Special Needs: A Daughter’s Disability, a Mother’s Mission

Brimming with the joy of new motherhood, Gail Frizzell was unprepared to learn just months after her daughter’s birth in 1985 that her child would face the lifelong challenges of special needs. In a collection of essays, Gail reveals how severe disability, societal attitudes, and a complicated system of essential supports have impacted her daughter’s ability to live a life of value and dignity.Laced with warmth and honesty, these essays also chronicle the transformation of a mother from naive and untested to savvy and determined. Throughout three decades of love and care, Gail shares not only the triumphs and trials of raising her daughter, but also the wisdom and knowledge gained while becoming a dedicated advocate for her and others with developmental disabilities. Special Needs captures the life-altering effects of physical and intellectual disability, and the formidable challenge facing families attempting to find quality and accessible services to meet the lifespan needs of vulnerable loved ones.