IMPORTANT BOOKS
Background about the Community of People with Disabilites
Christmas In Purgatory: A Photographic Essay on Mental Retardation by Burton Blatt. This extremely influential book was first published in the late 1960s. It brought to public awareness the terrible conditions which existed in public institutions which housed people with Disabilities.
Disability and Business: Best Practices and Strategies for Inclusion by Charles A. Riley, II. We think Mr. Riley’s book is a must-read for business people who are involved with employment or customer service policies.
Etiquette
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Etiquette by Mary Mitchell. This compilation includes a chapter on Disability Etiquette.
Resources
Exercise Your Ability: The Ultimate Guide to Sports and Recreation for People with Disabilities published by the United Spinal Association
Children's Disabilites
Most book sellers will have a section devoted to “Special Needs” children. These are some we have found especially useful:
The Sensory-Sensitive Child by Karen A. Smith & Karen R. Gouze
The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.
The Everything Parent’s Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder by Terri Mauro
A Parents Guide to Asperger Syndrome & High-Functioning Autism by Sally Ozonoff, Geraldine Dawson and James McPartland
Helping Your Hyperactive/ADD Child by John F. Taylor
Engaging Autism by Stanley I. Greenspan & Serena Wielder c. 2006
The Social Skills Picture Book: Teaching play, emotion and communication to children with autism by Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Inclusion: Strategies for Working with Young Children: A Resource Guide for Teachers, Childcare Providers and Parents by Lorrain O. Moore, Ph.D.
The Autism Acceptance Book by Ellen Sabin. This book is prepared especially for children, with exercises and journals to teach children about Autism and what it’s like to be friends with someone who has Autism.
Life Experiences
The following several books are well-described by their titles. The first (Reflections from a Different Journey) is a compilation of essays from people with various Disabilities….physical and cognitive.
Reflections from a Different Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew edited by Klein, Ph.D., and Kemp
Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism by Jenny McCarthy
Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Asperger’s by John Elder Robison
Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm
Amy Montgomery has written a poignant and real account of a young man who was paralyzed in a logging accident. Her writing makes the experience of living from a wheelchair much clearer for able-bodied people who would have no way of knowing otherwise:
Just An Accident by Amy Montgomery
Scott Peck’s fictional portrayal of life in nursing home brings to life the experiences of old age:
Bed ByThe Window by M. Scott Peck, M.D.
This is a beautiful love story about a woman and an “overly tall” man. It contributes to our understanding about living differently:
The Giant’s House: A Romance by Elizabeth McCracken
Homeless people who live below the streets of New York City are society’s unseen. For the most part they are mentally ill. This is an unforgettable work of non-fiction written by a Columbia University student:
The Mole People: Life In The Tunnels Beneath New York City by Jennifer Toth
