SPECIAL PARENTS, SPECIAL CHILDREN

Imagine having a parent who is deaf, blind, mobility impaired, or an achondroplastic dwarf. Physically challenged adults and their families share their experiences in these brief chapters, providing surprisingly detailed information on the origin of their disabilities, everyday routines, and special adaptive equipment like the Braille stylus, cars outfitted with hand controls, and captioned TV. While family members do express their frustrations, the overall tone here is upbeat and positive. As sixth grader Lisa Kavanaugh comments about life with her blind father, ``People always say, aren't we wonderful when we go shopping, ride bicycles, and hurry through crowds. They don't realize we're just living.'' Frequent quotes and many b&w photos capture the flavor of each family. An excellent introduction to what it means to live with someone who is physically challenged. (Nonfiction. 8-12)