No More Chasing ＂Normal＂: The Emotional Survival Guide for Parents of Children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and All Other Disabil

Millions of Parents in the United States have a child that is diagnosed with some form of disability. The presence of a disability changes the course of their lives, hopes, and dreams. They find themselves suddenly surrounded by everyone else living their "normal" lives, leaving them to wonder, where do we fit or where will my child fit? They experience a form of grief but are often unprepared because of a lack of information available on the topic. This book provides an in-depth look at the emotional impacts faced by these parents. This is the stuff your research doesn't tell you.

Loresa Stansell is a native Floridian who now resides in the beautiful state of Alabama where she spends much of her free time with her husband Chuck, their adult children, and three amazing grandchildren. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a National Certified Counselor. She is the owner of Stansell Counseling and Consulting, LLC a successful private practice in Alabama. Her website can be accessed at www.stansellcounseling.com She holds a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from a CACREP accredited university. Before opening a private practice she worked for several years at the University of North Alabama serving students with disabilities at a college level. In the 1990’s, she organized the opening of a nationally affiliated chapter of the National Autism Society in her community that quickly served 150 families locally. She has also been recognized by the National Alliance for Mental Illness for her volunteerism as a parent trainer. In 2010, she developed a mental health model to describe the A-typical Cyclic Grief experienced by parents of children diagnosed with a developmental disability. The model was copyrighted in 2011. She is a passionate speaker and presents on the topic of the A-typical journey to a variety of audiences. Among her greatest joys and accomplishments, is being the mother of an amazing young man with autism. She is quick to share, ＂He has taught me more about the true meaning of life and how to define normal from a completely different viewpoint. He has given me the opportunity to see the hidden experiences that only become clear when you are living life outside the norm. My heart’s desire is to share this knowledge and break the silence of the emotional impacts of the A-typical journey.＂