1. books Inspiring Stories of Hope compiled by Lynn Goldsmith
(Ark House Press)
Breaking Free by Jean Mathew (self-published) Queenslander Jodie Guerrero
This is the inspirational story of a is a 39-year-old mum, who was
woman, who never says die. The diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s
book traces the life of Jean Mathew, Lymphoma. She mentors and
who has cerebral palsy, through assists other women with illness and
her ups and downs. Despite times disability as an independent health
of tragedy and disappointment, advocate. “I fought to be diagnosed
she shines through, offering tips for 11 long months,” Guerrero says.
for readers also on how to improve “Seven doctors and 21 doctors’
their own lives. Mathew says the visits later, in desperation, I went to
book is particularly written to give the city Emergency Room, where
hope and encouragement to the wheelchair community, as we discovered, to our horror, avid
well as for those in the wider community who struggle with disease all through my body.” The two-time Lymphoma
weight issues. Visit her Facebook page, Breaking Free by Jean survivor’s story features in this compilation, Inspiring Stories
Mathew. of Hope. Check out her website, jodiesjourney.com.
Out of Calamity – Stories of Trauma Survivors by Roger WEb
Rees (Axiom Australia)
Dr Roger Rees is an emeritus newell.org.au
professor of disability and
rehabilitation research at Flinders A website was
University’s School of Medicine. launched at
The purpose of his book, Out of the AGOSCI Conference in May for people with little
Calamity – and its 27 stories and or no speech – but lots to say – to share information
case studies – is to demonstrate the and ideas on how to find a phone that works for them.
nature of post-trauma brain injury Dubbed the Newell Network, Rob Garrett, of SA’s Novita,
and how people cope, adjust and was the project manager. The Australian Consumer
achieve. Any injury to the brain Communications Network’s Grants Scheme and Telstra,
damages a person’s ability to think, together with the Australian Communications Exchange,
remember, see, speak, walk and feel, as well as know who they supported the project.
are personality-wise. As a reviewer said, this book “opens up
relayservice.com.au/quietsignsoflove/
the bewildering world”. Included is a preface by Dr Norman
Swan, the host of ABC Radio National’s The Health Report. Described by marketing website
Mumbrella as a “boy meets girl story
The Fashion File by Janie Bryant (Little, Brown) with a difference”, short film Quiet
We thought it would be appropriate Signs of Love centres on a romance
to include a fashion tome in this between a young woman, who is
spring/summer-inspired issue! In deaf, and a young hearing man who
The Fashion File, Janie Bryant, the meet at university. The 15-minute
costume designer for TV show Mad love-story is designed for online
Men – behind the fabulous style of viewing only and aims to promote
characters such as Joan and Betty the National Relay Service − the
– can show you how to transform government initiative that allows
your wardrobe into drop-dead, Aussies with hearing and speech impairments to make phone
knock-out gorgeous style. Actor Jon Hamm, who plays Don calls to young people, who are deaf. The YouTube film has
Draper in Mad Men, says: “It is not by mistake that her designs already caused a social media ripple, with more than 6000
have become part of the current fashion vocabulary, making views online. The high-production film features up-and-
50-year-old trends fresh and exciting.” Indeed! coming actress Bethany Daisy Rose Robinson, who is deaf,
and a “vibetrack” by Brett Williams, of The Choirboys fame,
which allows deaf viewers to feel the music.
August 2011 — Vol 20/3 linkmagazine 43