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The Face of the Deep
by Jacob TwerskyThough it was published in 1953, this book is grimly relevant today. The author, who was blind himself, writes about blindness from the inside. The theme of the novel is prejudice with all its overwhelming repercussions. Twersky's blind characters all suffer its devastating effects, and it shapes every aspect of their lives. The self-hatred spawned by this prejudice spurs them to deny and denigrate one another. This is not a pretty story, though it has soaring moments, and some of the characters manage to rise above their circumstances with integrity and compassion intact.
The Story of Esther Costello
by Nicholas MonsarratEsther Costello, born on a peasant farm in Ireland, became a deaf-blind-mute after an explosion. She was discovered and saved from her predicament by Mrs. Bannister, a wealthy American. Mrs. Bannister rescued her, and brought her to Boston shortly after the 2nd World War. Mrs. Bannister taught Esther how to communicate by writing letters in her palm. Esther became an overnight success in America and around the world. Then in walks Mr. Bannister, the separated husband, but interested in how Esther can be used as a money-making machine. What happens to Esther and the Bannisters?
Karen
by Marie KillileaAs told by her mother, the inspirational story of Karen, who--despite a handicap--learns to talk, to walk, to read, to write. Winner of the Golden Book Award and two Christopher Awards. THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT MY CHILD... I knew it from the moment she was born... A minute morsel, she weighed under two pounds, and measured nine inches from the tip of her tiny head to her infinitesimal toes.... I lay back still, bathed in happiness. It was like a brittle shell, this happiness, and I felt that motion or sound might shatter it.... I could still feel the surge of unbelievable wonder and joy evoked by the baby's lusty yell. "What do you think of our child? Is she as pretty as Marie? Did you count her fingers and toes?"... He sat down at the foot of the bed and I waited for him to express his delight. "You must realize"--John spoke gently-- "she's not out of the woods yet." A gust of cold air entered my sun-drenched room and I shivered.... The sequel is available in this library.
Karen: A True Story Told by Her Mother
by Marie KillileaWinner of the Christopher Award: This bestseller tells the inspirational true story of a girl with cerebral palsy and the mother who wouldn't give up on her. In 1940, when Karen Killilea was born three months premature and developed cerebral palsy, doctors encouraged her parents to put her in an institution and forget about her. At the time, her condition was considered untreatable, and institutionalization was the only recourse. But in a revolutionary act of faith and love, the Killileas never gave up hope that Karen could lead a successful life. Written by Karen's mother, Marie, this memoir is a profound and heartwarming personal account of a young mother's efforts to refute the medical establishment's dispiriting advice, and her daughter's extraordinary triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. Marie's activism spread awareness of the mistreatment of disabled people in America and led to the formation of multiple foundations, including United Cerebral Palsy. A larger-than-life story, Karen tells of a family's courage, patience, and struggle in the face of extreme difficulty. The New York Times wrote, "You'll want to read it most for Karen's own words: 'I can walk, I can talk. I can read. I can write. I can do anything.'"
Keep Your Head Up, Mr. Putnam
by Peter PutnamThis story, told from Mr. Pudnam himself, tells of the early years of the Seeing eye and how he trained with his first guide dog. Blinded in a gun accident before his eighteenth birthday, this story is of Pudnam grew to accept his blindness, and go and train with his first dog.
The Blind in School and Society: A Psychological Study
by Thomas D. CutsforthThe purpose of this book is to help acquaint the seeing with the blind and the blind with themselves.
Dark Sunshine
by Dorothy LyonsTwo years before, horse-loving Blythe Hyland would have been thrilled with the news that the family was moving back to an Arizona ranch, but now--what difference did it make to her? What could a thin, listless girl, crippled by polio, do on a ranch? Then the haunting vision of Blind Man's Pocket, a deep spring-fed valley tucked away in a range of mountains, tempted her to try riding a horse again. And when she had conquered her initial panic, Blythe felt that it might be hers once more. It was in Blind Man's Pocket Blythe found Dark Sunshine, a magnificent wild mare that had been trapped by a landslide. From the moment she learned it was possible to rescue the buckskin, Blythe determined that, crutches or no, she would train and ride her. It was slow, often painful work for the crippled girl, but when an endurance ride offered Blythe her only chance to win athletic honors toward a scholarship, both horse and rider were ready for the grueling test. Dorothy Lyons' earlier books have established her as a favorite writer of horse stories for older girls. In this moving story of a girl whose courage overcame the handicap of a useless leg, she has created an inspiring book that young readers will remember.
The Child Who Never Grew: A Memoir
by Pearl S. BuckA &“groundbreaking&” memoir about raising a special-needs daughter in an era of misinformation and prejudice—a classic that helped transform our perceptions (Publishers Weekly). It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights. Pearl S. Buck is known today for earning a Nobel Prize in Literature and for such New York Times–bestselling novels as The Good Earth. What many do not know is that she wrote that great work of art with the motivation of paying for a special school for her oldest daughter, Carol, who had a rare developmental disorder. What was called &“mental retardation&” at the time—though some used crueler terms—was a disability that could cause great suffering and break a parent&’s heart. There was little awareness of how to deal with such children, and as a result some were simply hidden away, considered a source of shame and stigma, while others were taken advantage of because of their innocence. In this remarkable account, which helped bring the issue to light, Pearl S. Buck candidly discusses her own experience as a mother, from her struggle to accept Carol&’s diagnosis to her determination to give her child as full and happy a life as possible, including a top-quality education designed around her needs and abilities. Both heartrending and inspiring, The Child Who Never Grew provides perspective on just how much progress has been made in recent decades, while also offering common sense and timeless wisdom for the challenges still faced by those who love and care for someone with special needs. It is a clear-eyed and compelling read by a woman renowned for both her literary talent and her humanitarian spirit. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author&’s estate.
The Blind Preschool Child
by Berthold LowenfeldThis book is a collection of papers presented at the National Conference On The Blind Preschool Child on March 13-15, 1947.
Pat: The Story of a Seeing Eye Dog
by S. P. MeekWhen Jimmy is attacked by a Japanese soldier in the Pacific during World War II, his devoted signal dog Pat, dies defending him. After Jimmy returns to the states, totally blind, he falls into despair until his fiancé encourages him to apply for a guide dog. Jimmy goes to The Seeing Eye and trains with Pat, a beautiful German Shepherd. Life goes on for the two until one night, when Pat helps save the day during a horrible hurricane. Themes about losing vision, dealing with overprotective family members, and the freedom you can receive by working with a guide dog are all interwoven into the plot.
Vicki A Guide Dog
by Margaret S. Johnson Helen Lossing JohnsonRaised on a military base in England, Vickie a beautiful fawn and black boxer has the life of a dog. But when her master doesn't come home from the Pacific, she is sent to the U.S. to be trained as a show dog. After winning several ribbons, she is sent to become a circus dog. But none of these jobs truly fit her personality. Then one day she is picked and trained to be a guide dog and she finds her true calling.
My Eyes Have A Cold Nose
by Hector ChevignyThe author says that when he became blind, he thought it would be a great nuissance, and indeed it was. He maintains that the greatest problem for blind people is society's fixed notions that blind people are utterly helpless and utterly tragic, and he describes how he and other blind people have dealt with this problem. One of the key parts of his rehabilitation was his training at The Seeing Eye. This book is old, but still relevant in many ways.
The Snake Pit
by Mary Jane WardBased on the author's experiences as a psychiatric patient in the early 1940's, this novel tells the story of Virginia Cunningham as she wends her way through the frightening and mystifying world of a hospital called Juniper Hill. Her memory clouded by a series of electroshock treatments, Virginia struggles to make sense out of her situation, though the senseless rules and the perplexing behavior of the staff and patients around her are all the more unfathomable as her mind begins to clear. The Snake Pit is the basis for a classic movie of the late 1940's. The book and film helped to bring mental illness out of the closet. Apart from its social significance this is a compelling novel, told with wonderful ironic humor.
Death Knell (Duncan Maclain Mystery #5)
by Baynard KendrickWhen Troy Singleton is murdered on the Terrace of Larmar Jordan, Larmar is the prime and most obvious subject. But Duncan MacLain the famous blind detective is called in to figure out if Larmar is truly innocent. Come along on a thrilling novel from the perspective of the blind detective who can shoot at sound, and has a trained police dog Driest and a guide dog Schnucke. Can Duncan put the pieces of the puzzle together in time?
Lights Out
by Baynard KendrickWhen Larry joined up during World War II, he didn't expect to have terrible things happen to him. One minute he was traveling down a snow ridden road, the next minute he saw nothing. This story follows Larry as he goes through rehabilitation and adapts to his new life as a blinded veteran.
Odor of Violets (Duncan Maclain Mystery #3)
by Baynard KendrickA paragraph in a gossip column causes two violent deaths... and all sorts of odd clues lead Captain Duncan Maclain, the brilliant private detective who is totally blind, on his next a strange and spectacular case. The third mystery in the series that inspired the popular television show "Longstreet."
Out of Control (Duncan Mclain Mystery #6)
by Baynard KendrickBlind or not, Captain Duncan Maclain saw through Marcia Filmore almost from the start. She was young, beautiful, and deadly--a criminal psychopath who would stop at nothing to protect her rich marriage. And so, when blackmailer Walter Crane turned up dead, it was only natural that Maclain should start feeling his way through the dark and devious maze that led to Marcia. But that lethal lady intended to protect herself--even if she had to kill again . . . and again . . . and again...
The Influence of Parental Attitudes and Social Environment on the Personality Development of the Adolescent Blind
by Vita Stein SommersThe author's experience with visually handicapped children and young adults in schools is richly used in this study of the influence Of parental attitudes and social environment on the personality development of the adolescent blind.
Dogs against Darkness: The Story of the Seeing Eye
by Dickson HartwellThis book is a moving and an inspirational story of the first seeing eye dog in America, Buddy, and his master, Morris Frank.
The World At My Fingertips
by Karsten OhnstadKarsten Ohnstad shares his journey into blindness with warmth and humor.
Franka: A Guide Dog
by Walter JohnsonWhen the Allen family discovered they would be going to South America for a year, they had to make a hard decision. What would they do with Franka their beautiful German Shepherd dog. The two kids Joe and Joan write the Seeing Eye and Franka is accepted into the program. Dan, Franka's trainer, is very impressed with the intelligence of Franka. When Jane Wilson arrives at the Seeing Eye for training, Dan knows Franka is the dog for her. Jane and Franka train and graduate andjane goes on to be a lecturer on guide dogs and other topics. Good historical perspective of the Seeing Eye, and the training at the school at the time. Good children's book, but good for all ages.
Memoirs of a Midget
by Walter de la Mare"It is true that my body ranks among the smaller works of God," writes Miss M., the narrator of this novel, as she reflects on a recent newspaper story about her. She goes on to note that the reporter "spared any reference not only to my soul ... but also to my mind and heart." Orphaned at twenty, Miss M. leaves her sheltered home in the English countryside to make her way in the world. The novel focuses on the events of one turbulent year in her life, filled with passion and heartbreak as Miss M. gains a deeper understanding of the world and of herself. Keenly observant of human nature, this book reveals an unusual awareness of disability issues for its time - it was originally published in 1922. It is regarded by some critics as a minor classic of twentieth-century English literature.
What of the Blind? A Survey of the Development and Scope of Present-Day Work with the Blind: Volume 2
by Helga LendeThis book is intended as a companion volume to What of the Blind? Recently published by the American Foundation for the Blind. The first volume was brought out in answer to a long-felt need for a convenient reference work to put in the hands of professional workers, board members and lay persons desiring general information on work with the blind. The subjects treated were mainly of a general nature as will be seen from the table of contents appended to this book.