My Baby Rides the Short Bus: The Unabashedly Human Experience of Raising Kids With Disabilities
by Yantra Bertelli Author
In lives where there is a new diagnosis or drama every day, the stories in this collection provide parents of “special needs” kids with a welcome chuckle, a rock to stand on, and a moment of reality held far enough from the heart to see clearly. Featuring works by “alternative” parents who have attempted to move away from mainstream thought--or remove its influence altogether--this anthology, taken as a whole, carefully considers the implications of parenting while raising children with disabilities.
From professional writers to novice storytellers including Robert Rummel-Hudson, Ayun Halliday, and Kerry Cohen, this assortment of authentic, shared experiences from parents at the fringe of the fringes is a partial antidote to the stories that misrepresent, ridicule, and objectify disabled kids and their parents.
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Comments & Reviews
" ... this collection of voices from the fringe of the fringe tells the subjective stories of non-conformist parents raising differently-abled children. Parenting itself can be an incredibly isolating experience for many reasons, but more so when coming from what the mainstream considers counter-colture or alternative. Add to the isolation stew parenting a disabled kid and things grow exponentially more complicated.
... The book's contributors cover a lot of territory here, all gathered from their personal experiences. With an introduction by Lisa Carver, it's six chapter topics include diagnosis, navigating the system, advocating for their kids, being seen, heard, respected, and believed, respite, community support, and transitions, families, and last, an impressive resources section.
... the tone throughout the book is not angry. Instead it's full of compassion, hope, and above all, love. These smart, strong, tender, scared, victorious, sleep deprived, dedicated parents, wether by birth or adoption, will make you cry with laughter, empathy and solidarity. With them, you will ride their ups and downs. You will accompany them to IEP meetings and diagnosis appointments. They will bring you into their homes and daily lives. Overall, you will appreciate the book's genuineness as a partial antidote to the mainstream's misrepresented, ridiculing and objectifying stories about disabled kids and their parents."