Extraordinary People With Disabilities (by Deborah Kent)

Did you know Jackie Joyner-Kersee won Olympic medals despite having asthma, or that Tom Cruise's dyslexia didn't hamper his successful acting career? This book enlightens and informs as it introduces famous disabled people from the early 1600s to the present. With its wide-ranging survey of diseases and injuries, it gives almost any reader a familiar point of reference.

 

This is a must for every middle school and high school library, and can easily be read piecemeal to younger students. The authors have covered a wide variety of disabilities, including depression, panic attacks, blindness, deafness, and congenital deformities. Their approach is matter-of-fact, explaining each disability's origin without undue emphasis, stating the obstacles faced and then focusing on each subject's solutions and achievements.

This book is an excellent tool, not only to aid disabled children in finding the courage and strength to overcome their own obstacles but also to help others become more understanding about and tolerant of those with special needs. The list of resources is especially helpful for parents and children seeking more information about a particular condition. The prevailing focus is that with determination and perseverance, disability need not be a hindrance to achieving one's goals.

Author: Deborah Kent
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Publication date: January 1, 1997
Number of pages: 288
Paperback price: $16.95