding expressions.

If you or someone you know has a serious problem understanding expressions then this book could be helpful, but I would worry that it is perhaps too comprehensive. Many of the phrases contained within seem a bit obscure or archaic. If you did start using the phrases in here the chances are that no one would be able to understand you!

Nice idea though.

I am happy to thank the seller because the book in good shape and received it on time.

Arrived as said, in good condition although it took slightly longer but still during estimated arrival time.

I bought right through Amazon, I got my book in a timely manner and it arrived in perfect condition. It was great. Thanks!

The seller was nasty and non professional replaying to an e-mail. He blamed defects on book on post office and his customer,he refused to assume responsability.

This text was great. I was very impressed with the thoroughness of the info. and found it to very informative for my class. I went in with a wealth of knowledge for sure

This book is a good overview of many of the alternative health and natural treatments for autism. She has three chapters that discuss what autism is, how it's diagnosed, theories on causes and contributing factors, and of course the vaccine and mercury controversy. These chapters were interesting, but the meat of the book are the chapters that discuss natural medicine treatments for autism including:
* Targeted Therapeutic Nutrition and Heavy Metal Detox-This involves a 24 hour urine analysis, digestive enzymes, nutritional supplementation, protease enzymes to clear the immune issues that cause food intolerances, and healing the gut with specific nutrients.

* NAET: Allergy-related autism-They focus on releasing the allergy to a certain group of foods on each session, and then you have to completely avoid them for 24 hours. I remember the day we had to stay away from vegetables and fruits, what a nightmare. Plus, we saw no improvement in symptoms.

* Biochemical Therapy -This chapter focuses on metallothionein, and the Pfeiffer Institutes protocol of supplements that work to get it working again.

* Homeopathy: Constitutional Treatment, Vaccine Clearing, and an alternative to vaccines-This was my favorite chapter! I've read it several times, and each time learned something new. They talk about several homeopathic approaches to autism, all quite different, but with histories of success.
I was especially excited to read about one homeopath who used an LM potency of pertussis nosode to counteract the damage done by the DPT vaccine. LM potencies are much less likely than other potencies to make symptoms like seizures worse. There is no LM potency homeopathic remedy made from the DPT vaccine and since it doesn't exist anymore, one can't be made. Using the nosode from the disease itself is the best plan B available. Most people believe that the pertussis portion of that vaccine is the part that did the neurological damage.
I don't completely agree with the author on the subject of using homeopathic nosodes to prevent that disease. There is research that indicates this does not work. I do agree that homeopathy can be used prophylacticly, you have get the proper remedy (not the disease nosode) and it has to be taken when the outbreak occurs not years ahead according to the current vaccine schedule.

* Cranial osteopathy -Seeing an osteopath really helped my son when he was sick. It kept the mucous moving and prevented the normal ear infections that are so common with severe allergies.

* Soma Therapies: Structural, Functional and Emotional Release
* The Tomatis Method: Listening and Autism
* Neural Therapy, Toxic Clearing, and Family Systems Therapy-I didn't like this chapter. One of the therapies they used is to inject anesthetics into different areas of the body to release trauma and energy blocks. On one child they did a "crown of thorns" which is a ring of injections around the skull. That doesn't sound very natural to me.
I have a lot of books on treating autism, this is one of the better ones.

As a professional/advocate in the field of autism treatment, I am continually disheartened by the large number of false claims made about the causes/treatments of this disorder. This book only adds to that trend.

As of the writing of this review, there are still no definitive data to suggest that autism is caused by environmental toxins or vaccinations (although the author suggests otherwise). While the effects of environmental influences continue to be investigated by competent researchers, it is irresponsible to suggest to parents of children with autism that we already know the cause of this neurological disorder. The only influence/potential cause of autism that has strong evidence to this point is a genetic influence.

Homeopathic treatment of autism? How can the author seriously suggest that such a treatment is advisable? Homeopathic compounds have NEVER been shown to be effective for ANY disorder (autism or otherwise) under controlled conditions (and by that I mean double-blind placebo-controlled studies). Although many persons have reported a benefit of homeopathic rememdies in their own lives, just as many people have reported the same effect when given a placebo. This suggests that homeopathy rests on people's beliefs for its perceived effectiveness.

I typically suggest that people search the "Association for Science in Autism Treatment" on the internet to get a handle on what professionals really know about the causes and effective treatments for autism.

This is a good book for parents as an overview of alternative treatments for ASD children. Note, it contains some approaches not all approaches of alternative medicine. I would sincerely recommend this book but if you are a parent looking at all alternatives, including Children with Starving Brains by Dr J. McCandless as well. These two books will provide you all the information you need in evaluating next steps with a good, thoughtful, forward thinking doctor.

I am very excited by this book! As a professional working in the field it has been difficult to recommend books to parents of this client group. While it's wonderful to read heartfelt stories of parents struggles and them finding answers BUT I often feel uncomfortable if a particular 'brand' of therapy is seen as the 'answer'.

This book shares many 'answers' and feels like parents are at last getting the parts of the jigsaw. It's up to them which part they place down first! For professionals the book is educational and informative.

The chapters on vaccination, nutrition and detoxification particularly encouraged me. Many times I hear people approaching these subjects as 'alternative' and by association are seen as somehow being invalid.

I found the author's research impeccable and her authentic way of writing made it hard to put the book down.

Chapter 11 is a wonderful chapter talking about Levels of Healing using a structure I am slightly familiar with. The tone of the writing makes me interested and curious to follow up on these ideas and approach. Even I would normally dismiss some of these methods as 'far out'

The symbols 'See also' and ?Resources? are very user friendly as are the endnotes and references.

There is a chapter on the method I employ. I found was an excellent description and a clear understanding of how the work can help autism. After all the reading I've done in this area, this must be the best! The author is an excellent interviewer. Such depth of understanding of the various treatments- it's as if she has experienced them all!

I intend to email the details of this book to parents of autistic children I know. I believe it to be a must read for all parents and professionals associated with autism.

Thank you Stephanie!

Stephanie Marohn's books on mental health issues are all excellent and this one on autism is a good starting place for anyone wishing to find out more about Autism and how to effectively treat it. One challenge in writing this book was that there are multiple factors contributing to the development of autism, and the most prevalent factors happen to be iatrogenic - standard medical practices that cause illness. A recent study survey in 2 Western states showed that children who were vaccinated were more than twice as likely as their unvaccinated peers to have autism and other developmental disorders. The medical establishment and those indoctrinated by the cult of modern medicine don't want to acknowledge that they are causing unneeded harm to millions of people. There are financial and psychological reasons why many people won't face that reality. Thus, Marohn's book looks honestly at those issues and quotes doctors who oppose vaccinations and certain unnatural child delivery practices. One has to accept the validity of the factors cited in the etiology of autism to appreciate how the treatments discussed in the book work. A spectrum of treatments is explored (and the focus is on the most cutting edge and effective approaches, not the more mainstream approaches that most people investigating the subject already have exposure to). Most children will benefit immensely from a combination of the approaches discussed in this book. There is a growing body of evidence to support many of these approaches and much evidence that standard drug therapies cause a variety of side effects and impairments. Wouldn't it be logical to try the natural approaches first? Well, much of modern psychiatry and allopathic medicine are concerned more about conformity to dogma than using critical thinking and sensibly looking at all options. Stephanie Marohn looks at nutritional therapies, allergy clearing, osteopathy, homeopathy, sound therapy, and even family therapy and shamanic type interventions to help resolve issues contributing to autism. That's a lot better than just giving a child drugs, external behavior manipulation, and hiring someone to make sure the child gets physical and social stimulation (typical conventional approaches to autism). While this book doesn't cover every alternative therapy or go into great depth on each topic it discusses, it offers a good overview of the types of treatments that are working and it explains them in a clear manner. At present this is the ideal book for people looking to begin to understand autism and how to treat it - it's time to look beyond the DSM (the psychiatric diagnostic and statistical manual) and learn to really help those with developmental impairments.

As a professional in the field, I know the need for a book of this type. This book is a real disappointment. There are numerous factual errors and too much unwise advise. Save your money.

Overcoming Dyslexia for Dummies is a tremendously valuable resource. I ordered this book because I was struggling to help one of my adult literacy students who has dyslexia. What a difference this text has made! I have applied much of the author's advice, and I have noticed a big difference in my student's academic skills and her self-esteem. Incorporating multisensory activities into learning and using several of the recommended tools for dyslexia has proved incredibly helpful.

I ordered this book after reading it at the library. I really enjoyed the easy to read format, and the tips for helping my son is what made me go ahead and order my own copy.

HOWEVER,my large complaint is this is a depressing book! It gives the negative "future" of dyslexic children as limited to careers that dont require higher education. It goes on to talk about most dyslexics are dropouts, unemployed or at dead end minimum wage jobs.

Obviously that is not true. While I'm sure many are, it is NOT the norm. Dyslexia does not limit possiblities. Yet, this book seems to focus on the negative rather that the positive that can happen with good intervention.

It's still a good book, just ignore the negative and remember that your child's future isn't limited by dyslexia.

This was a great help I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about Dyslexia and this bbok summed it up all in one book.

I bought this book because the teachers think that my grandson may be dyslexic and I would recommend it to any parent or grandparenmt like myself. My daughter bought another book but we both like this one best. This book has so much practical information and the author puts it all into clear terms. My daughter and I both understand what a diagnosis entails now and we know what to expect and ask for.

I bought this book during my mid-life to use myself. I was surprised to find that I did exactly what this book explained - shutdown one side of my brain while I used the other side. The techniques work and have helped me. I would recommend it to anyone with learning and reading issues. It could be used as an effective game with children to support them during their school years. So simple and easy to use.

I would consider the book just somewhat interesting for someone studying this type of educating.

Informative and very reader friendly....basically from the child's perspective...how Brain Gym helped them with learning difficulties. It still has all the details how Brain Gym works. A very quick read that gives a good introduction to lateral repatterning. It goes very well with the other Brain Gym book/s by the Dennison's and connects to other books by the author Carla Hannaford.A fascinating topic from any point of view...mine is in education. I am studying and using this as an educator and teacher. I would love to hear any of your stories about Brain Gym. r.keizer@pei.sympatico.ca

The theory behind Dennison's exercises is right on target. You will find some great brain-sharpening and brain-soothing exercises for kids here. However, the production values here are very low, which unfortunately gives an unprofessional impression. He doesn't offer much in the way of support for the Educational Kinesiology idea, which is bound to leave the uninitiated a little skeptical. Give this a try too: Power Brain Kids

I bought this book and the teachers addition at the same time. The information is useful but the presentation is impossible. It looks self published, needs editing, re-organization and much better design/graphics. It looks like a 3rd grader but it together. My son is 4 and reads at 5th grade level amoung other things. I am always looking for good information to help his development. You will find some here, but struggle to but it into an organized structure for presentation to your child.

The book does not provide activities for under privileged children. The book provides unrealistic scenarios that are rare for the students I serve.

I have used this book to plan lessons for my secondary students who have severe cognitive disabilities. My main problem with the book is that it relies heavily on worksheets and activities that require the student to be able to read. Since my students do not read, these worksheets were not appropriate for me. I was able, however, to adapt and modify the ideas to meet my needs. As a reference tool for ideas, it is a great book.

Excellent source of activities for use with LEP population. Good for counseling end educational activities.

I just started using this book 1 month ago with a developmentally handicapped class in our secondary school. I have been looking for months for suitable resources. I really recommend this book. The students are enjoying the discussions and completing the activities.

I am a speech therapist working with special needs kids in high school and junior high. This is a wonderful resource full of information I can use with all my kids. The book is clearly sectioned into activities and concepts which can go beyond classroom objectives and into real life situations. I really enjoyed activities geared towards the older population covering more sensitive subjects such as alcohol, suicide and sex. The special needs population needs more hands on information covering these topics and this book presented the material in a easy to understand and practical manner. I was also really impressed with the extension activities provided and short exercises given with every subject. What a timesaver!!

This book was awful. It took all i could do to finish it. The stories are not about their children it is about themselves. Some stories don't even tell you the child's diagnosis so your left scratching your head. Not only that one story was about the love life between the parents and how the husband ended up having an affair. What? I wanted to read stories about children and their needs, not about love affairs. Also the poems MAKE NO SENSE! They are terrible, terrible, terrible. I would not waste a penny on this book.

This is a wonderful collection of varied voices writing about parenting special needs children. I enjoyed the mix of essays, fiction, and poetry from mother- and father-writers; the pieces reflect an incredible range of experiences. The writing is honest, thought-provoking, poignant and brave. I'm not touched closely by the issues faced by these writers, yet as a mother still found plenty to relate to here.

This is a wonderful book, particularly the opening essay by Vicki Forman. The essays are comforting for anyone who has a child with special healthcare needs, but they are smart and funny and interesting for the general reader as well.

Suzanne Kamata's anthology offers a cross-genre and literary look into the heads and hearts of parents who work to raise children with special needs as they work to understand or accept their children's conditions, to challenge and accept views and needs of other family members, and to deal with social isolation and cultural silence about disability. What I most appreciated about this volume is the emotional range and vulnerability of the authors. In sharing their experiences, they raise larger social questions not just about disability but about the "normal" we all live in--as in Marie Myung-Ok Lee's excellent essay "Normal." The literary quality of the selections is impressive, including authors such as Bret Lott and Jayne Anne Phillips; I found the poetry to be of particularly high quality and insight.
It would be a mistake to see this as a book compiled for those raising children with special needs. Most parents--and most humans--must face deep fears about losing the abilities and mobilities that give us access to the range of these so-called normal human experience. For this reason, the poems, stories, and essays in Kamata's anthology will speak to any reader from a place of profound honesty, insight, and subtlety. Not a cup of comfort here, but a strong swallow of intelligence and perseverance.

Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs is a beautiful tribute the the lives of parents who every day deal with the fact that their lives have taken a different turn than planned. With stories and poems by Bret Lott, Carol Zapata-Whelan, Michael Berube and more, Suzanne Kamata has collected experiences from a wide range of disabilities, reflecting a broad set of emotions. Some of the stories told are fiction, some non-fiction, but each gives voice to the day-to-day lives of these families in an artful and unique way. As the parent of a special needs child, I find myself constantly seeking out books containing the comforting voices of others who deal with the same challenges I do, and this book is a welcome addition to my collection.