I Choose Adam: Nothing Special Please

I Choose Adam is about the magic of inclusion and creating a community where everyone is welcomed equally and without apology for their differences. It is about making choices for Adam that defied the advice of "professionals." It is about a boy with a tested IQ of 40 who, against all odds, learned to communicate, went to a regular school and on to college, bought his own house and lived an extraordinary life that was nothing special.

David and his wife, Jetta, had a deep desire that their only child, born with the neurological anomalies of Down Syndrome and Autism, be valued for the gifts he brought rather than be thrust into an institutional setting as the "helpful professionals" encouraged. They did not want anything special for Adam. They were both challenged and altered through Adam's early years and by kindergarten began searching for and trying different schools until they found one where Adam was included and welcomed as an honored member of the community. Throughout his young life, Adam made thousands of friends, learned from them, and taught them the true meaning of relationships. Many of their stories are included in this book.

I Choose Adam is about how raising Adam transformed his family, his church, his school and an entire community of friends. This story will make you laugh and cry, and in the end, you will be changed for having read it.

ISBN-13: 9780998530307

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Lightning Tree Creative Media

Publication Date: 08-01-2017

Pages: 454

Product Dimensions: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.92d

Winstrom, David: - David Winstrom is a warrior, pacifist, husband, doctor, father, mourner and storyteller. After learning that school psychologists dictated whether Adam was educable or trainable and what academic classes he would take, David decided he would be the one to make those decisions and went back to college to get a dual Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Clinical Psychology. David now uses his knowledge and experience to support other individuals and family members. After learning from the physical and occupational therapists that riding a motorcycle would help Adam's balance, David bought a Harley Davidson. He and Adam took many glorious trips together through Michigan, Colorado and California.