The No1 Ethical retailer for Books, CD’s, DVD’s & Games
30 Day Refund Guarantee

Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing: A Mother's Story

Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing: A Mother's Story

by Beth Harry (Author)

  • Used

    Paperback 2010

    $28.17
Synopsis

Gripping, raw, and beautiful, this book reveals the struggles and rewards of caring for a child with severe disability and helps professionals work more sensitively and effectively with families of children with special needs. Written with grace and candor by special education professional Beth Harry, the book chronicles the life of her daughter, Melanie, who was born with a rare form of cerebral palsy and died less than 6 years later. Captivating the reader from page one, Dr. Harry illuminates the full spectrum of her parenting experiences--from the day her little bird came into the world to the day she left. Readers will come away with a deep understanding of: the complex emotions that parents experience as they adjust to life with a child who has special needs; the practical and emotional aspects of supporting a child with feeding difficulties, vision impairment, and limited motor skills; the joy parents experience when their child begins to communicate and make personal connections; the lasting impact a professional's words can have on a parent, and the need to provide positive support that allows a child to reach her full potential; the services, therapies, and interventions that improved Melanie's quality of life--and how they've changed since her story began in the 1970s. Ideal for use as a supplemental text in courses for preservice early interventionists, early childhood special educators, special educators, and health professionals, this book gives readers an unforgettable inside look at what families experience when their child has a disability--and how to meet their needs as their child grows. Eye-opening and inspiring, Melanie, Bird with a Broken Wing will leave a lasting impression and will, as Dr. Harry urges, prepare readers to believe the messages of their hearts as they make professional decisions.

$28.17

Save:$2.24 (7%)

Quantity

1 in stock

More Information

Format: Paperback
 Pages: 214
 Publisher: Brookes Publishing Co
Published: 15 Jun 2010
ISBN 10: 1598571133
ISBN 13: 9781598571134

Media Reviews
The details in Harry's story are painfully wrenching and often quite riveting despite the familiarity of her ordeal, which many families of children with disabilities will understand. --Nancy Henderson Exceptional Parent magazine (09/23/2009)
A must read for anyone working with individuals with disabilities . . . a remarkable story told from the heart. --Sharon Vaughn, Ph.D. University of Texas, Austin (01/27/2010)
This book about a child and her mother, written with compassion and insight, is a must read text for healthcare professionals. --Karen Pape, M.D. Medical Director, TASC Network, Toronto, Canada (01/27/2010)
Anyone in the field of special needs and special education should read the book . . . it gives us a nice glimpse into the life and mind of a mother of a child with special needs. I would recommend this book to anyone. --Janette Long M.A. special education candidate, The Ohio State University (01/27/2010)
This was not just a story for parents, it was both a professional and a life lesson . . . the unfiltered emotional descriptions throughout the story, the heartfelt poetry, and the photographs of Melanie truly inspired me. --Tara McCarthy M.Ed. visual impairment candidate, The Ohio State University (01/27/2010)
Outstanding . . . As I read this book I cried, laughed, and felt fortunate that the author chose to share her daughter with us. What a beautiful story of strength, hope, determination, and love. I would certainly recommend this book for future classes. --Christina Woolard M.A. intervention specialist candidate, The Ohio State University (01/27/2010)
Instructive, compassionate, beautifully written, and truly inspirational--a must read for every student and professional who works with families and children with disabilities and special health care needs. --Gail L. Ensher, Ed.D. Professor of Early Childhood Special Education, Syracuse University; co-author, Families, Infants, & Young Children at Risk: Pathways to Best Practice (01/27/2010)
This exquisitely written memoir shows the awesome responsibility professionals have in appreciating and reinforcing a parent's hopefulness. Beth's interactions with professionals show how hope can contribute to or undermine a parent's strength, a child's development, and the family's enthusiasm in engaging the arduous but always fulfilling journey. --Penny Camps, SLP Child & Adolescent Center, Trinidad & Tobago (01/27/2010)
There are many points in the book where I would ask the students to discuss the situation from multiple angles--maybe even do some role playing--and then think about how they might, as professionals, change how they interact parents as a result of the reading . . . [this book] is truly a gift to many. --Susan Lei Lani Stewart, Ph.D. Community of Practice and Curriculum Coordinator, SpecialQuest Birth-Five (06/03/2010)
A moving and beautifully crafted memoir --Batya Elbaum, Ph.D. Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Miami (10/23/2009)
Shows what love, spirit, believing, and never giving up can do. Everyone should read it! --Megan Rutschilling M.Ed. visual impairment candidate, The Ohio State University (01/27/2010)
Beth Harry has shown great courage and progression of strength through her ability to recall the events of her daughter's life and create such an inspiring piece of work. --Jessica Ware M.Ed. hearing impairments candidate, The Ohio State University (01/27/2010)
This beautifully written memoir is deeply moving and insightful. With courage and honesty this mother struggles through her darkest moments which unfold into a profound connection with her child. --Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D. Psychologist, parent, author Special Children, Challenged Parents, co-editor Voices from the Spectrum (01/27/2010)
A wonderful book! It is beautifully and honestly written--a true testament to a mother's love. --Janette Klingner, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Education, School of Education, University of Colorado at Boulder (02/02/2010)
A moving and beautifully crafted memoir... --Batya Elbaum, Ph.D. Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Miami (10/23/2009)
A moving and beautifully crafted memoira --Batya Elbaum, Ph.D.
A moving and beautifully crafted memoira --Batya Elbaum, Ph.D.
Author Bio

Beth Harry, Ph.D., is a professor of special education at the University of Miami in Florida. A native of Jamaica, Beth graduated from St. Andrew High School in 1962 and went on to pursue her bachelor of arts and master's degrees at the University of Toronto and her doctorate at Syracuse University. Beth has been a teacher all of her adult life, including teaching English at the secondary and community college levels and special education at all levels. Beth's current work focuses on teaching and research related to disability, multicultural, and family issues. She lived in Trinidad for 12 years, where both her children Melanie and Mark Teelucksingh were born.