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The Accomplice
Winner, Bronze Medal in the 2023 Readers' Favorite Non-Fiction - Education Category.
Finalist, 16th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in 3 Book Cover Design, Caregiving, Miscellaneous.
Finalist, 2022 The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in 2 General Non-Fiction, Parenting/Family/Relationships.
Finalist, 2023 Readers' Choice Book Awards. Finalist, 2023 Readers' Favorite Book Awards.
Natalia looked to me for help, telling the woman that she had a disability, I was her mother, and she needed me to speak on her behalf. The woman, belittling Natalia, told her she didn't look like she had a disability, and she wouldn't allow me to help. Here's how the conversation "Well, honey, how old are you?" "I'm twenty," Natalia said. "Well, are you going to have Mommy helping you when you turn twenty-one?" I jumped in. "So, how old are you?" "Thirty-five," she said. "Oh, I see you are wearing glasses. Are you going to take those glasses off when you turn thirty-six?" The woman called her supervisor. While we were waiting for the supervisor, Natalia said something very thoughtful about her challenges. "Mom, things are hard for me. I need assistance just to get the assistance."
When Melissa Jacobus adopted her children, she believed all her prayers for a family had finally been answered. But while other parents were dealing with the usual challenges that come with raising children, Melissa experienced those challenges tenfold. The Accomplice follows several years of her life as two of her children, now grown in the eyes of society yet still cloaked in an invisible disability, struggle to survive a world that doesn't understand them, their needs, or their disability. Substance abuse, homelessness, jail time, and worse can be all-too-common outcomes for those impacted by FASD, also known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. As Melissa tries to advocate and safeguard her children from these outcomes, she realizes her ability to help them, and others, is at the mercy of an uninformed society. The Accomplice is a call to action for the country to acknowledge FASD for what it is-a developmental disability that affects millions-and to help society recognize that this "invisible" disability is more than visible, it's a crisis.
Finalist, 16th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in 3 Book Cover Design, Caregiving, Miscellaneous.
Finalist, 2022 The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in 2 General Non-Fiction, Parenting/Family/Relationships.
Finalist, 2023 Readers' Choice Book Awards. Finalist, 2023 Readers' Favorite Book Awards.
Natalia looked to me for help, telling the woman that she had a disability, I was her mother, and she needed me to speak on her behalf. The woman, belittling Natalia, told her she didn't look like she had a disability, and she wouldn't allow me to help. Here's how the conversation "Well, honey, how old are you?" "I'm twenty," Natalia said. "Well, are you going to have Mommy helping you when you turn twenty-one?" I jumped in. "So, how old are you?" "Thirty-five," she said. "Oh, I see you are wearing glasses. Are you going to take those glasses off when you turn thirty-six?" The woman called her supervisor. While we were waiting for the supervisor, Natalia said something very thoughtful about her challenges. "Mom, things are hard for me. I need assistance just to get the assistance."
When Melissa Jacobus adopted her children, she believed all her prayers for a family had finally been answered. But while other parents were dealing with the usual challenges that come with raising children, Melissa experienced those challenges tenfold. The Accomplice follows several years of her life as two of her children, now grown in the eyes of society yet still cloaked in an invisible disability, struggle to survive a world that doesn't understand them, their needs, or their disability. Substance abuse, homelessness, jail time, and worse can be all-too-common outcomes for those impacted by FASD, also known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. As Melissa tries to advocate and safeguard her children from these outcomes, she realizes her ability to help them, and others, is at the mercy of an uninformed society. The Accomplice is a call to action for the country to acknowledge FASD for what it is-a developmental disability that affects millions-and to help society recognize that this "invisible" disability is more than visible, it's a crisis.
286 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 12, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is an interesting book on the invisible disability of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. My only experience with someone that I knew who has FAS was a former coworker who ended up in jail for possessing child pornography. After reading this book, it really explains a lot of why this coworker was the way he was.
This book tells of two adopted children's struggle with life as an adult with this invisible disability. FAS is definitely not well known and it's frustrating and sad that people aren't more educated about it. While there was more religion aspects in the book than I thought was pertinent, overall it was an eye opener. There were some parts that got repetitive but I understand the author is really trying to convey her points.
This is an interesting book on the invisible disability of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. My only experience with someone that I knew who has FAS was a former coworker who ended up in jail for possessing child pornography. After reading this book, it really explains a lot of why this coworker was the way he was.
This book tells of two adopted children's struggle with life as an adult with this invisible disability. FAS is definitely not well known and it's frustrating and sad that people aren't more educated about it. While there was more religion aspects in the book than I thought was pertinent, overall it was an eye opener. There were some parts that got repetitive but I understand the author is really trying to convey her points.
January 11, 2022
This is a fabulous book about the author's lived experience with her two FASD impacted children. She tells us in the afterward that her book is a "call to action" for advocacy for those affected with FASD through prenatal alcohol exposure, and their families. The foreward, written by experts in the field, provides plenty of technical references to underscore the realities of FASD as a developmental disability.
The book is written with enough emotion to fully understand the experiences of dealing with FASD children who become adults with FASD. The reader will find moments of humor, fear, gratification, mystery and hope. I gave copies of this book to family members who later told me, they "had no idea"! The book is an easy read and was totally engrossing as I waited to discover what happens next. If one wants to understand what prenatal alcohol exposure can do to individuals for a lifetime, this book will paint a total picture.
The book is written with enough emotion to fully understand the experiences of dealing with FASD children who become adults with FASD. The reader will find moments of humor, fear, gratification, mystery and hope. I gave copies of this book to family members who later told me, they "had no idea"! The book is an easy read and was totally engrossing as I waited to discover what happens next. If one wants to understand what prenatal alcohol exposure can do to individuals for a lifetime, this book will paint a total picture.
May 23, 2021
Spot on, fabulously defining the difficulty most of the World has about FASD.
Everyone with a position in customer service, law enforcement, teaching, every judge, and human resource departments everywhere need to read and study this disability. This needs to be mainstay for every Diversity and Inclusion program, and be mandatory for everyone to learn. My personal experience with FASD is my confirmation of my testimony for this book!
Everyone with a position in customer service, law enforcement, teaching, every judge, and human resource departments everywhere need to read and study this disability. This needs to be mainstay for every Diversity and Inclusion program, and be mandatory for everyone to learn. My personal experience with FASD is my confirmation of my testimony for this book!
January 30, 2022
Wake up call
I have a 13 year old daughter with FASD and a passion for providing her with the structure and supports she needs to prevent or survive secondary disabilities. Puberty has affected my confidence and I've slacked some on her boundaries. No more!
I have a 13 year old daughter with FASD and a passion for providing her with the structure and supports she needs to prevent or survive secondary disabilities. Puberty has affected my confidence and I've slacked some on her boundaries. No more!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews