HOPE OF THE CROW

A comprehensive collection of short essays in which the author, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, shares the daily experiences that make her life both more frustrating and more rewarding.

Schneider was born prematurely in 1949, blind from birth, and not expected to survive. Seventy years later, she is a retired clinical psychologist navigating aging with the grace, wisdom, and determination that have defined her life. She refers to her current stage as one in which she is “Occupying Aging.” And she has plenty of helpful tips to impart— especially for people with disabilities, their families, their friends, and, not incidentally, seniors who inevitably find themselves less able than they once were: “My hope is that as more people age into the disability club, accessibilities will keep improving for all.” The volume is broadly organized into four sections—"Work,” “Play,” “Love,” and “Pray.” Within each, the essays are presented chronologically. It is a structure that gives readers a comprehensive sense of the trajectory of the successes and failures of such legislation as the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act. The blog posts (http://kathiecomments.wordpress.com) recount personal experiences and range from detailed discussions on federal/local regulations to the simple pleasures and difficulties of taking a walk with her beloved service dog, Luna. She offers good advice for well-intentioned strangers (“Ask me if I need help rather than assume”), urges activism, and provides contact information for government agencies. She says, if your public library does not have the book you are looking for in accessible format or your cable provider does not have “described television programming,” request it! There is also substantial information about the variety of electronic devices and programs that enable accessibility. Although a few of the essays are dry and technical, most are conversational, pleasantly edgy, and often sprinkled with gentle, self-effacing wit: “as I limp along in the slow lane of the information superhighway.” Always, there is an optimistic tone: “I’ve learned to notice the positive and find the humor in some of the tough interactions around my disabilities.” An extensive list of references is provided at the end of the book.

An illuminating addition to the genre, best appreciated if read intermittently.