J M Smart

I'll Never Walk Alone J M Smart

Judith Smart is severely disabled with cerebral palsy, and all her life has struggled to maintain her independence. In her autobiography she tells her life story in her own words, typed with one finger over many months and years, on her own word processor. The chapters cover all the stages of her life. They begin with the day when the doctors told her mother to "put your daughter into an institution and forget about her" through many years of boarding school and into residential care. Finally, we follow her as she makes her bid for freedom: out into the world and into a job, a car and independent living, having gained two university degrees. Her story is inspiring, funny and challenging. She reveals some private problems and secret struggles that able-bodied people may not always recognise, particularly the lack of empathy and respect that disabled people so often encounter. Yet Judith's gentle and patient nature has enabled her to triumph over loneliness, cancer and neglect and transform these problems into opportunities to learn and grow. There is laughter to be found in almost every situation. This is a celebration of friendship, determination and the power of love over adversity. Judith always knew that she would never walk alone but, thanks to her sunny disposition and philosophical attitude, she never has : - her many friends will always walk with her. Her mother in particular was always a stalwart ally and this book is dedicated to her memory.