Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. NY: Atheneum.
This is Melody's story about her will to live life as best as she possibly could within her limitations. Melody is determined to let the world know that she is not "stupid," that she is capable of functioning in a regular classroom just as well as any other "normal" kid. Her disability is a great one, but her disability was only physical. Her mind is sharp and photographic even. Having to fight the limited expectations society, and even those of her education system, had of her proved to be a difficult task. Being granted the opportunity to communicate was a starting point for change and success, unfortunately, she had to fight much more than that. She had to fight the low expectations people still had of her. Watching from her chair how worried her parents were thinking of the possibility of their second child being disabled was agonizing, even more so knowing she couldn't keep her little sister out of danger. One can only wonder the greatness Melody could have accomplished if she had been born with no disability. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, this story is an eye opener about how mean our society can be.
Indeed this society we live in is not a nice one. As parents we pray for our children's health and well being and unfortunately, we don't always get that. And just because we don't get our wish, it doesn't mean that we aren't blessed to still have our little joys share our lives with us. My niece, who will be 20 in February was diagnosed with Autism when she was four. As heartbreaking as this was to my family, especially my sister, they did not give up hope. She didn't start talking until she was in third grade, and she really didn't start writing until much later. Her Autism was bad. Really bad. But you know, her parents didn't give up on her and she graduated in 2015 with Honors. And you know what's even greater? She is attending college. Obviously the disabilities are different, but the point here is that we must NEVER give up on our children. You never know what is underneath the struggles...
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