Showing results by publisher "----RM Alexander" in People with Disabilities

Not that anyone wishes to be paralyzed in a motorcycle accident, but tragedy set the stage for triumph and the making of a real life fairy tale. When the harsh reality of paralysis turned the dream of having a family together into a nightmare for Erik and Jennifer, they had to face their deepest fears and live courageously, because sometimes fairy tales are just stories of love's perseverance.

Jordan’s traumatic birth caused brain damage, whose limits he refused to accept. He embraced every struggle, learned to work through his weaknesses, and ultimately, redefined himself despite his learning disability label. All thanks to his dedicated cheer squad - family, friends, and God - he knows his potential has no limits, except those he puts on himself. But that doesn’t mean he’s escaped significant hiccups and challenges along the way.

Roger Dykes has spent his entire life living in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy, yet his accomplishments are many. He has studied law, and has been a teacher and counselor most of his adult life. He has achieved his Master’s Degree in Family Relations at Texas Tech University. He has enjoyed some notoriety during his time as a wheelchair-bound comic and after-dinner speaker. He has owned and operated a record store and has written an enlightening book about life as a disabled person, or he calls it “a non-person.”

This book is based on a true story about a young lady who really never had a chance and the cycle changed in a way like no other. Her daughter grew up and did her best of making things better for the next generations to come. In this honest and stunning novel, Latoyi Jackson has given her audience a moving story of child neglect along with abuse of an adult with mental illness. Along with secrets which has damaged several individuals during the process.

At the height of popularity for radio stations and DJs in the '70s and '80s, Curry blazed a trail for himself as “Kid” Curry. His iconic “Bed Check” segment helped propel him to star status in Miami. It followed him during his 20-year path to the dream job of Major Market program director. The perks of the job included hanging out with music legends, being invited to the White House, meeting Johnny U and a Watergate burglar, traveling around the world to find the next “number one” song and, the best part, helping listeners in need.

According to the National Eye Institute by 2020 it is estimated that 5.5 million people of all ages will be blind or have low vision. Low vision is impairment that cannot be corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. That is one out of 28 and that is shocking. The purpose of this book is to let listeners know that loss of eyesight is not a death sentence. Twelve people have shared their stories detailing how they met the enemy in their own lives and how they cope on a day-to-day basis.

Madness and genius are often said to be close bedfellows, although the link between the two is little understood. Chris Joseph has known both extremes, and in The Golden Straitjacket, he lays bare his struggle with bipolar disorder and the condition's pendulum-like swing between creative dynamism and dark despair. The 66 stories or "manicdotes" can be enjoyed together or in isolation - they tell the tale of an extraordinary man whose struggle to overcome physical and mental obstacles will be an inspiration to anyone facing the stigma of physical disability and mental illness.

Is it possible to find strength in struggle and purpose in pain? Ask Dr. April Jones, a young mother who battled her two-year-old son’s cancer while getting her doctorate. Her struggle to make the heart-wrenching decisions with her family led to a discovery of God, courage, and a happiness within that helped her transform scary misfortune into a joy-filled life. In No Mess, No Message, Dr. Jones shares her real, raw journey and reveals insight into how powerful thinking and strong faith can lead to inner healing.

Imagine being born into a world where fitting in was never an option. Michele Sullivan, one of the most powerful women in philanthropy, was born with a rare form of dwarfism. Meaning she has spent her entire life looking up. As the first female president of the Caterpillar Foundation, she has...

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Kyle Pease had grown up supporting his athlete brothers Brent and Evan from the sidelines. While his condition limited his ability to play sports, it didn't dampen Kyle's passion for them, nor did it stop the Pease family from including Kyle in various excursions. From rolling his wheelchair up Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite National Park to zipping down Colorado snow slopes, there was never a dull moment with the Pease brothers. Where there was a wheel, there was a way to adventure.

Waking one morning to find he has little to no motor control, Jamieson only wants the world to return to how it had been before. After a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, he thinks his life is over. What he doesn’t know is that it’s only just begun. Trying to navigate through the world in a body he no longer understands, Jamieson must travel through the dark forest of depression while waging a constant battle against himself. Over time, he learns what he’s truly capable of and what it actually means to be courageous.

This is my story. This is the story of how my disability affected my training in the martial arts. As well as other aspects of my life. I hope to inspire others by sharing this story.

Untether is the story of JT Mestdagh, a young man born with a death sentence and who is now an entrepreneur and adventurer on a mission to empower people to untether from limiting beliefs and to soar to their highest dreams...Untether tells a story of courage, determination, and overcoming. Young or not-so-young, you will come away with a renewed sense of hope and possibility. Learn that you are not a mistake; you are created for something amazing.

Emily Owen was a highly intelligent teenager who was also athletic and a skilled musician. Tragically, in her late teens she was diagnosed as suffering from Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). Since then, Emily has survived many complicated surgical procedures, been close to death, and seen the gradual erosion of all the abilities that defined her personality including the total loss of her hearing. Despite this, she has a remarkable sense of humor and has coped with everything she has been through due to her strong Christian faith, her supportive family, and indomitable personality.

Recycled Human is a continuation of my first book, Damaged Goods, but Recycled Human is aimed more at the re-entry into the general public. A big part of that shift involves various "transitional services" which are in fact not helping people. In fact, the services meant to help a person like me develop can be yet another oppressive system. When a person wants to change and truly is ready to face change, it can be challenging to find genuine resources. So here it is...this is my testimony of what I saw in myself and the system that needed changing.

As a boy, severely disabled after contracting polio as a baby in working class Liverpool, Bert Massie found himself wondering why disabled people were expected to adapt to the world around them, and not the other way round. In his teens, he began to campaign for rights for disabled people, and having battled his way through prejudice and the education system to become a Bachelor of Arts and a qualified social worker, he became a prominent figure in the fight for fair treatment for disabled people leading to the ground breaking Disability Discrimination Act.

In 1991, at the height of the Somali civil war, 12-year-old Abdi Warsame ran for his life through the streets of Mogadishu. In a flash, his legs were paralyzed and his cousin killed. With his country literally falling apart around him, Abdi had little hope for recovery. But, with his faith, his family, and his indomitable spirit, Abdi pursued every available route for a better life.

Autism is often misunderstood by mainstream society. Colin takes us on a journey through the key moments in his life with undiagnosed Autism. The added struggles with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculus are all part of who he is. There are sad times, funny times, times when he felt disdain for himself, but an underlying drive to carve out a life of normality is always there. A graduate of Edinburgh University shows to people that those on the spectrum are not daft or simpletons, only that they process information differently.

Debie Monax loved math - its consistency and predictability. In math, all one had to do was follow the proper process and apply appropriate principles to produce a guaranteed result. She applied the same mindset to her life, believing that if she understood the rules and applied the proper principles to all her decisions, she would have the life she dreamed of.

For two decades a father kept a secret journal documenting the life of his only son, Christopher, who was born profoundly deaf. He had a simple dream of someday presenting that journal to Christopher as a special gift from father to son. But as each new challenge was surmounted, it became clear Christopher Caulfield’s story had to be shared.