Discover a heartfelt story of a mother’s journey raising twins with disabilities.
Learn how she became a powerful advocate, the vital role communities play in
supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual challenges, and how
the challenges persist into adulthood.
An upbeat account of a mother's journey parenting twins with different disabilities.
Don’t let the size of this book deceive you. It is a powerful work, told by a woman who gave birth to twins, one of whom has Down syndrome. The other, who seemed fine at first, turned out to have Tourette’s syndrome, which was misdiagnosed as ADD. The mother tells how she struggled through years of medical issues with her daughter, faced the challenges of a school system that failed to adequately meet the needs of her son, and, through initiative and perseverance, made possible a satisfying, rewarding, and independent life for each of her children. At times heartbreaking, at other times invigorating, at all times inspiring, this book should be on the reading list of all parents and educators, regardless of the needs of their children or students.
This is a very personal and loving memoir written by a parent who adapted to the trials of caring for a child with Down Syndrome and another with Tourette Syndrome. This book is an excellent guide for other parents and caregivers who may be facing the same challenges. It gives some innovative ways in how to create an independent life for these children as they become adults and how to prepare for their future care. It gives excellent advice regarding guardianship and the legal problems that may ensue should one become a guardian for a child who needs lifetime supervision.
When I started reading this book, I found I couldn’t put it down. It is a fascinating story of how a mother, coping with young twins diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Tourette Syndrome, managed to help each of them build a fulfilling and rewarding life. It is an inspiration to anyone trying to reach a goal that may look unattainable at first but which, with determination, patience and an ability to stay focused on the result, is reached and then some.
Dorothy Fickenscher is my aunt and the children she writes about in this book are my cousins. Reading my Aunt's words help to describe her tenacity and grace as she built a strategy for her children to live full lives. My twelve year old daughter stated after reading the first two chapters, "This should be required reading for everyone." My aunt writes in a positive tone, but also offers realistic and practical examples of navigating schools, work, and housing for individuals who need advocates. At times I laughed out loud at the raw honesty of situations she describes, and at times I was frustrated for the way she and my cousins were treated by healthcare and educational professionals. The most important concept that I gained after reading this book is this: Everyone needs and deserves a community. We are taught to build our own community for educational, social, spiritual, health related reasons, etc. Some of us need help establishing and maintaining communities. This book will inspire not only parent, but all of us in a position to help and support. I hope Aunt Debbie will write more books that dive deeper into how she has gone about setting up the communities in place for her children. I know there are more stories to tell.
