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Abigail Garner

Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is

Abigail Garner was five years old when her parents divorced and her dad came out as gay. Like the millions of children growing up in these families today, she often found herself in the middle of the political and moral debates surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parenting. Drawing on a decade of community organizing, and interviews with more than fifty grown sons and daughters of LGBT parents, Garner addresses such topics as coming out to children, facing homophobia at school, co-parenting with ex-partners, the impact of AIDS, and the children's own sexuality. Both practical and deeply personal, Families Like Mine provides an invaluable insider's perspective for LGBT parents, their families, and their allies.

Anne Ford

Laughing Allegra: The Inspiring Story of a Mother's Struggle and Triumph Raising a Daughter with Learning Disabilities

When Anne Ford, great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, learned that her four-year-old daughter Allegra's "differences" were the result of severe learning disabilities, she faced a challenge that neither money nor position could ease. Desperate for answers, Anne sought out doctors, teachers, counselors, and oth- ers who could help her build a support network for herself and her daughter, while fighting the many common misconceptions and myths about learning disabilities.Now, in this fiercely honest and compelling memoir, Anne tells her story, writing movingly of her feelings as the mother of a learning disabled child. "I grew to accept that life is filled with uncertainty and that answers to the most simple, yet profound, questions such as 'What is wrong with my daughter?' can be elusive. I learned to be self-reliant in ways I never had before. I learned that every spark of optimism and hope was something to be nurtured and treasured because sometimes they were the only comfort available. And I learned that worry had entered my life." In time, Anne Ford saw her daughter grow into a vibrant, loving, and independent adult with a passion for ice skating and a commitment to help other ...

Steven M. Constantino

101 Ways to Create Real Family Engagement

Many schools and districts have proclaimed their "strategies for family engagement" and set about "doing things" but they have not succeeded in engaging all families. At best, many have merely increased the engagement of the already engaged. Dr. Steve Constantino addresses the cultural revolution that must first occur, along with providing strategies and exercises that help schools begin making the tough cultural changes. Readers then learn how to build on that new cultural foundation and create the relationships that motivate family involvement, and ultimately create family engagement. This book contains 101 tested ways to create REAL family engagement.