Editorial Review :

This series takes a thoughtful and positive look at disabilities, encouraging children to think about ways in which disabled people overcome their problems and lead fulfilling lives. The books deal with many aspects of everyday life, such as going to school, getting around, and taking part in sports events. Each title shows well-known people with disabilities and looks forward to future developments that may affect people's lives. The books contain a comprehensive glossary, index and list of useful addresses.

Customer Review :

Nice Idea -- Still Presents Some Misconceptions

Does not totally disspell misconceptions, as advertised: At one point, a picture caption with a vintage picture of a school for crippled children [term appropriate for the vintage picture] tells that once, crippled children "had to make their own chairs," leaving a small child to assume they were perhaps either very poor or were being punished. In fact, the picture was probably showing vocational training in the area of chair caning, so that the students would leave school with a marketable job skill.

Also, the book is decidedly British, and Americans and others might want to preview this offering to determine whether or not the attitudes and information in the book are reflective of the purchaser's location.

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Editorial Review :

This digital document is a journal article from Social Science & Medicine, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
This qualitative study aimed to examine risk perception and seriousness of wheelchair dependence in patients with multiple sclerosis. Perceived absolute risk and perceived seriousness were assessed for 2-year, 10-year and lifetime prognosis of wheelchair dependence using visual analogue scales (VAS). In semi-structured interviews, patients (n=85) were asked to elucidate these VAS scores. Explaining perceived absolute risk, patients mentioned disease-related factors as well as psychological factors. Uncertainty about future disease progression was a predominant factor for all patients, even those with low and high perceptions of risk. Wheelchair dependence was perceived as a serious outcome primarily because of its possible implications, such as loss of independence. When perceptions of 2-year, 10-year and the lifetime prospect of wheelchair dependence were compared, it was found that patients discriminated in their perception of absolute risk, but less in that of seriousness. Comparison of quantitative and qualitative assessments indicated good construct validity for perception of the absolute risk and seriousness of wheelchair dependence.

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Editorial Review :

Vintage 1975 booklet with 11 brief personal stories by patients with MS who are trying to adjust to their illness and to enjoy life, to function as normally as possible in spite of overwhelming handicaps.

Customer Review :

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Editorial Review :

Follow Granny as she spends the day visiting the animals in the zoo. This book is based on a real Granny of five, who has multiple sclerosis.

Customer Review :

An Okay Book - not bad, but not that great

This story is based on a real granny who uses a wheelchair and has five grandkids. I question why the author and illustrator decided not to show the grandkids going to the zoo with granny. The grandchildren are shown in the beginning of the story with two babies sitting on granny's lap then off the zoo granny goes by herself. I can't think of anyone who visits the zoo alone, but maybe it's just me who always visits the zoo with family and friends. I think if the purpose of the book is to show how independent granny is - it doesn't show much. The majority of the book features pictures of animals that granny sees, then in the end granny is shown again. A great idea - I just think this idea should have been taken farther. I give this book 3/5 because it's just okay - not bad, but not that great. For a great book showing a grandpa using a wheelchair and interacting with the grandkids, check out My Grampy Can't Walk.

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Handicaped

It was nice to see a book about how a Handicapped person still enjoys going to the Zoo. Thank you!

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Editorial Review :

Roughly one in ten adult Americans find their walking slowed by progressive chronic conditions like arthritis, back problems, heart and lung diseases, and diabetes. In this passionate and deeply informed book, Lisa I. Iezzoni describes the personal experiences of and societal responses to adults whose mobility makes it difficult for them to live as they wish--partly because of physical and emotional conditions and partly because of persisting societal and environmental barriers.

Basing her conclusions on personal experience, a wealth of survey data, and extensive interviews with dozens of people from a wide social spectrum, Iezzoni explains who has mobility problems and why; how mobility difficulties affect people's physical comfort, attitudes, daily activities, and relationships with family and friends throughout their communities; strategies for improving mobility; and how the health care system addresses mobility difficulties, providing and financing services and assistive technologies.

Iezzoni claims that, although strategies exist to improve mobility, many people do not know where to turn for advice. She addresses the need to inform policymakers about areas where changes will better accommodate people with difficulty walking. This straightforward and engaging narrative clearly demonstrates that improving people's ability to move freely and independently will enhance overall health and quality of life, not only for these persons, but also for society as a whole.

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