Unwanted: Fighting to Belong

This is definitely a must read for all, especially those in education, healthcare, insurance, government, politicians, non-profits, and all related fields intended to help special needs children & adults and those with disabilities. As a father with a daughter with a rare condition causing significant multiple disabilities, this book really strikes home. It's practically my exact story with different examples of failures by all the different systems. Literally every program, system, organization, service, etc. setup to supposedly help those with special needs do nothing make your life as difficult as possible...forcing parents to have to constantly fight for the needs of their children and Unwanted really lays it all out really well. If we are having to fight this hard for our kids, what's happening to everyone who doesn't have parents who have the knowledge or ability to fight for them???

It really helps us not to give up and fight for our children in the school system!

I am inspired by your love, courage, strength and resilience. I loved learning more about previous case law and so much more,Mary Beth Moore thank you for Paving the way for all of us on this journey and fighting for inclusion.

Such a moving story of the strength and love of a mother! Mary Beth Moore fights for her son and his rights almost from conception. This book shows that the power and force of LOVE conquers many things, including the law!

Mary Beth’s poignant and deeply personal story of advocacy on behalf of her beloved son, Gavin, illustrates the reality and truth in terms of the struggles that parents of children with disabilities face as they navigate societal bias and discrimination from the moment their child takes their first breath. Mary Beth shares not only her personal challenges and triumphs as Gavin’s fiercest advocate, but also her experience in advocating for the inclusion of other children with disabilities across the country within the school system. With the brightest and most brilliant highlights of pertinent case law as it pertains to inclusion within the school system, Mary Beth’s book makes the life of parenting a child with a disability real to the reader, while informing the reader of the multitude of reasons that children with disabilities should be included throughout the entirety of their lives - including a brief overview of 40+ years of research and legal victories in support of inclusion. Every parent, educator, school administrator, and medical professional should take the time to read and digest this book to truly understand the lives experiences of a mother who, like any other mother, so desperately wants - and deserves - for her child to be seen, accepted, valued, respected, and *wanted;* with an emphasis on the fact that every individual within our society has a right to dignity and a sense of belonging within the beautiful tapestry of the world in which we live.

Wow! A truly empowering story about an incredible family and their experiences with the injustices of special education system in the United States. Mary Beth allows herself to be vulnerable and share the very delicate story of the birth of her son Gavin, who has Down syndrome. Within their story, many doctors did not believe in his belonging in this world, as well as many other parents and educational providers who did not believe he was worthy of general education. This author and advocate, brings light to the many battles families have to endure when putting an individualized education plan (IEP) in place for their children with disabilities, and the corners many school districts will try to cut to not provide the services that by LAW they are required to. Their story will pull on your heart strings, smiling, and have you cursing for woman power on the next page. Whether you are a parent of a child with disabilities, a special education teacher, a general education teacher, caregiver, etc this is a read for you. We can all learn something from Gavin and his fight to belong in a world that is not set up for him to succeed, but you can bet his parents will not stop until it is. Thank you so much Mary Beth for your fight for so many families every day!

This is a must read for any parent or educator that has found themselves wanting more for a child with disabilities. As a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, Mary Beth’s story resonated to my core. She named my experience so well and through her story, gives readers a guide and new sense of empowerment to overcome the barriers that we face in the healthcare and educational systems. For every teacher and administrator that has worked tirelessly for children with disabilities, this book sees you and shines a light on the amazing difference you make in the life of a child.

Part memoir, but full of information and research concerning inclusive education and the law. You can't help but admire Mary Beth's passion for changing not just the education experience, but the world for children with disabilities. This book is encouraging and motivating. I highly recommend this book for everyone, not just parents of children with disabilities