Hi, I’m Kent. This is the story of the life of my son Devin and a sharing of his poetry. This book raises awareness about an incredibly rare autoimmune disorder called ALPS and a slightly less rare disorder called ITP. Devin had both of these and some other things caused by the long-term medications they required. Devin also had autism. Has your child been diagnosed with autism? This news can negatively impact your life, and the life of your child, but it’s important to keep in perspective that your child will likely have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of everyone around them. With the diagnosis will come a prognosis of long-term capabilities. Seek and you will find many forms of therapy, hobbies, and support resources, some of which are described in this book, that can potentially allow your child to rise above. Each child and case of autism is unique, so never give up.
"A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society's narrow understanding of neurodiversity"--Publisher's description.
A funny, in-your-face novel starring an unlikely teenage pair - a sheltered cinemaphile with cerebral palsy and the tattooed, straight-talking stoner who steals his heart. For sixteen-year-old Ben Bancroft - a kid with cerebral palsy, no parents, and an overprotective grandmother - the closest thing to happiness is hunkering alone in the back of the Rialto Theatre watching Bride of Frankenstein for the umpteenth time. Of course he waits for the lights to dim before making an entrance, so that his own lurching down the aisle doesn’t look like an ad for Monster Week. The last person he wants to run into is drugged-up Colleen Minou, resplendent in ripped tights, neon miniskirt, and an impressive array of tattoos. But when Colleen climbs into the seat beside him and rests a woozy head on his shoulder, Ben has that unmistakable feeling that his life is about to change. With unsparing humor and a keen flair for dialogue, Ron Koertge captures the rare repartee between two lonely teenagers on opposite sides of the social divide. It’s the tale of a self-deprecating protagonist who learns that kindred spirits can be found for the looking - and that the incentive to follow your passion can be set into motion by something as simple as a human touch.
Follow the story of Devin Smith-a product of modern-day suburbia whose wholesome upbringing spirals into an American nightmare-as he relentlessly seeks inner peace in a world where all that glitters truly is not gold. The book marks author Yusuf Blanton's debut to the literary world, as he bravely dances the line between brutally honest memoir and riveting modern fiction. Dealing interchangeably with drug addiction, raucous sex, urban music, and the objective pursuit of spirituality, The Agonizing Road to Self seeks to turn heads, engage minds, and touch hearts. "If every person on Earth wrote something this personal, forthright, and honest, we might all be able to understand one another and appreciate each others' faults, downfalls, despairs, and joys. ... Through it all, Yusuf never fails to inspire." -Mason Hall, editor "If you were touched by Cupcake Brown's phenomenal autobiography, A Piece of Cake, then the floodgates of compassion and hope are bound to burst open after reading Yusuf Blanton's dose-of-reality debut novel." -Gigi James, television writer and award-winning author of I Didn't Sign Up For This! "The intensity of this book is sure to strike some chord in anyone who reads it. ... The Agonizing Road to Self is a powerful testament to the struggles of humanity." -James Lord, Zojak Worldwide
Written by autistic trans people from around the world, this vital and intimate collection of personal essays reveals the struggles and joys of living at the intersection of neurodivergence and gender diversity. Weaving memories, poems and first-person narratives together, these stories showcase experiences of coming out, college and university life, accessing healthcare, physical transition, friendships and relationships, sexuality, pregnancy, parenting, and late life self-discovery, to reveal a rich and varied tapestry of life lived on the spectrums. With humour and personal insight, this anthology is essential reading for autistic trans people, and the professionals supporting them, as well as anyone interested in the nuances of autism and gender identity.
The Democratic Party has changed beyond recognition. Once the party of anti-communism and tax-cutting under President Kennedy, it is now dominated by a surging socialist movement and led by a presidential candidate who vows to “transform” America. On a near-daily basis, the Democrats are issuing radical proposals to socialize medicine, industry, and higher education. So how can the Democrats win elections when their agenda is so far to the left of the American people? That’s easy—it’s because the means of public debate are being manipulated. In Countdown to Socialism, Congressman Devin Nunes exposes the nexus between the Democratic Party, the mainstream media, and the social media corporations. These three entities cooperate to blast out the Democrats’ message and downplay their extremism while suppressing and censoring conservative points of view. Tens of millions of Americans are only seeing one side of the debate. The information they get from newspapers and social media is not “news”—it’s contrived content designed to help one political party and punish its opponents. In the run-up to the most consequential election of our lifetime, read this book to learn how your information is being skewed and regulated to force America onto the path to socialism.
“This is a weird, wonderful, and essential book about both America and its pastime. It’s about a place as vast as New York City and as intimate as the human heart. Fred Exley meets Richard Ben Cramer—a funny, wild, heartfelt, and keenly observed portrait of yearning itself.”—Wright Thompson, New York Times bestselling author of The Cost of These Dreams “Mr. Gordon’s ability to explain the Sisyphean plight of all Mets fans is truly remarkable. Bravo!”—Ron Darling, New York Times bestselling author of Game 7, 1986 The Mets lose when they should win. They win when they should lose. And when it comes to being the worst, no team in sports has ever done it better than the Mets. In So Many Ways to Lose, author and lifelong Mets fan Devin Gordon sifts through the detritus of Queens for a baseball history like no other. Remember the time the Mets lost an All-Star after Yoenis Céspedes got charged by a wild boar? Or the time they blew a six-run ninth-inning lead at the peak of a pennant race? Or the time they fired their manager before he ever managed a game? Sure you do. It was only two years ago, and it was all in the same season. The Mets have an unrivaled gift for getting it backward, doing the impossible, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, and then snatching defeat right back again. And yet, just ask any Mets fan: Amazing and/or miraculous postseason runs are as much a part of our team's identity as losing 120 games in 1962. The DNA of seasons like 1969, the original Miracle Mets, and the 1973 “Ya Gotta Believe” Mets, who went from last place to Game 7 of the World Series in two months, and the powerhouse 1986 Mets, has encoded in us this hapless instinct that a reversal of fortune is always possible. It’s happened before. It’s kind of our thing. And now we've got Steve Cohen's hedge-fund billions to play with! What could go wrong? In this hilarious history of the Mets and love letter to the art of disaster, Devin Gordon presents baseball the way it really is, not in the wistful sepia tones we've come to expect from other sportswriters. Along the way, he explains the difference between being bad and being gifted at losing, and why this distinction holds the key to understanding the true amazin’ magic of the New York Mets.
Rehabilitation practitioners face the difficult task of helping clients adjust to chronic illness or disability. This can be a long and trying process for both practitioner and client. With this handbook, however, practitioners and students can gain a wealth of insight into the critical issues clients face daily. This book presents the dominant theories, models, and evidence-based techniques necessary to help the psychosocial adjustment of chronically ill or disabled persons. Each chapter is written from an evidence-based practice (EBP) perspective, and explores how important issues (i.e., social stigma, social support, sexuality, family, depression, and substance abuse) affect persons adjusting to chronic illness and disability. Key features include: A review of psychopharmacological treatment options for depression, anxiety, and other disorders coinciding with rehabilitation The effect of rehabilitation on the family, including key family intervention strategies Strategies for using positive psychology and motivational interviewing in rehabilitation Multiculturalism and the effect of culture on the adjustment process Ancillary materials including an instructor's manual with a syllabus, examination items, PowerPoint presentation, and answers to class exercises By incorporating research-based knowledge into clinical rehabilitation practice, health care professionals can ensure that people with chronic illness and disability receive only the best treatment.
Jonah wishes he could get the girl, but he’s an outcast and she’s the most perfect girl he knows. And their futures seemed destined to fork apart: Jonah’s physical condition is debilitating, and epileptic seizures fill his life with frustration. Whereas Stormi is seemingly carefree, and navigates life by sensing things before they happen. And her most recent premonition is urging her to leave town. When Stormi begs Jonah for help, he finds himself swept into a dark mystery his small town has been keeping for years. And the answers Stormi needs about her own past could possibly destroy everything Jonah has ever known—including his growing relationship with Stormi herself. Advance praise: “Friesen's story unfolds with so much intrigue, swells with so much heart, I had to keep reading. And the writing? Beautiful!” —Jay Asher, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Thirteen Reasons Why “As someone with Tourette Syndrome, I grew up with a condition that others did not understand. It affected the way I was viewed and the way I viewed myself. I applaud Jonathan Friesen for telling a story about overcoming such a challenge in Unfolding. Hopefully, this will inspire others growing up with such conditions as well as help everyone else better understand what is involved.” —Tim Howard, former US national team goaltender and current goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids
