Gina (Terrasi) Gallagher of Marlborough and Patty (Terrasi) Konjoian of Andover intend to get attention with the title of their book, "Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid!" But just as they don't want their book to be judged solely by its cover, the sisters also urge people to look beyond the labels given to their children's special needs.
"The term, 'bipolar disorder,' can conjure terrible images, but my daughter is a wonderful person who has been treated and is leading a normal life. And that's exactly what most people with mental illness are doing," Konjoian said. In the book, Gallagher also writes about her experiences with her daughter, who has Asperger's syndrome and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
"We're not angry people," Konjoian said. "We're just saying, 'Don't judge our kids by the ridiculous standards of society.' All kids' strengths should be recognized and celebrated."
The authors say their book is part of the humorous "Movement of Imperfection" they created after becoming fed up with depressing books about disability and listening to other parents brag about their children. By providing an online support group that has generated funny and heartwarming postings from as far away as Australia, their goal is to offer hope and to change the way people think about children with special needs.
"We want other parents of kids with disabilities to know they're not alone," Konjoian said.
Gallagher and Kohjoian will discuss their book and share stories submitted to their website at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Reading Memorial High School at 62 Oakland Road. The event, which is sponsored by the Reading Special Education Advisory Council, is free and open to the public. For more information, visit shutupaboutyourperfectkid.com.
FEEDING FAMILIES: As vice president of Woburn Foreign Motors, Dracut resident George Martell said he receives many solicitations for donations. But the call for help from the Lazarus House in Lawrence on Nov. 15 made him stop and reflect.
"It reminded me so much of being home the night before Thanksgiving as a kid and hoping someone would bring a basket of food to our house - and they always did," Martell said. "For that one day, we could put everything aside and enjoy a good meal."
One day after learning that the Lazarus House needs food and donations to support a record number of people requiring assistance this year, Martell presented $2,000 to the shelter on behalf of Woburn Foreign Motors CEO George Albrecht. The dealership also served as a collection point for nonperishable food items through Wednesday.
Martell's interest in the donation stems from his memories of growing up in rural Billerica, to which he moved from Somerville with his parents at age 6. Their home didn't have running water or electricity, and hunger and violence stemming from his father's alcoholism were everyday realities, he said. Despite being a self-described "angry punk" during his school years, he was fortunate to develop mentoring relationships with coaches, teachers, and a tutor who came to his house after he had been hospitalized with a bone disease.
"They told me that I could make something of my life. I embraced that," said Martell, whose career success is complemented by his wife of 38 years, Donna, and their two adopted children, Timothy and Viviana, who work with him at Woburn Foreign Motors. "If I can have a happy ending, so can anyone else."
For information, about Lazarus House, visit lazarushouse.org.
A DAY IN THE LIFE: In order to be a good director, according to Kathryn Villare of Chelmsford, "you have to listen, have a good working relationship with your crew and host, and always try to do more."
Villare, who puts those skills to work as director of new media for the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, now has a national award to back up her professional know-how. She and coproducer Diane Sullivan of North Andover recently earned a 2007 Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications for the School of Law-sponsored television show, "A Day in the Life of the American Woman." The show is part of the Educational Forum television series that the school broadcasts on
As moderator, Sullivan interviewed author Carol Saline about her book, also called "A Day in the Life of the American Woman," which portrays women from all walks of life and all corners of the country. Villare was recognized for her directing, editing, and photography montages. "We thought it was important to bring attention to American women today," said Sullivan, a professor at the Massachusetts School of Law who won a Clarion Award for a program on bullying in 2005.
People items may be submitted to Cindy Cantrell at cantrell@globe.com.
