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Blade Runner: The Fastest Man On No Legs
by Oscar PistoriusBlade Runner is the inspirational memoir of Oscar Pistorius. Discover his incredible, emotional journey from disabled toddler to international sports phenomenon.At eleven months old, Oscar Pistorius had both his legs amputated below the knee. His mother wrote a letter to be read by Oscar when he was grown up: 'A loser is not one who runs last in the race. It is the one who sits and watches, and has never tried to run.' On discovering that their son had been born with no fibulae, Oscar's parents made the difficult decision to have both his legs amputated, giving him the best possible chance of a normal life. Oscar received his first pair of prosthetic legs at just seventeen months, made specifically for him. From then on he became invincible: running, climbing and, with the encouragement of his older brother, getting into any mischief he could. Throughout the course of his life, Oscar has battled to overcome extraordinary difficulties to prove that, with the right attitude, anything is possible. Blade Runner charts the extraordinary development of one of the most gifted sportsmen and inspirational figures on the planet - from immobilised child to world-class sprinter.
In The Key of Genius: The Extraordinary Life of Derek Paravicini
by Adam OckelfordDerek Paravicini is blind, can't tell his right hand from his left and needs round-the-clock care. But he has an extremely rare gift - he is a musical prodigy with perfect pitch whose piano-playing has thrilled audiences at venues from Ronnie Scott's to Las Vegas, the Barbican to Buckingham Palace. Born prematurely, Derek remained in hospital for three months and technically 'died' several times before he was finally strong enough to go home. It was not long before his blindness became apparent and later it became clear that he had severe learning difficulties and autism. Desperately trying to find something to engage and stimulate baby Derek, his nanny discovered a toy organ and put it down in front of him. Miraculously, Derek taught himself to play. Music proved to be an outlet for expressing himself and communicating with others - his way of dealing with a strange and confusing world.
A Life in Pieces: The harrowing story of a woman with 17 personalities
by Richard K. BaerIn 1989 a woman named Karen showed up at author and psychiatrist Richard Baer's practice, terribly frightened and at breaking point. She explained that her husband beat her, her mother stole from her; she was in tremendous physical pain and wanted to die. Within a few sessions she also revealed that her father and grandfather had raped and tortured her repeatedly over the course of her childhood, frequently in the company of other neighbourhood men. She was now married with two children, but often could not account for stretches of minutes, hours, sometimes even days.As Karen's story unfolded over the following months, Baer realised that he was dealing with a severe case of Multiple Personality Disorder. Although it would take time and deep, hard-won trust before any of Karen's alternated personalities presented themselves in her psychiatrist's office, over the next five years Baer would encounter seventeen distinct personalities, all of whom had been living inside Karen since she was a young child, shielding her from an otherwise unbearable life.In the tradition of Oliver Saks and Irvin Yalom, Baer chronicles his nine years of work with Karen and all her distinct personalities, his often futile efforts to use the tools of his trade, and his patient's ultimate invention of her own cure. An unforgettable story of unimaginable suffering and ultimate recovery, A Life In Pieces: How One Woman's Personality was Shattered by Years of Abuse is the first account of life with Multiple Personality Disorder written by the treating psychiatrist.
Falling and Laughing: The Restoration of Edwyn Collins
by Grace MaxwellIn February 2005, Edwyn Collins suffered two devastating brain haemorrhages. He should have died. Doctors advised that if he did survive, there would be little of him left. If that wasn't enough, he went on to contract MRSA as a result of an operation to his skull and spent six months in hospital. Initially, Edwyn couldn't speak, read, write, walk, sit up or feed himself. He had lost all movement in his right side and was suffering from aphasia - an inability to use or understand language. When he initially recovered consciousness the only words he could say were 'Grace', 'Maxwell', 'yes' and 'no'.But with the help of his partner Grace and their son Will, Edwyn fought back. Slowly, and with monumental effort, he began to teach his brain to read and speak all over again - with some areas of his mind it was if he had been a slate wiped utterly clean. Through a long and arduous road of therapy he began to re-inhabit his body until he could walk again. Grace's story is an intimate and inspiring account of what you do to survive when your husband is all but taken away without warning by a stroke.
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's (Thorndike Biography Ser.)
by John Elder RobisonFrom the time he was three or four years old, John Elder Robison realised that he was different from other people. He was unable to make eye contact or connect with other children, and by the time he was a teenager his odd habits - an inclination to blurt out non-sequiturs, obsessively dismantle radios or dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother in them) - had earned him the label 'social deviant'. It didn't help that his mother conversed with light fixtures and his father spent evenings pickling himself in sherry.Look Me in the Eye is his story of growing up with Asperger's syndrome – a form of autism – at a time when the diagnosis simply didn't exist. Along the way it also tells the story of two brothers born eight years apart yet devoted to each other: the author and his younger brother Chris, who would grow up to become bestselling author Augusten Burroughs. This book is a rare fusion of inspiration, dark comedy and insight into the workings of the human mind. For someone who has struggled all his life to connect with other people, Robison proves to be an extraordinary storyteller.
Before I Forget: A Daughter's Story
by Fiona PhillipsFiona Phillips is one of our best-loved television presenters. Well-known for being warm, chatty and down to earth, she attended her local comprehensive in Southampton before studying English in Birmingham. For over twelve years she presented GMTV, during which time she interviewed some of the most famous and influential people on the planet, from film stars to royalty, politicians to local heroes. But in August 2008 Fiona announced that she was to quit the job she loved, revealing that her father, Phil, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's just a year after her mother had died of the same disease and that she had decided to devote more time to him and to her family. Before I Forget is a wonderfully honest account of growing up in the 1960s and 70s within a complex family. During her childhood her father could sometimes be distant and demanding which both saddened her and drove her to succeed, her mother always the devoted wife and the steady heart of the family. When Fiona lands the job at GMTV she revels in how proud they are of her achievement. When her mother and then her father succumb to Alzheimer's we share in Fiona's sadness as she movingly describes watching them fade away, one moment interviewing George Clooney the next taking a call from Pembrokeshire Social Services to say that her mother had wandered away from her care home.Before I Forget is an extraordinary book which will resonate with Fiona's millions of fans and the millions of people who day-by-day are going through, or have gone through, the same experiences.
Working with Families for Inclusive Education: Navigating Identity, Opportunity and Belonging (International Perspectives on Inclusive Education #10)
by Dick Sobsey Kate Scorgie Chris ForlinThis book explores personal, family and theoretical constructions of inclusion and offers evidence-based strategies and resources to foster parent-professional, home-school collaborative partnerships. It explores working with families to secure identity, opportunity and belonging within school settings and beyond. It does so by means of a rich international blend of scholarly articles and personal reflections. The first section examines personal, family, and theoretical perspectives on ways in which existing systems and structures define and influence inclusion of persons with disability and their families in school and workplace settings. It invites reflection on how we might come together to create more inclusive communities through mutual understanding and valuing. Section two presents a number of evidence-based practices, strategies, and resources that can serve to guide family members and professionals as they work together to build collaborative partnerships and inclusive school communities from preschool through transition to post-secondary and vocational settings. This book invites us to deeper understandings of collaboration, to engage reflection from diverse perspectives. It reminds us that at some level we are all navigating identity, opportunity and belonging; that each of us needs those who challenge us to see beyond our assumptions, whose ideas shape and sharpen our own.
The Pocket Guide To Understanding A.D.H.D.: Practical Tips for Parents
by Dr Christopher Green Dr Kit CheeThe Pocket Guide to Understanding A. D. H. D. offers authoritative but instant, practical and commonsense advice for parents, including the latest research on this distressing and misunderstood condition. In his typically friendly and direct style, Dr Chris Green, with Dr Kit Chee, explains the causes and effects of A. D. H. D. and provides quick, practical strategies to help cope with common problems such as inattention, impulsiveness and underachievement and includes advice on:- how to identify A. D. H. D. in your child- medication and alternative therapies- where to get support- improving behaviour at school and homeAnd much more!
Understanding Attention Deficit Disorder: A Parent's Guide To Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Children
by Dr Christopher Green Dr Kit CheeIn his typically friendly and clear style, the ever-popular Dr Chris Green, with Dr Kit Chee, explains the treatments and causes of Attention Deficit Disorder, a condition that affects the learning and behaviour of up to 1 in 10 children in this country. Aimed at parents, teachers and health professionals, this book dispels the myths about ADHD and gives a clear overview of the condition: the causes, the behaviours and the treatments. Full of well-tried, practical strategies to help with common problems such as inattention, underachievement and impulsiveness, the book covers:- The causes, how to help improve behaviour at home and at school- Making the diagnosis, medication and alternative therapies- Hints to help reading, writing and language- Ways to boost self-esteem- ADHD in adults- The latest research and where to go for further helpUnderstanding ADHD offers invaluable guidance to help parents work with teachers and health professionals to give their child the best possible chance of entering adulthood with self-confidence, life skills and secure family relationships.
Inclusive Principles and Practices in Literacy Education (International Perspectives on Inclusive Education #11)
by Marion MiltonThis volume draws together research and practice from the fields of literacy education and inclusion. As such it provides an insight into current theory, research and issues associated with teaching literacy to all students in inclusive classrooms. Literacy remains a critical success factor for students, as the basis for concurrent and future learning throughout the curriculum. As such, we take a broadened view of inclusive education and include not only students with disabilities and learning difficulties, but also those whose linguistic, cultural or social backgrounds act to marginalise or inhibit their learning. Numerous books publish research on inclusive education but this volume is dedicated to the critical aspect of literacy and inclusive practices in a range of countries. The changes to literacy in today’s technological world are considered along with the impact on teaching and learning. Examples of good practice are provided, as are models of effective inclusion and differentiation in literacy teaching at different year levels, for different groups of students and the application in important subjects such as mathematics and science. Chapter authors have expertise in the fields of pre-school and early literacy, mathematical, technology and science literacy, English as an additional language, literacy difficulties in primary and secondary schools, inclusion and special education. They provide highly relevant research and useful information for researchers, teacher educators and those engaged at all levels of the implementation of inclusive literacy education in schools.
Factors in Studying Employment for Persons with Disability: How the Picture can Change (Research in Social Science and Disability #10)
by Barbara AltmanThe current literature regarding employment among persons with disabilities produces research results dependent on definitions of work disability, the discipline within which research takes places, the model or paradigm of disability in which the research is framed, the methodology and measures used and the cultural context in which employment occurs. This volume seeks to address those factors which have made describing, predicting and examining the work experience of a person with a disability both different and difficult. Contributors examine less frequently anaylzed aspects of employment for persons with disabilities, and offer a variety of approaches to the conceptualization of work, how they differ across cultures, organizations, and types of disability. Topics covered include examination of range of contextual framing of employment for those with disabilities, well-being, the impact of gender, poverty and education and the collection concludes by examining the future of employment developments and trends and the impacts on inclusion of people with disabilities in the paid workforce.
Studies in Law, Politics, and Society (Studies in Law, Politics, and Society #76)
by Austin SaratStudies in Law, Politics, and Society provides a vehicle for the publication of scholarly articles within the broad parameters of interdisciplinary legal scholarship. In this latest edition of this highly successful research series, chapters examine a diverse range of legal issues and their impact on and intersections with society. This volume features a special section with papers dedicated to law and disability. The chapters examine issues of HIV, obesity, disability rights, assisted suicide and prenatal testing. Other papers included in this important volume address the right to education for migrant children in the United States and the rights to citizenship of British children. This volume brings together leading scholars and will be vital reading for all those researching in this subject area.
Ollie: The True Story of a Brief and Courageous Life
by Stephen VenablesLike the swallows, our son Ollie came in the spring and left in the autumn. Dancing, singing, swooping - there was something birdlike about his energy, joy and laughter - but also the fleeting, enigmatic quality of his life. When he was two he lost all his speech, as autism turned his life - and ours - into a baffling challenge. Then at four he had to face a new challenge when he almost died from leukaemia. But chemotherapy worked its magic and he made a full recovery. He was a tough survivor and nothing seemed to dim his spirit: he could light up a room and energize everyone around him. So it was a huge shock, after several cancer-free years, when a fatal brain tumour was discovered. This time his body had had enough and he died very suddenly. He was twelve. Ollie had extraordinary courage and endurance. Time after time he bounced back, determined to enjoy life. He was obstinate, mischievous, playful, flirtatious, quixotic, funny. He generated - and continues to generate - huge amounts of laughter. And he was very beautiful. We always felt that if autism had not unravelled the wiring of his neural pathways, he would have achieved extraordinary things. This is the story of the journey we made with Ollie. Unlike a mountaineer, pursuing extreme experiences out of choice, he had difficulty thrust upon him: he was forced to be brave. For me, too, the journey was far more compelling than any expedition.
One Step At A Time
by Marie JosephMarie Joseph knew that her arthritis was incurable, but still she was determined not to give in to it - to live a 'complete' life. Through both the constant pain and the endless series of cures, she never lost sight of either her own resolve, her love for her family, or her sense of humour.This is her story. It is the courageous story of learning to live with a crippling illness - made even more remarkable because Marie Joseph went on to become one of our most popular contemporary novelists, the bestselling author of Maggie Craig and A Leaf In The Wind. But above all, this is a story of inspiring strength - an adventure story of the spirit - funny, vivid and intensely moving.
Emma and I: The Beautiful Labrador Who Saved My Life
by Sheila HockenAs a girl, Sheila never let her gradual descent into blindness prevent her from trying to do everything a sighted person could do. Then at 17, unable to see to find her way around the house she grew up in, she found herself dreading her future in an 'ever darkening vacuum'.But then the remarkable Emma enters her life, and Sheila begins a journey that brings her the independence, love and happiness she never dreamed possible.Emma and I is the moving and inspirational story of the unique bond between Sheila and her dog, and shows that, sometimes, miracles do happen.
The Stammering Handbook: A Definitive Guide to Coping With a Stammer
by Jenny LewisMany people regard stammering as a joke, reinforced by the fact that they are usually portrayed on film and television as figures of fun: Michael Palin in a Fish Called Wanda, Ronnie Barker in Open All Hours. But for those who stammer - and there are half a million in Britain -the affliction is a constant source of misery and embarrassment. The Stammering Handbook aims to help stammerers of all ages cope with it in everyday life - at work, at home, at school, at play. It will be illustrated with case histories and contains advice and help for friends and relations, too. Fully endorsed by and written with the help of The British Stammering Association, THE STAMMERING HANDBOOK is essential reading.
Sarah's Diary: An unflinchingly honest account of one family's struggle with depression
by Sarah Griffin'I was fourteen when I found my Dad trying to commit suicide in the garage. Sounds shocking doesn't it? But that was part of me, part of living with my Dad'Sarah's Diary is the very personal diary of Sarah Griffin - an ordinary teenage girl learning to deal with the ups and downs of family life. On the outside hers was like any other family, but behind closed doors lay a sad and lonely secret. Sarah's Dad had depression -- a condition we've all heard of but seldom discuss. Beautifully written, brutally honest, Sarah's story is compelling reading.
Interaction In Action: Reflections On The Use Of Intensive Interaction (PDF)
by Dave Hewett Melanie NindFirst Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Interaction In Action: Reflections On The Use Of Intensive Interaction
by Dave Hewett Melanie NindFirst Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company
I Am Not Joey Pigza (Joey Pigza #4)
by Jack Gantos David TazzymanEverything changes for Joey when his crazy, long-lost dad returns home after a lucky lottery win. Now they're rich, Carter Pigza truly believes that his family can start a whole new life and that means embarking on a brand new career running a busy diner - and changing their family name from Pigza to Heinz. Can Joey handle becoming Freddy? And how does he really feel about the fact that he's going to become a big brother?
Haatchi and Little B: The True Story Of One Boy And His Dog
by Wendy HoldenHaatchi and Little B tells the inspiring and moving true story of Owen Howkins (also known as Little B, short for 'Buddy') and Haatchi, an Anatolian shepherd dog who was abandoned on a railway line as a puppy and left for dead.Thankfully, Haatchi was rescued, despite sustaining severe injuries. And so Haatchi, in turn, was able to rescue Owen, at the time an anxious and withdrawn little boy born with a rare genetic disorder, who found it hard to make friends. But Owen fell in love with his new three-legged canine housemate at first sight, and life would never be the same.The touching story of this dynamic and loveable duo is a life-affirming tale of happiness and friendship.
Dyslexia: How To Survive And Succeed At Work
by Sylvia MoodyDyslexic people face many problems in the workplace: difficulties with reading and writing, memory, organisation and time management, and a recent TUC report on dyslexia in the workplace estimates that 3 million people are affected.Dyslexia: How to survive and succeed at work is written by a leading expert in the field for people of all backgrounds and abilities and will help you to master complex organisational skills, deal with a large workload and cope with the demands of deadlines. It also shows how to improve confidence, deal with stress, and build on the creative talent that many dyslexics possess.Dyslexia: How to survive and succeed at work:- Explains what dyslexic and dyspraxic difficulties are- Describes how they affect workplace efficiency- Offers strategies to manage dyslexic difficulties and reduce their adverse effect on work efficiency- Provides information about ways in which employers can help dyslexic employees
Too Close to Home
by Aoife WalshMeet Minny: her life is a complicated whirlwind of unbearable PE lessons, annoying friends and impossible-to-live-with siblings. Minny is desperate for some space in a house spilling over with family and hangers-on. She has to contend with her autistic sister Aisling's school bullies, whilst trying to keep her self-absorbed BFF Penny happy, and look normal in front of new boy Franklin. And on top of this, now Dad has announced that he’s returning to London – with his new girlfriend. Secrets, lies and home truths will out, frying pans will be burnt, and arguments will flare up in a story full of humour, honesty and minor household emergencies.
Diamond Boy
by Michael Williams'Diamonds for everyone.' That's what fifteen-year-old Patson Moyo hears when his family arrives in the Marange diamond fields, leaving his previous life, school and friends behind with hopes for a better life. Soon Patson is working in the mines along with four friends in the Gwejana Syndicate – teen diamond miners, secretly pooling their profits and hoping to find the priceless stone that will change everything. But when the government's soldiers come to Marange, Patson's world is shattered. Set against the backdrop of President Mugabe's brutal regime in Zimbabwe, this is the story of a young man who succumbs to greed, but finds his way out through a transformative journey to South Africa in search of his missing sister, in search of freedom, and in search of himself.
Amber's Donkey: How a donkey and a little girl healed each other
by Julian Austwick Tracy Austwick‘The first time Shocks saw Amber coming, he lowered his head so she could wrap her arms around his nose. It was as if they understood each other’s pain. Like two broken beings, helping each other.’ When Shocks the donkey was left for dead on a farm in Ireland, no one ever thought he would make a full recovery. When Amber and her twin sister Hope were born 26 weeks premature, it was Amber who was separated from her family and rushed into theatre for an emergency tracheostomy. Her parents were given the devastating news that she had Cerebral Palsy and would be unlikely to walk or talk. Then Amber met Shocks at the Donkey Sanctuary and their lives were changed for good. This is their touching story of recovery through friendship.