Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Mary Beth Moore for her latest release, Unwanted: Fighting to Belong.
Unwanted: Fighting to Belong
Book: Unwanted: Fighting to Belong
Author: Mary Beth Moore
Publication date: 8th September 2022
Genres: Memoir, Disability, Parenting
Page Count: 218
Publisher: New Degree Press
About Unwanted: Fighting to Belong
“He is my son. A person. He is not a condition or a statistic. He’s my son.”
Mary Beth Moore chose to have hope in a situation experts deemed hopeless. She was encouraged to abort her son when an ultrasound revealed the presence of multiple disabilities. Years later, experts education said the limitations of the school system could not be changed to meet her son’s needs. Again, Mary Beth chose to have hope.
Unwanted is a powerful story about one mom’s journey to make the world a better place for her son. Full of heartbreak, grit, and triumph, it raises awareness for disability rights and advocates for the human right to belong.
The presence of disabilities is a natural part of humanity, and in no way makes someone less worthy of living a full, inclusive life. Children with disabilities face pervasive discrimination and systemic segregation in school systems across the United States and around the world. Unwanted explores the evolution of special education law, research on creating inclusive classrooms, and real-world stories of families and teachers actively fighting to protect the rights of children with disabilities in our education system.
You can find Unwanted: Fighting to Belong here:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Praise for The Girl Who Dreamed the War Over
“Unwanted is a captivating page-turner that will resonate with any parent who has found themselves navigating between the legal rights of their child and the historical practices and financial restrictions of the public educational system. Mary Beth challenges the segregated classroom environment, provides practical advice for parents, and inspires systemic change in a way that has never been done before—she is a true powerhouse with the most generous heart.”
~ Kimberly Fradel, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
“As an educator and a mom of a child with Down Syndrome, Unwanted is a must read for educators, parents, and service providers. It gives an authentic glimpse into the realities of raising a child with a disability and the education system in our present day society. Thank you Mary Beth for shining light and attention on the importance of inclusion for all.”
~ Janessa Ginn, Special Educator
“Unwanted is exactly the kind of book that inclusively-minded educators and parents need to read. Despite all of the barriers to inclusion, Mary Beth shows her family’s path to advocate for their son and hopefully can light the way for other families who want the same.”
~ Tim Villegas, Director of Communications for MCIE, Host of the Think Inclusive Podcast
“My heart pounded out of my chest reading Unwanted just knowing someone else experienced the same things I have experienced. I know now that I am not alone and that others also share this journey of fighting for a child that is worthy.”
~ Johnna Elstob, mother of a boy that is very much wanted
About The Author
I have been writing for most of my adult life, first as a military intelligence analyst and then as a professional marketer and occasional ghostwriter. In the fall of 2022, after many prayers, long bouts of procrastination, a fair amount of cussing, and a lot of rewrites, I finally became a published author!
The title of my debut book is Unwanted: Fighting to Belong. It is a vulnerable story that chronicles my journey from the moment I discovered my child would be born with multiple disabilities, through all of the challenges I faced in getting his basic needs met, and how the lessons I learned transformed me into a leading advocate for inclusive education.
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