Disability Biography

At age 54, Chris Monnette is diagnosed with neovascular macular degeneration, an incurable retinal disease that slowly robs him of his eyesight. As each cell in his macula dies and his vision diminishes, he is forced, literally and figuratively, to see the world through different eyes. Raised in the shadow of an emotionally stifled father, Chris learns early on to mirror the belief that vulnerability equals weakness. A piercingly honest meditation on the emotional legacy of stoicism, Seeing Clearly is much-needed proof that being a man and being vulnerable are one and the same.

Have you ever wondered how a blind person pours a cup of coffee? Or how they and their guide dog know when it's safe to cross a busy road? When Lois Strachan lost her sight at the age of 21 years, she had to learn the answers to these and countless other questions of how to live as a blind person in a sighted world. In this delightfully quirky and entertaining book, Lois shares some of the secrets she discovered about how to live an “ordinary” life in an extraordinary way despite her disability.

私たちは本当に「見て」いるのか?触れて、聴いて、初めてわかる、この社会のかたち。時に鋭く、そしてあたたかく。ユーモアに満ちた随想集。

Negli ultimi decenni si è verificata una profonda rivoluzione nella cura della sclerosi multipla, una disfunzione del sistema immunitario che colpisce 122.000 italiani e 2,5 milioni di persone nel mondo. Grazie allo sviluppo di nuovi farmaci sempre più efficaci e a fondamentali scoperte, dai fattori di rischio genetici e ambientali al ruolo rigenerativo delle cellule staminali nel cervello, ora, finalmente, la vita delle persone che soffrono di questa malattia è sempre più vicina alla normalità.

They were part of the Baby Boomer vanguard, three boys thrown together in a 1950s Southern California subdivision looking like most other boys of that era. Under coonskin hats they ran free all summer long inventing their own games and endless challenges, fought imaginary Indians and pirates in a nearby orange grove, and on occasion battled a neighborhood bully or two. Their greatest enemy, however, was an infectious disease called polio – a paralyzing scourge that maimed and too-often killed little kids.

The Underdogs tells the story of Karen Shirk, felled at age 24 by a neuromuscular disease and facing life as a ventilator-dependent, immobile patient, who was turned down by every service dog agency in the country because she was "too disabled". Her nurse encouraged her to tone down the suicidal thoughts, find a puppy, and raise her own service dog. Karen did this, and Ben, a German shepherd, dragged her back into life.

James Partridge was 18 years old in 1977 when his face and body were severely burned in a car accident. Refusing to succumb to society's expectations, James chose not to hide in the shadows, but to succeed despite his distinctive face and live a happy and hugely successful life, both personally and professionally. Face It tells the story of James' recovery and the work he has done ever since to support others with physical differences to cope with the isolation and discrimination they so often face.

Do you know an adult with autism, Down syndrome, or another special need? One in eight people on our planet live with some form of disability. And they all deserve to live productive, engaged lives. Are we willing to help them accomplish this goal? The mother of an adult with autism, Andrea Moriarty leveraged her son’s passion, talent, and personality to help him create an out-of-the-box vocation: A podcast. After more than 80 interviews, she recognized three vital attitudes that people with disabilities teach us - risk taking, humility, and kindness.

This honest, outspoken, and thought-provoking memoir by award-winning writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay will challenge all your assumptions and beliefs about what it is like to have a visibly different appearance. Carly lives with a rare skin condition, Ichthyosis, and what she faces every day, and what she has to live with, will have you cheering for her and her courage and irrepressible spirit. This is both a moving memoir and a proud manifesto on disability and appearance diversity issues.

The astonishing life story from one of Australia's most inspirational athletes. Dylan Alcott has never let his disability get in the way of what he wanted to achieve. His family treated him no differently to any other kid, and it was the best thing they ever did. Growing up, Dylan always had a positive attitude to life. So when he discovered sport, he’d have a go at anything and could always be found at the centre of the action, giving his best and playing to win. Then he tried wheelchair basketball and tennis and was hooked.

Mehr als nur ziemlich beste Freunde... Mit 16 erleidet Justin einen Verkehrsunfall, der ihn fast tötet und eine langsam voranschreitende Autoimmunerkrankung auslöst. Er kann seine Arme und Beine nicht mehr bewegen, ist auf den Rollstuhl angewiesen. Sein Traum: den Jakobsweg gehen. Als er seinem Freund Patrick davon erzählt, zögert dieser nicht, sich mit ihm zusammen auf das Abenteuer einzulassen. Sechs Wochen sind die beiden unterwegs, die Reise bringt beide an ihre Grenzen, doch gemeinsam bewältigen sie die 800 Kilometer über Stock und Stein durch Nordspanien.

Shortly after his daughter, Leontine, was born, Christian Donlan's world shifted an inch to the left. He started to miss light switches and door handles when reaching for them. He would injure himself in a hundred stupid ways every day. First playful and then maddening, these strange experiences were the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis, an incurable and degenerative neurological disease.

She's never taught a class in her life. But when the City of Chicago calls on blind writer Beth Finke to teach a memoir-writing class for older adults, she reluctantly agrees. What she learns about her students, their stories, and herself will move and inspire you. Written the way Beth hears life, you will come to know and love Minerva, Wanda, Hannelore, and the whole colorful cast of characters who build a community around Beth's classes. Generously sprinkled with excerpts in her students' own voices, Beth's book will convince you to get your own stories down on paper.

Due to horrible physical deformities, he spent much of his life as a fairground freak. He was hounded, persecuted, and starving, until his fortune changed and he was rescued, housed, and fed by the distinguished surgeon, Frederick Treves. The subject of several books, a Broadway hit, and a film, Joseph Merrick has become part of popular mythology. Here, in this fully revised edition containing much fresh information, are the true and un-romanticized facts of his life.

Quentin Kenihan is living proof that superheroes don't need capes, just the right attitude. When he was a kid, Quentin loved Superman. Ironic, really. Quentin didn't need kryptonite to reveal his weakness - born with a rare bone disorder, osteogenesis imperfecta, his bones broke all on their own. When Quentin was seven, Mike Willesee made a documentary about him. Australians fell in love with his wit and never-say-die attitude. Over the years he grew up before our eyes. But there was a dark side to his life. The true story was never told...until now.

Hearing Maud: A Journey for a Voice is a work of creative non-fiction that details the author’s experiences of deafness after losing most of her hearing at age four. It charts how, as she grew up, she was estranged from people and turned to reading and writing for solace, eventually establishing a career as a writer. Central to her narrative is the story of Maud Praed, the deaf daughter of 19th century Queensland expatriate novelist Rosa Praed.

Was zählt wirklich im Leben? Zuhören! Moderator und Youtube-Star Leeroy Matata teilt seine Erfahrungen mit uns. Hey Freunde, herzlich willkommen! Mein Name ist Leeroy und ich freue mich, dass ihr euch dieses Hörbuch gerade anschaut. Denn hier spreche ich so offen wie noch nie über das, was mich bewegt. Wir alle machen unterschiedliche Erfahrungen, die uns oft ein Leben lang prägen. Und niemand von uns kann in den Kopf anderer Leute schauen, deshalb führt das oft zu Missverständnissen. Aber das muss nicht so sein.

This book is based on real-life events and is a raw and authentic account of a true fight for life and justice—a memoir of a mother’s love for her daughter, Rachel, who is diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy, a condition which makes her incapable of voluntary movement or speech. It tells of hopes and fears, and the true meaning of what it’s like to be the mother of a daughter with severe cerebral palsy. It portrays Rachel’s passion for life and her mischievous sense of fun.

You'll relate, you'll cry, and you'll want to learn more. A story of triumph over tragedy, again. In this moving tale, you'll follow Cristi Bundukamara's life as a blissful newlywed who hopes to give back to the world. Her family grows quickly in the form of both biological and adopted children. Cristi has all that she hoped for and more when a senseless drowning rocks her family. While struggling to pick up the pieces, more tragedy ensues and Cristi has to dig deep to keep moving forward.

Just when life seemed rosy and the sun was shining, Dr. Bhaskar Bora sustained a severe spinal cord injury in July 2019 following an operation, which left him with paralysis of both legs, a nonfunctioning right hand, and a long stay in the hospital, eventually leading to a forced medical retirement from his medical career and a wheelchair in place of a sports car. Poorer financially but richer in experiences of life, he is now a voice for the disabled and has written the book The Second Chance in Life as an honest reflection of his life experiences.