Disability-and-Health Books

I know Alex's Mom and Dad from the Make A Wish 300 mile bikeride, and Team Alex.

I am also a physician and parent. This book is a motivator, a reminder about how to live, and an inspiration to us all.

My life has changed already from reading it! Alex's wish goes on and keeps changing us.

Read this book if you get the chance!!

This book is an inspiring portrait of a remarkable teenaged girl who teaches us how to live while fighting for her own life. I highly recommend When One Door Closes.

As I type this, Frank Sinatra is singing (on his satellite radio "Channel 75") a song written specially for him, titled (What will it matter) "100 YEARS FROM TODAY."

Coincidentally (or maybe not!) I just happened to be reading the final words of this deeply affecting book --- about a Michigan girl, 17-year-old Alexandra Graham and her brave but unsuccessful battle with cancer.

All of us have had this same thought, haven't we? Will my life matter to people, loved ones or strangers, after I am gone? Contributing this book's brilliant final chapter, Michael Josephson offers us a resounding YES. With one little proviso! Consider his words (the best I ever read on this subject) and see if they speak to your heart too.

-----

"Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, minutes, hours or days.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned, or what you were owed.

Your judgments, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from or which side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success but your significance . . . not what you learned but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character. Not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

-----

As if to underline these words, this book (subtitled, "A Teen's Inspiring Journey and Living Legacy") culminates with this moving recollection from a Michigan woman, Dorothy Pitsch, who knew nothing of Alexandra Graham's courageous losing battle, until days after "Alex" died. Mrs. Pitsch writes:

"My husband and I had five children and the two youngest were off to college. It was a time in my life when I was looking for something new and meaningful to do.

"I prayed to God, `Show me some work that will make a difference in the world.' That's when I got involved in a Christian outreach program called WHEELS FOR THE WORLD. They gather used wheelchairs, repairing them and redistributing them to those in need around the world. They didn't have anyone in Michigan doing it, so I volunteered to see what I can do."

"Well, I started a wheelchair drive collection program, and they started to come in from all over the state - hundreds and hundreds of them . . .

"Alex Graham's father Bill called and wanted us to come over and pick up Alex's wheelchair at his office. It was a memorable morning [because] I had arranged to pick up a truckload of wheelchairs that day, and had an interview scheduled with THE DETROIT NEWS. When we finished we headed over to Bill Graham's office . . .

"At this point I didn't know anything about Alex. I mean, we had picked up hundreds of wheelchairs and this was one more to add to the effort. Bill handed me a couple of sheets of paper and said, `I want you to read these when you find some time.'

"On the way back home, I read [those pages from Bill] written about Alex by the well-respected journalist Bob Talbert of the Detroit Free Press.

"When I read the article I remembered my daughter talking to me about a local girl with cancer who recently died. At the time I had no idea who she was talking about. Now I realized that it was Alex.

"When I tied it all together, I realized I had a very special wheelchair. I decided I wanted to track it [this wheelchair] to see who got it. [Alex's chair was] loaded into my car and I was driving down the road to my home when I heard this loud, clear voice. The voice urged: `Let's stop by and see my Dad. It will make him feel better.'

"I was alone in the car! Startled by what I'd heard, I sensed the hairs on my neck and arms stand on end. This was something I had never, ever experienced before.

"Then, when I should have made a right-hand turn to go home, I found myself in the left-turn lane. I was thinking, `What's going on here?'

"Before I knew it, I had turned left and was headed for Bill Graham's office. I had no clue what I was going to say when I got there . . .

"Bill came out of his office and I told him I was thinking of tracking Alex's chair . . . to see how it changed the recipient's life. Then I told him about what happened in my car . . . about a young girl's voice that told me to stop by and see him . . . that it would make him feel better.

"Bill started to cry, and threw his arms around me. I was speechless. [Soon] I got back into the car and could feel Alex's presence. I reached over and put my hand on the cushion from her chair. It was sitting on the seat next to me. `You're right, Alex,' I said. `This will make your Dad feel better'."

-----

And just beneath these words from "Mrs. Pitsch," is a 3,000 year old Biblical quotation. [Isaiah 30:21]

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, `This is the way; walk in it'."

Life is sometimes cruel. "When One Door Closes: A Teen's Inspiring Journey and Living Legacy" is Susie and Bill Graham's reflections on their daughter's battle with cancer. Alexandra Graham was diagnosed at the age of sixteen and never let her spirit falter. She knew it was out of her hands and prayed for a miracle, a miracle which unfortunately did not come, but Alex did what she could to leave the world better than she found it. "When One Door Closes" is a touching and inspiring story, highly recommended to any parent facing a similarly tragic situation.

When One Door Closes - which I was lucky enough to read pre-publication - is the honest recollection of a young teenager's battle with cancer as told by her family, friends and medical staff. The book, however, is not a depressing tale, but rather an inspiring journey about how Alex never viewed herself as a victim. To this day, the lessons that Alex taught people about her vigor for life, her positive outlook and her ability to confront adversity head-on still affects those that contributed to the book - and you can hear it in their stories. You don't need to have experienced a tragedy of this sort to relate to this book...you just need to have lived life to be inspired by it.

This book is invaluable for helping children take in everything related to a loved one's cancer. It helps kids understand that their fears are normal and understandable, and that cancer is something that we can fight. They also learn that the fight is hard and that they are part of the fight when they support their loved one.

It was enormously helpful to my daughter in understanding my father's cancer last year. My daughter was just five at that time. I read it aloud to her, and she listened so intently that she repeated parts of it verbatim six months later!

I gave our (first) copy to a friend when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for her daughter to read. She describes it as "a godsend."

This book was given as a gift to my ten year old niece while her mom was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I asked her about how she liked the book and she told me that is has really helped her understand what her mom is going through and helped her understand what she (my niece) was feeling. Great choice!!

This very well written, easy to read book is writen from the perspective of a preteen girl whose mother is undergoing testing and treatment for breast cancer. As both a practicing oncologist and a mother of two children (12 and 8 yrs old), I highly recommend this book. The explanations of procedures and treatments were simple, straightforward and easy to understand (my 12 year old agrees). Clare is able to describe feelings and thoughts common to many people in this situation - adults and kids alike - and will let young readers know that they are not alone. This book can also be used as a starting point for further family discussions. The references in the back of the book are quite helpful. The pictures and illustrations are wonderful and make this book unique.

First off, let me say that I would be a lot happier if nobody ready this book. I certainly hope that my kids never have to read this book and that I will never ever have to recommend it to anybody that I know.

"The Year My Mother Was Bald" is written for children ages 8-13 who find themselves in the position of dealing with a parent dealing with cancer. Ann Speltz based this book on the experiences of her own family during the year that she was treated for cancer. What she and her daughter, Amelia, went through is turned into this heart-warming volume from Magination Press, with illustrations by Kate Sternberg, who also endured a year when her mother was bald. Here the story is told by Clare, who keeps a journal about the year her mother undergoes treatment for cancer.

"The Year My Mother Was Bald" is divided into twelve chapters, one for each month, beginning in June (which means the cycle ends in the spring). Clare is looking forward to summer, making a list of her favorite summer things to do, when her mother comes back from her annual physical with the news that she might have a tumor in her breast. In addition to Clare's journal entries, there are articles that have been clipped from other sources explaining things like what happens "When Cells Go Wild" and "Radiation." Accompanying Clare's thoughts and this information are drawings, photographs, and resources that will help youngesters understand what is happening, the same way they helped Claire.

Not only does "The Year My Mother Was Bald" offer answers to the obvious questions that will occupy the minds of kids in this situation ("Will my mom be all right?" "Who will take care of me if she doesn't get better?") but also gives kids some pro-active things they can do to not only help them deal with their concerns and fears, but also to help with the recovery process for their mother. However, the primary focus is on helping kids deal with all aspects of this process, which is why perhaps the most poignant moment in the book is when Claire decides what to do with the box underneath her bed that has the hair that her mother has lost.

The back of this book provides resources that kids will find useful for finding additional information about dealing with cancer in free booklets, organizations and online sites, and other books. More importantly, Speltz reassures kids that there are no right or wrong feelings and their feelings are not only important, but also helpful. She also reminds her readers that scientists keep making new discoveries about cancer and coming up with new methods of fighting cancer all the time.

The only concern anyone could have about the helpfulness of this book would be the gender differences between Clare and her mother and the reader and their parent. "The Year My Mother Was Bald" speaks more to a situation where the mother has been diagnosed (fathers can always claim they are trying to look like Michael Jordan or Yul Brynner), but even young boys should be able to relate to Clare's situation and take comfort from this excellent book as well.

In this story, a young girl, Claire, tells the story of her mother's breast cancer in a monthly scrapbook. It starts in June, when her mother's cancer is first diagnosed. In the ensuing months, her mother experiences surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. In the final month, May, her mother is feeling better and appears to be on the road to a good recovery.

Each month includes Claire's experiences, hopes and fears. She discusses her daily routine and how it has to change when her mother is too ill to pack her lunch or drive her to school. Eventually, Claire learns to manage some chores, such as laundry, on her own. She feels that she is contributing and that she has learned some new skills. Each monthly chapter also includes scientific information explaining facts that a child might want to know. These topics include surgery, surgical drains, chemotherapy, and hair loss. the illustrations include drawings and photographs. They look like the marginal drawings that a girl like Claire might actually do. they help illustrate her reactions.

I liked the way that the book is organized around a specific time frame. A child experiences time differently from an adult. Although cancer treatment often extends longer than a year, the concrete depiction of time passage allows the child or young adolescent to see that there is a progression.

The author and illustrator have both had personal experience with cancer in themselves or in their family. They make it clear that different people experience cancer in their own ways, and that different emotional reactions are all right.

My daughter is 3 and we got her this book awhile ago. Nothing like having a book of things she is needing to learn anyway...with kids that look like her. She loves it. The pictures are high quality and there is much variety in it. Love the 123 as well.

As the mom of a child with down syndorme I bought so my son could see other kids with DS in books. I find myself passing this one over due to it's lack of typical kids too! I would like to see more books showing inclusion and acceptance and not exclusivity.

I believe this book is a large step in the right direction for educating the world on Down syndrome, and realizing just how beautiful these children are. My grandson is the first Down's child to ever go through our regular school system and is doing great. You will notice in the book that there are twin combinations, where one twin has Down syndrome and the other doesn't, and there are regular children with the Down's children. All these children are from New York State but various parts of the state, there are a variety of ethnic groups. This book tells a whole other story then just a child learning their ABCs. There is another whole lesson here to be learned. You don't have to have a child with Down's syndrome for your child to get something from this book. Our moto is: They are a child first and Down's second. Another words a CHILD with Down's syndrome, not a DOWN syndrome child. I am very pleased with the positive responses this book is receiving. God bless each and everyone of you who purchased this book. My grandson also thanks you.

Many children's ABC books are so crowded with images that it is easy for kids to miss the main point, i.e., A=Apple. This is a very clear book with great photographs! Most young kids enjoy photos of other children, and this would be a great way to introduce all children to diversity...and disability as a type of diversity to be embraced and not feared.

This is a wonderful ABC book. Each letter has a full page photograph showing a child with Down syndrome in an activity with an object corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. The letter "D" for example, has a young boy with Down syndrome and a dog. The pictures are very colorful and clear. The children are beautiful models. This is a fun book and I highly recommend it. If only they made a hard board edition for little children...

This was a very good book that gave several view points. I found it extremely helpful with understanding ADHD.

I recomend this book to parents and teachers alike, this book opens your eyes, it makes you understand why your child acts the way they do.

Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics without commercial involvement of any kind, ADHD: A Complete And Authoritative Guide is a "must-have" reference and resource for parents addressing the phenomenon of Attention- Defecit Disorder with Hyperactivity in children. Chapters address identification and diagnosis, commonly coexisting conditions, treatment options, the role of medications, behavior therapy, helping one's ADHD child succeed in school, unproven treatments for ADHD, and much more. A disclaimer warns that the vital information in ADHD: A Complete And Authoritative Guide is meant as a supplement for a physician's diagnosis and recommendations, not a replacement, yet its vital and meticulous accuracy and tested methodologies are a blessing to anyone involved in the raising or care of ADHD children.

In my clinical practice I treat and evaluate children and adults with ADHD. I always recommend this book to parents who have children with attention problems in order for them to get a complete objective overview of the disorder and the treatments that are available.
This book explains in simple language the current medical definition of ADHD and why you need a complete evaluation in order to receive an accurate diagnosis. It contains a thorough discussion of the treatment options available for the parents and child. It encourages parents to become the "case manager" of their child's treatment. In order to understand how and what treatment is best for your child you need to understand what the scientific research has shown works and does not work in treating this disorder. It is then possible to make educated choices for your child.
This book is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and they have done an excellent job in bringing a factual and complete guide for parents to understand ADHD. I recommend it as the first book to read when you are researching this problem.

If you think you know everything about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), then you should still check out this comprehensive book from the American Academy of Pedia-trics. It's not only a diagnostic and treat-ment reference-covering the myriad of symptoms and heal-ing approaches (i.e. parenting, schooling, behavior therapy, medications, and even experimental techniques)-it also runs the spectrum of services and options available from preschool through college years. Even the most veteran ADHD parent will discover some new avenue to assist their child in growth and societal assimilation.

This is an excellent book. ...I would recommend this book to those suffering from an eating disorder, or to the friends and family of a sufferer as it gives great inssight.

I read the novel 'Catherine' a few years ago, and it deeply saddened me. 'Catherine' is written by the mother of a twenty-two year old girl who died of anorexia nervosa in 1984.

The testimony is a brave and frank account of Catherine's terrible illness which gripped her from the age of fifteen years old. It intersperses extracts from Catherine's diary, which show the tragic mental and physical effect this illness had on her. Her diary records her food intake, and her weight, which tragically plummets to 3 stone when she dies.

It touches on her childhood days, where Catherine was a happy and bubbly child, and continues throughout the development of her illness.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially young girls considering dieting. It shows how out of hand dieting can be, and certainly a great help to those suffering from anorexia. I myself suffered from this illness, and this book gave me some strength to battle with it. I didn't want to die like Catherine, and the many other girls who die each year from this horrifying condition.

eating disorders are often romanticised; few know of the realpain which they cause, and courage which they demand, in both thesufferer and the family members and friends. this touching documentary of a young girls struggle with, and eventual defeat by anorexia nervosa is openly told by her mother and accompanied by excerts from her diaries. as the book so truthfully details catherine's behaviours, it may be disturbing to the unaware, tear-wrenching to those directly/indirectly affected but yet also so critical to the understanding of the seriousness of these psychological disorders.

This book tells of the reality of anorexia nervosa. The stress on the family; the ineffectiveness of treatment (which still goes on today); the states of the Catherine's mind. It's one for the parents of eating disorder children.

I thought that I would be shocked by this book, and touched to a new level. I was. I was shocked by how any person could ever feel the way Catherine did and also shocked that there was a book written by a Mother about her daughter dying. Howvever, it was so incredibly moving and it reduces me to tears every time I read it. Bettered only by Love Story (Segal).

If I ever get the chance to provide services to children in need (who do not have appropriate health care support), this book would be the first thing I'd pack. Plenty of useful lnformation in this book. Haven't tried to fashion any of the equipment, but I'm sure they all work wonders for kids and their families.

A good heart is essential but not enough in rehabilitation work. This book thus gives readers the basic understanding of people with different kinds of disabilities, enabling us to work well with them. What's more, the numerous heartfelt photos show us that if we can get things right, people with disabilities can enjoy a joyful life.
What's more, the author is so kind that he even encourages readers to xerox the content if necessary provided that not everyone can afford buying a book.

I'm a pediatric physical therapist who works with many people from Mexico and Latin American countries. This book (I often use the spanish version, also on Amazon.com) contains very useful information that I can share with families to help them better understand their disabled child's conditions. It has many creative methods of building equipment for little to no money that are important in our days of managed care.

There are some conditions, like polio, that are uncommon here in America. However, some of my imigrent families have children that have had polio. I used this book to make up for gaps in my own training. In fact, I've learned something useful from almost any page. This book belongs in the car of any therapist, (PT, OT) or person who works with disabled imigrent children. I highly reccomend it.

As a former PCV in The West Indies, I used this book for ideas to share with families who had special needs children. It has many low cost alternatives to equipment that is often too costly for families without resources. The book also addresses the need for a handicapped child to do useful work in the family unit, something that is often forgotten. Self esteem can be taught if a child is given tasks, however small. I had to leave the book at the PeaceCorps Library when I left, and think that no Early Interventionist, OT or PT should be without a copy. A copy in Spanish and a copy in English would be a great asset.

I spoke with an Occupational therapist who says this book was like a bible to her when she did a fieldwork session in rural India~ It was highly recommended!

This book is a very easy to read and understand guide for parents and teachers. It clearly states the signs of Autism and the importance of early intervention in a nonthreating way for parents. The end of the book gives tips for teachers and parents to help their children deal with this condition.

I read this book when our state EI specialists told us that our son had developmental delays, but they weren't sure if he was autistic or not (he had symptoms both ways). It was a great place to start for me and helped me formulate questions for the therapist and the developmental peditrician (our next stop). I really liked the chapter on how to help your child at home. I also enjoyed the real examples and advice from parents.

I work in the field of developmental disabilities and am a follower of recent studies and books that come out on various disabilities. Dr. Stone's book is not only educational, but is to-the-point. It is full of figures/tables to help explain the difference of the different spectrum disorders, frequently asked questions, and examples from parents with a child with autism or PDD-NOS. I would highly recommend this book if you are just trying to educate yourself about autism, or if you are truly wondering if your child does, indeed, have autism. The book is well-written and easy for the "lay person" to understand and interpret.

An excellent book to get you started down what could be a very long road. It might be helpful to know ahead of going to see a developmental pediatrician that your child might have a developmental disorder. However I would not use this book as the end all and to diagnose (and I don't think the author would either).

Once you know for sure (after getting the diagnosis from your Doctor) try "Overcoming Autism" as a next step book. And settle in for a lot of reading. Stay away from the "simple cure" books too. There is a lot (too much) information out there. Take it one step at a time and talk to other parents too.

I am an employee of the school system and work with many youth who have autism. I frequently look for resources to recommend to parents so they can educate themselves about Autism and better help their child in the home environment. Wendy Stone's book would be very helpful for parents who suspect possible Autism in their young child (Under 4 years of age). It discusses what goes into the diagnosis, and emphasizes the point that parents and practitioners can't dwell on one unusual behavior or deficit when considering a diagnosis (as it involves a cluster of behaviors displayed to a certain degree). The book also discusses strategies for parents to help their children in the home environment. A strength of the book, is that it has accounts from a family as they go through the process of diagnosis and treatment. Also, the book informs the reader of what to expect during the evaluation process, and includes frequently asked questions.

Donna Williams is already one of the most famous people diagnosed with Autism in the world and people look up to her achievements and particularly perhaps, the fact that as an Autistic person, contrary to all existing stereotypes at that time, she has married and, of course, an iconic writer of heterosexual romance.

But all is not what it seems. Agoraphobic, outside of her public face, Donna is actually a relative recluse on a farm in the middle of nowhere, completely controlled by her obsessive rather Autistic-Spectrum and somewhat multiple-personalitied husband, Ian. She is beginning to discover that not all 'Auties' are nice at all and the one she's married is a doosie.

Now, on the day of their second wedding aniversary, only one week after the death of her eccentric rather bipolar father from cancer and in the middle of the filming of a documentary about her life, Donna is falling deeply 'in like' with one of the crew, Mick who himself lost the father he loved. Now Ian boldly de-masks and announces he wants to run off with the male producer!

The de-masked Ian clinically announces how he has now qualified for being two years in the marriage and, hence, is entitled to half of everything she ever made from her internationally bestselling books. To boot, she has only a few weeks before flying to America to give a talk about being happily married and on the Autistic Spectrum before a massive US audience!

As Ian packs up the furnishings and strips their house bare and the cameras keep rolling, Donna's 'in like'with Mick has turned to being in love and after she starts a smart drug she finds herself developing lust for the first time in her life at the ripe old age of thirty-two.

But Mick has his own challenges with love, sex, identity and alcohol and with the help of a colorful hippy eccentric dance teacher, Margo, Donna finds herself on the road again. More alone as famous than she would ever have been otherwise, and deeply traumatised by the death of her father, she confronts her sexual orientation and attraction to women, going to a gay club specifically to meet 'someone'. She ends up in a torid sexual relationship with an alcoholic lesbian, Shelly. Then her best friend, Margo, goes suddenly into a coma, then dies from a brain haemmorage, and soon even Donna's beloved cat Monty joins the 'other side'.

It's like everyone is dying and she is surrounded by their 'ghosts'. But among the ghosts awaits an angel named Chris who in rescueing him from his own messy love triangle, she rescues herself from the edge of breakdown.

Everyday Heaven is a humorous, moving, riveting, roller-coaster of a book.

Thank you, Donna. I am an avid fan of Donna Williams' autobiographical and other scholarly writing on 'autism'. She is a true peacemaker. In her previous book, Like Colour to the Blind, I found tremendous insight into the kinds of problems that many of us encounter when we expand our world to include that of another in an intimate partnership.

Similarly, reading Everyday Heaven inspired me to continue to understand and deepen my relationship with myself. Donna's style is ever fresh and impeccably precise. She continues to charter the borderlands of differences in thinking, feeling, perceiving and behaving that have been labeled 'autistic'. Perhaps with so eloquent a mapmaker as our guide, the rest of us can learn greater tolerance for all of the individual 'autistic' realities that we each bring to bear in the creation of this thing that we think we share called 'consensual reality'. Maybe then there will be peace and Everyday Heaven on earth.

Those who have read Donna Williams' other three autobiographies will continue to find ideas and insights that will stretch anybody's understanding of autism far beyond textbooks and what professionals have published. But more than that, even if you aren't especially interested in autism, this book is about the zest for and love of life. Considering how gloomy and bitter Williams could be if she chose, "Everyday Heaven" really serves as an inspirational memoir. In spite of the very real hardships she describes, this book filled me with joy.

Of all Donna Williams' books, "Everyday Heaven" is one of my very favorites. The fourth in her autobiographical series, this part of her story invites us to be a fly on the wall while she navigates life and love in her thirties. Donna's unbridled candor draws you in, and her clarity and insight hold you fast. When you read it, you'll want to have a box of tissues near by, and also a friend to share some of her humorous anecdotes with. What strikes me in this book, is that in spite of the horrific circumstances she survived in her early childhood, and to whatever extent her Autism continues to impact her daily life, there is never a moment of blame or bitterness. She personifies resilience and a lust for life. If you dare to read any of her books, Donna Williams is someone who will take all of your excuses away. "Everyday Heaven" is a heavenly read.

Donna is changing the way that, hopefully, millions of people think about 'Autism'. Everyday Heavan gives a wonderful insight into the world of a fantastic lady on the Autism spectrum. In this fascinating book Donna shares the ups and downs of relationships, exposure anxiety, information processing, connection, tolerance, contol, dietary difficulties and many more experiences that she has had. You will be captivated by the warmth and passion that Donna brings to the Neuro -Typical world of Disabling barriers.

This is an incredible story of a deaf man who was found wandering the streets of Jacksonville, IL and subsequently institutionalized at Lincoln State School and Colony. It is an easy-to-read account that tells about all of the horrors and abuses that John Doe No. 24 endured and the way he survived it all. When he also went blind, he was almost totally disconnected from he world. Yet, somehow, he maintained a sense of humor and enjoyed the simple things of life.

Anyone interested in the beginning of what is now called "Special Education" should read this book. Highly recommended.

A very interesting story and topic best summed up by Mary Chapin Carpenter herself when she penned the words in her song that she included on John Doe 24's tombstone, "Well there's no doubt that life's a mystery, but so too is the human heart." I would suggest that many readers are drawn to this book through Mary Chapin Carpenter. For those that are, you are apt to find a 'Lewis' that is different than the one you may have envisioned since you first heard Ms. Carpenter's haunting melody. In many ways it is hard to distinguish the human being that lives inside this deaf and mute body. It is difficult to read because it tears us from the comfort of our own 'perfect' lives.

The song apart, I learned a great deal about the history of institutional care through the journey that Lewis stumbles into in 1945. The picture is not pretty. Still, it is important to understand that institutional culture does exist in America. Having read this book, I am now compelled to learn where it is today with the hope that it has improved dramatically since the events I read in Mr. Bakke's book.

Not a particularly 'fun' book to read, but one that should be on your list.

Mr. Bakke has written a riveting book about a nearly unbelievable life. The reader is rapt by the circumstances 'Mr. Doe' meets at every turn, and Mr. Bakke has penned his words in a way that allows the reader to feel something of the feelings Mr. Doe must have experienced. The story told by the book is at once heartrending and hopeful; Mr. Doe is 'trapped' in 'the system,' but he is often shown mercy by compassionate people who even now deserve to be honored for their efforts.

One question remained when I had finished the book: Why did no one---the police, a social worker, ANYBODY---allow Mr. Doe to take them back down the trail he had traveled? Let him be a passenger in a car, pointing his way back to his place of origin?

Great book, though. I'd recommend it for almost anyone of any age. THANK YOU, MR. BAKKE, for showing us the twists and turns of this lost human riddle.

that not that long ago in this country someone was found wandering the streets and there were no means to identify him. How sad that someone had raised him for 16 years and then "lost" him. This is a story about one man's dignity. Unlike a lot of stories involving institutions, it seems as though John encountered an awful lot of caring people employed at these places. I find it interesting that although he learned to communicate with others, he never discussed his past or gave any real clues as to his beginnings.

It's a well written book about a sad subject. I recommend it.

On October 11, 1946, a black boy of indeterminate age was found wandering the streets of Jacksonville, Illinois. When police discovered he was deaf, mute, and suspected to be retarded, he was sent to the Lincoln State School and Colony, a state facility that bore little resemblance to its name. Had he been permitted to stay at the School for the Deaf, his life would have been completely different, but that school was not permitted to take retarded people.
The Lincoln School was a self-contained city having a farm with price-winning cattle and a dairy processing plant. It generated its own power and returned thousands of dollars to the state treasury, thanks to the free labor provided by the residents (really inmates). These people varied from the very severely retarded to those of borderline intelligence. The place was vastly overcrowded, and the pecking order among residents was often established violently.
John Doe, as he was called since they were unable to identify him at all, was given an I.Q. test, but much like any test, if you don't understand the value or importance of the test, there will be little incentive to do well, even assuming you can understand what is expected of you. A special test was used that had been designed for the deaf, but the examiner had difficulty conveying the purpose and instructions for the various tests that were disguised as games or puzzles. John's deafness and inexperience were a huge impediment, and, not surprisingly, he scored very low on the test. This result was to haunt him for years to come. After several unsuccessful escape attempts, John gradually adapted to his surroundings. He had no known relatives so there was no one to claim him nor to send him packages or money that might help alleviate his situation.
By the mid-sixties, thanks in part to JFK's commitment to improving conditions and education for the mentally retarded and an Illinois commission, facilities and conditions were improving at the Lincoln School. John Doe had now been there close to two decades. Unfortunately, it was also the time of Chlorpromazine that the psychiatric profession had discovered could turn unruly or violent patients into virtually catatonic, but untroublesome, individuals. It soon became the drug of choice for nearly everyone in an institution. Despite regular doses, John was becoming one of the best students in the ASL class that had been started for the deaf residents. He became a trustee and was placed in charge of several other patients, helping them to dress and to get ready for the day.
By 1973 the side effects of the drugs began to manifest themselves and John was inflicted with diabetes and glaucoma. In 1975, the Lincoln School was converted into a state prison, and John was sent to the Jacksonville Developmental Center. He was now totally blind, but thanks to a few dedicated individuals, his talents were recognized and he was sent to the Helen Keller School. This provided him with the skills he needed to subsequently live in a series of group homes.
He died a few years later, but to this day no one has still been able to track down his identity.

This book sheds such light on autism and people with autism. They are not autistic first. They are people first with autism. Reading his words were so eye opening is helping to discover what goes on in an autistic person's mind. The capabilities are endless. There is so much hope. Their mind is wired differently than a so called "normal" person...whatever that means. Easy to understand now why the medical profession believes Albert Einstein was a high functioning person with autism. The focus, the introversion, the dislike of change, having like clothes to wear on a daily basis. Just a few of the examples given. Great seller as well. Fast shipping!

This book was one of the best books I have read about autism. I feel like I understand my son (with autism) so much more than I did before. The author was excellent at helping us understand how he perceives the world. It is amazing to me how much people with autism are misunderstood. This book makes it clear that autism is not a disability of the mind but rather an alternate way of perceiving the world around us. This book is a must read!

It was an awesome book! I loved his earlier book "The mind tree" and this book is just as good. Tito's early and vivid memories of his childhood at such a young age is truly amazing!

His poetic and visual writings allow me to see things from his point of view and opens a window into the world of autism through his eyes.

His book is truly a voice and a wake up call to all those who don't believe in the hidden intelligence that the mayority of people with autism possess. It's really a matter of opening our eyes and forcing us as society to look beyond the physical, what we see on the outside. The famous old saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" truly applies to autism.

Thank you Tito for continuing to teach us to look beyond the superficial and into the soul of the person. You are so blessed to have had Soma in your live and we are so Blessed to have her in our kid's life. Thank you for sharing her with the world! She truly is amazing as you are.

Ivonne Fernandez (CA)

This is a front row seat on a journey through the mind of a phenomenal young man ! Tito articulately and artistically addresses some of the most common misconceptions about Autism ! Many things this author wrote about from his own experiences I found similar to my own son who is autistic. Tito offers his readers a unique outlook on autism . One that the rest of the world needs to take a good long look at!

An inspirational and poetic story that gives a unique window into the perceptions and experiences of a non-verbal autistic boy from a very young age through young adulthood. Also, this book tells a wonderful story of Tito's mother Soma, who along with Tito, gave up their family, culture and daily comforts in search of a way to allow Tito to communicate and share his world. This search led to a lifetime of work and sacrifice which has resulted in Tito being able to share his life with us through this book. Tito wonderfully describes the misconception of autism as a "disease" rather than a "disability", and the perhaps misplaced need for families, and indeed society, to find a "cure" for autism rather than focusing on maximizing the true (and often hidden) potential of autistic persons through meaningful education, support, dignity and respect. This story is a rare, first person account of Tito's growing up with autism and being able to perceive and understand the world around him, while at the same time being unable to communicate his experiences until learning to write. Tito sums up his story with, ". . . I feel blessed for being what I am." We are blessed and privileged to share his story.