Service Alert
July 1 - Canada Day
CELA will be closed on Tuesday, July 1st for Canada Day. Our office will reopen and our Contact Centre services will resume on Wednesday, July 2nd. Enjoy your holiday!
CELA will be closed on Tuesday, July 1st for Canada Day. Our office will reopen and our Contact Centre services will resume on Wednesday, July 2nd. Enjoy your holiday!
Showing 1 - 20 of 961 items
By Jonathan Mooney. 2007
A young man once called unteachable journeys across America to investigate the lives of those, like himself, who are forced…
to create new ways of living in order to surviveLabeled "dyslexic and profoundly learning disabled with attention and behavior problems," Jonathan Mooney was a short bus rider—a derogatory term used for kids in special education and a distinction that told the world he wasn't "normal." Along with other kids with special challenges, he grew up hearing himself denigrated daily. Ultimately, Mooney surprised skeptics by graduating with honors from Brown University. But he could never escape his past, so he hit the road. To free himself and to learn how others had moved beyond labels, he created an epic journey. He would buy his own short bus and set out cross-country, looking for kids who had dreamed up magical, beautiful ways to overcome the obstacles that separated them from the so-called normal world.In The Short Bus, his humorous, irreverent, and poignant record of this odyssey, Mooney describes his four-month, 35,000-mile journey across borders that most people never see. He meets thirteen people in thirteen states, including an eight-year-old deaf and blind girl who likes to curse out her teachers in sign language. Then there's Butch Anthony, who grew up severely learning disabled but who is now the proud owner of the Museum of Wonder. These people teach Mooney that there's no such thing as normal and that to really live, every person must find their own special ways of keeping on. The Short Bus is a unique gem, propelled by Mooney's heart, humor, and outrageous rebellions.By Katherine Bouton. 2013
For twenty-two years, Katherine Bouton had a secret that grew harder to keep every day. An editor at The New…
York Times, at daily editorial meetings she couldn't hear what her colleagues were saying. She had gone profoundly deaf in her left ear; her right was getting worse. As she once put it, she was "the kind of person who might have used an ear trumpet in the nineteenth century."Audiologists agree that we're experiencing a national epidemic of hearing impairment. At present, 50 million Americans suffer some degree of hearing loss—17 percent of the population. And hearing loss is not exclusively a product of growing old. The usual onset is between the ages of nineteen and forty-four, and in many cases the cause is unknown.Shouting Won't Help is a deftly written, deeply felt look at a widespread and misunderstood phenomenon. In the style of Jerome Groopman and Atul Gawande, and using her experience as a guide, Bouton examines the problem personally, psychologically, and physiologically. She speaks with doctors, audiologists, and neurobiologists, and with a variety of people afflicted with midlife hearing loss, braiding their stories with her own to illuminate the startling effects of the condition.The result is a surprisingly engaging account of what it's like to live with an invisible disability—and a robust prescription for our nation's increasing problem with deafness. A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2013Help children with autism strengthen their connections—supportive strategies for ages 1 to 11To guide your efforts to help your child…
flourish, this book has 90 playful, evidence-based activities. Thriving with Autism provides an easy, effective toolbox to supplement and support the developmental work parents and caregivers are doing with their children. These solutions are designed for kids with autism from ages 1 to 11. The benefits can last a lifetime.From building better conversation abilities to strengthening social skills, Thriving with Autism delivers practical, everyday ways to connect, encourage, and play. Featuring exercises like Acts of Friendliness, The Human Burrito, and Emotional Charades, this comprehensive guide encourages your child with autism to boost their communication, engagement, and self-regulation skills.Thriving with Autism includes:Hands-on activities—Make learning fun with lots of lessons that can help kids across the autism spectrum.Simple strategies—Tackle these easy, research-driven activities one by one at home.Engaging and practical—Find helpful tips and suggestions, as well as full-color illustrations that are sure to inspire and delight you and your child.Now there's a smart, sensible way to help teach kids with autism necessary skills.By Heather Ajzenman. 2019
Watch your child develop the skills to thrive with occupational therapy—for kids ages 1 to 6Occupational therapy uses simple, fun…
activities to help kids learn the skills they need for daily life, from eating meals and writing the alphabet to socializing with friends and family. Occupational Therapy Activities for Kids is designed to help children at all developmental ability levels strengthen those skills by playing their way through 100 exciting exercises that are easy to do at home anytime.This family-friendly guide offers concise information on how occupational therapy works and shows you how to apply it in a way that benefits your child. The games are even divided into chapters based on different types of occupational therapy skills—sensory processing, motor, social-emotional, and cognitive and visual processing—so you can focus on the ones that are most important for your child.Occupational Therapy Activities for Kids offers:Customizable for your kid—Every chapter starts with the simplest activities and increases in complexity, with tips on how to make each activity easier or harder.No experience necessary—From Balloon Volleyball to Find the Treasure, most exercises can be done with things you probably already have in your home. No prior knowledge or special tools required.All kids, all ages—These occupational therapy activities are built for kids 1 to 6 years old with various developmental challenges, but they can help all kids improve their physical, social-emotional, and cognitive abilities.Make it fun and easy to practice occupational therapy with your child every day.By Henry Fraser. 2018
"Combines the author's wisdom and insight into finding the gifts in life's challenges and will resonate with readers facing an…
obstacle no matter how big or small. It includes the author's thoughts on how to look at the right things and avoid the wrong finding progress in whatever you do and acknowledging and accepting the darkness when it comes. Right at the heart of the author's inspiring philosophy is his belief that every day is a good day." -- WorldCatBy Sandra Sandy Bailey. 2020
Bailey set out to write at least 60 daily devotionals as part of a project from her women's prayer group.…
Each one relates to a Bible verse and one of her life events. She is a retired community college professor who in later life had brain surgery and lost 75% of her vision. 2020By Dan Tolva. 2015
More than 20 people contributed stories to this history of the 125-year-old Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver.…
In addition, material was gathered from the WSSB and state of Washington archives and photographs were taken by the principal writer, Dan Tolva. AdultBy Laura Rothenberg. 2003
A young woman with cystic fibrosis shares her journey of deciding to undergo a lung transplant, chronicling the surgery, recovery,…
and her ongoing battle with mortality. Through journal entries and reflections, she offers an honest and mature perspective on living with a terminal illness while embracing every moment. 2003. AdultBy Homer L Page. 2014
"In 1941, on farm outside Troy, Missouri, a boy named Homer Page was born. Blind since birth, Homer has lived…
his life in vibrant determination to be a part of the game. He has known success and failure, felt hope and heartache, and experienced joy and despair. He struggled to find the courage to act and the wisdom to accept what he could not change. Through it all, he never let circumstances become limitations. Homer received two letters in wrestling from the University of Missouri, earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago, and went on to teach at the University of Colorado. He later pursued and enjoyed a career in elective office. He is a leader in the disability rights movement and has lectured on the topic of the rehabilitation of the blind in both Sweden and Poland. In this memoir, he shares the story of his life-- the challenges and disappointments that he overcame on the way to a meaningful and successful personal and professional career. But he also tells a larger story about living with disability in mainstream America. Homer explores the joy and pain that he and others have experienced as American society has changed over the past years. Most of all, however, his is the story of a realist who refuses to give up. In the end, it is a story of the affirmation of life and the joy of living."-- From publisherAuthor describes how losing his eyesight as a Columbia junior affected his life trajectory. He went on to Harvard and…
Oxford and--among many other accomplishments--he invented a compressed speech machine which speeds up the reproduction of words from recordings without distorting any sound. The title reflects his long friendship with Art Garfunkel. 2020By Kate Gies. 2025
"When Kate Gies was four years old, a plastic surgeon pressed a synthetic ear to the right side of her…
head and pulled out a mirror. He told her he could make her "whole"--could make her "right"--and she believed him. From the age of four to thirteen, she underwent fourteen surgeries, including skin and bone grafts, to craft the appearance of an outer ear. Many of the surgeries failed, leaving permanent damage to her body. In short, lyrical vignettes, Kate writes about how her "disfigured" body was scrutinized, pathologized, and even weaponized. She describes the physical and psychic trauma of medical intervention, and its effects on her sense of self, first as a child needing to be fixed, and later, as a teenager and adult, navigating the complex expectations and dangers of being a woman. It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished is the story of a girl desperately trying to have a body that makes her acceptable and of a woman learning to own a body she never felt was hers to define. In an age of speaking out about the abuse of marginalized bodies, this memoir takes a hard look at the medical system's role in body oppression and trauma."By Johanna Hedva. 2024
The long-awaited essay collection from one of the most influential voices in disability activism that detonates a bomb in our…
collective understanding of care and illness, showing us that sickness is a fact of life. In the wake of the 2014 Ferguson riots, and sick with a chronic condition that rendered them housebound, Johanna Hedva turned to the page to ask: How do you throw a brick through the window of a bank if you can't get out of bed? It was not long before this essay, "Sick Woman Theory", became a seminal work on disability, because in reframing illness as not just a biological experience but a social one, Hedva argues that under capitalism?a system that limits our worth to the productivity of our bodies?we must reach for the revolutionary act of caring for ourselves and others. How to Tell When We Will Die expands upon Hedva's paradigm-shifting perspective in a series of slyly subversive and razor-sharp essays that range from the theoretical to the personal?from Deborah Levy and Susan Sontag to wrestling, kink, mysticism, death, and the color yellow. Drawing from their experiences with America's byzantine healthcare system, and considering archetypes they call The Psychotic Woman, The Freak, and The Hag in Charge, Hedva offers a bracing indictment of the politics that exploit sickness?relying on and fueling ableism?to the detriment of us all. With the insight of Anne Boyer's The Undying and Leslie Jamison's The Empathy Exams, and the wit of Samantha Irby, Hedva's debut collection upends our collective understanding of disability. In their radical reimagining of a world where care and pain are symbiotic, and our bodies are allowed to live free and well, Hedva implores us to remember that illness is neither an inconvenience or inevitability, but an enlivening and elemental part of being aliveBy Christopher Stephens, Louise Radnofsky. 2025
'Your book is the "really good book. Just one" that Roger Butler would have wanted' - Sir Ian McKellen'Miraculous. The…
Light of Day reclaims a forgotten hero . . . I couldn't put it down' - Will Tosh'Sir, we are homosexuals . . .'So began the letter penned by Roger Butler and sent to several British newspaper editors - some of whom were so shocked they thought it was a hoax - in June 1960. Writing such a letter seven years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality was a radical and dangerous move. It was a risk that set a major milestone in the fight for gay rights - one that has been almost entirely forgotten.This is the story of the first man to come out voluntarily, using his own name, to the entire British public, a decade before activists started petitioning gay people everywhere to 'come out proud'. Taking us through a criminalised underworld of gay pubs, parties and activist meetings, The Light of Day charts how Roger helped bring about the legalisation of homosexuality, but soon found himself marginalised from the movement he kickstarted after losing his sight in his early 30s.Enter Christopher - a student asked to visit and read to an old, blind man at the beginning of a new century. As their intergenerational friendship bloomed, Roger came to trust Christopher with his most precious possession: memoirs of his revolutionary past, locked away in his home. After Roger's death, Christopher opened a series of unsent letters, left in a pink folder, addressed to him. They contained Roger's final wish, for Christopher finally to bring his remarkable, hidden story into the light of day.The audio edition includes three special bonus tracks, "Recordings from Regent Street", from Roger's audio archive. These three recordings, of Roger discussing his parents, reading with Christopher and drafting a letter, allow you to hear in Roger's own voice how he thought, and how he managed to compose his essays and other material into a form he could then copy onto paper.'At times gripping, at times very personal, this remains an important piece of objective history, faithfully recorded and beautifully written' - Matthew Parris'A compelling read and a fascinating education' - Jill NalderBy Christopher Stephens, Louise Radnofsky. 2025
'Your book is the "really good book. Just one" that Roger Butler would have wanted' - Sir Ian McKellen'Miraculous. The…
Light of Day reclaims a forgotten hero . . . I couldn't put it down' - Will Tosh'Sir, we are homosexuals . . .'So began the letter penned by Roger Butler and sent to several British newspaper editors - some of whom were so shocked they thought it was a hoax - in June 1960. Writing such a letter seven years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality was a radical and dangerous move. It was a risk that set a major milestone in the fight for gay rights - one that has been almost entirely forgotten.This is the story of the first man to come out voluntarily, using his own name, to the entire British public, a decade before activists started petitioning gay people everywhere to 'come out proud'. Taking us through a criminalised underworld of gay pubs, parties and activist meetings, The Light of Day charts how Roger helped bring about the legalisation of homosexuality, but soon found himself marginalised from the movement he kickstarted after losing his sight in his early 30s.Enter Christopher - a student asked to visit and read to an old, blind man at the beginning of a new century. As their intergenerational friendship bloomed, Roger came to trust Christopher with his most precious possession: memoirs of his revolutionary past, locked away in his home. After Roger's death, Christopher opened a series of unsent letters, left in a pink folder, addressed to him. They contained Roger's final wish, for Christopher finally to bring his remarkable, hidden story into the light of day.'At times gripping, at times very personal, this remains an important piece of objective history, faithfully recorded and beautifully written' - Matthew Parris'A compelling read and a fascinating education' - Jill NalderBy Carrie Cariello. 2025
You're the parent of an autistic child...except they're not a child anymore. So, now what?As autistic children grow into teenagers,…
you will experience new challenges, both as a parent and as a family. Supporting the leap into adulthood can seem daunting, but here Carrie Cariello takes you through her journey with her son Jack, shining a light on how to help your young person prepare for different life stages and grow in independence. Carrie's own experiences form the basis of her deeply empathetic advice - in this warm, astute and thoughtful book she offers a guiding and steadying hand so you can move through periods of change with increased confidence and calm.By Selina Mills. 2023
Imagine a world without sight. Is it dark and gloomy? Is it terrifying and isolating? Or is it simply a…
state of not seeing, which we have demonised and sentimentalized over the centuries? And why is blindness so frightening? In this fascinating historical adventure, broadcaster and author Selina Mills takes us on a journey through the history of blindness in Western Culture to discover that blindness is not so dark after all. Inspired by her own experience of losing her sight as she forged a successful journalistic career, Life Unseen takes us through a personal and unsentimental historical quest through the lives, stories and achievements of blind people - as well as those sighted people who sought to patronize, demonize and fix them. From the blind poet Homer, through the myths and moralising of early medieval culture to the scientific and medical discoveries of the Enlightenment and modern times, the story of blindness turns out to be a story of our whole cultureBy Greta Morgan. 2025
A poignant, tenacious memoir by musician Greta Morgan chronicling how she rediscovered her artistic voice after losing her ability to…
sing.In 2019, Greta Morgan was on the rise. She was a touring member of Vampire Weekend, performed with Jenny Lewis, and garnered critical acclaim with her own musical projects. But in March 2020, after contracting Covid-19, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder with no known cure that left her unable to sing. Her once crystalline voice now reduced to a hush, she saw her career come to an abrupt standstill.Beyond the physical ramifications, what does it mean to cultivate a true voice? Morgan’s loss launches her into a journey of grief and self-discovery, forcing her to broaden her artistic horizons and reconstruct her sense of self. Her narrative takes us on a whirlwind tour of music studios, band buses, and celebrity-filled backstage parties, but it also takes us to the red canyons of Utah and the spacious wilderness of the American Southwest. In these vast landscapes, Morgan finds unexpected community. In the silence, she learns how to listen to parts of herself she has neglected.Questioning the purpose of creativity and what defines artistic passion, The Lost Voice is a raw and intimate portrait of grief, self-discovery, and the choice to keep living and creating.By Jeff Duncan, Steve Gleason. 2024
From NFL player Steve Gleason, a powerful, inspiring memoir of love, heartbreak, resilience, family, and remarkable triumph in the face…
of ALS"Gleason is a symbol of resilience, hope and optimism.&” —The New York Times • "Steve Gleason has changed the world." –Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner • "An extraordinary book...A Life Impossible will change the way people cope, think, and live." –Mike Lupica, co-author with James Patterson of 12 Months to LiveIn 2011, three years after leaving the NFL, Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal disease that takes away the ability to move, talk, and breathe. Doctors gave him three years to live. He was thirty-three years old. As Steve says, he is now ten years past his expiration date.His memoir is the chronicle of a remarkable life, one filled with optimism and joy, despite the trauma and pain and despair he has experienced. Writing using eye-tracking technology, Gleason covers his pre-ALS life through the highs and lows of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, where he made one of the most memorable plays in Saints history, leading to a victory in the first post-Katrina home game, uplifting the city, making him a hero, and reflected in a nine-foot bronze statue outside the Superdome. Then came his heartbreaking diagnosis. Gleason lost all muscle function, he now uses Stephen Hawking-like technology to communicate, and breathes with the help of a ventilator. This book captures Gleason and his wife Michel&’s unmatched resilience as they reinvent their lives, refuse to succumb to despair, and face his disease realistically and existentially.This unsparing portrait argues that a person's true strength does not reside solely in one&’s body but also in the ability to face unfathomable adversity and still be able to love and treasure life.By Ally Hilfiger. 2016
Ally was at a breaking point when she woke up in a psych ward at the age of eighteen. She…
couldn't put a sentence together, let alone take a shower, eat a meal, or pick up a phone. What had gone wrong? In recent years, she had produced a feature film, a popular reality show for a major network, and had acted in an off-Broadway play. But now, Ally was pushed to a psychotic break after struggling since she was seven years old with physical symptoms that no doctor could explain; everything from joint pain, to night sweats, memory loss, nausea, and brain fog. A doctor in the psych ward was finally able to give her the answers her and her family had desperately been searching for, and the diagnosis that all the previous doctors had missed. She learned that she had Lyme disease-and finally had a breakthrough.What she didn't know was that this diagnosis would lead her down some of the most excruciating years of her life before beginning her journey to recovery from eleven years of misdiagnosis and physical pain. She would need to find her courage to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally, and become the survivor she is today.Set against the backdrop of the fast-paced fashion and entertainment industries, Bite Me shares the heartbreaking and hilarious stories that moved Ally forward on her journey from sickness to health. Its themes will be familiar to more than 300,000 Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, many of whom, like Ally, wondered for years what was wrong with them. Bite Me offers readers hope and ideas for how one can transition from victim to survivor, and shares the spiritual principles and actions that have contributed to her wholeness as a human, mother, and international spokesperson against Lyme disease.By Christine Marie Donmoyer. 2022
"Macular Degeneration affects over eight-million people in the United States. Patients lose central vision, the ability to read fine print…
and recognize faces. A diagnosis doesn't mean surrendering to these challenges. Instead, understanding this medical condition will help pave the way toward a better future-for yourself or loved one. Invisible Disability: Living with Macular Degeneration is uniquely written from the perspective of both a patient and scientist. Christine Donmoyer shares her journey with Macular Degeneration-giving a first-hand account of the diagnosis, living with vision loss, and explaining how this disease affects social and emotional well-being. Your mind will open through this raw and honest story. Christine wants others to know they are not alone in dealing with the distinct challenges of Macular Degeneration- and offers straightforward tips on coping in every stage. She explains the benefits of Bioptic driving, how to advocate for yourself in the workplace and find non-profit organizations that will help." -- Provided by publisher