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Jun 02, 2011BPLNextBestAdults rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Three months after Donna Thomson delivered her son Nicholas, life as she knew it changed forever. After months of wondering why Nicholas was not developing like typical babies, doctors informed her that he had cerebral palsy and would “never be normal”. The Four Walls of My Freedom is a memoir about her experience parenting a child with severe physical needs—from trying to find an appropriate school to dealing with Nicholas’s extreme pain and seizures. Her descriptions paint a clear image of how debilitating it can be for a family who has to navigate this world with such challenges. Thomson is the wife of former Canadian High Commissioner to the UK James Wright, so she brings to the book experience from both Canada and abroad. Her years with Nicholas have transformed her into a disability activist and with The Four Walls of My Freedom, she examines theories of quality of life and how they can be applied to create the best possible life for all citizens, regardless of ability. It is an excellent work for those who are interested in the politics and social issues involving individuals with disabilities. It’s not an easy read, but rather an academic discussion of how society could work with families to create happy lives for all individuals. Canadians with an interest in the rights of the disabled would be particularly interested in this work.