Does She Know She's There? [Paperback]

Nicola Schaefer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1999

First published in 1978, Does She Know She's There? is the inspiring story of one family's determination to love, cherish, and keep their only daughter. From the moment the Schaefers were told their first-born Catherine would never walk, or talk, or even feed herself, they swore that to institutionalize her would be their last resort. The keeping of that vow was far from the story of tears and despair that some would assume. "Cath" emerges as an engaging personality in her own right, as terribly challenged as she is. Now 37, Catherine Schaefer lives in her own home, with live-in support, plus friends-cum-tenants in the upstairs apartments. Still unable to move much, or to speak, Catherine's life has, nevertheless, been a rewarding success story. This book is its chronicle, illustrated with black and white photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With candour, poignancy and humour, Schaefer, who has spoken internationally about helping people with disabilities to achieve a good quality of life, chronicles her steadfast determination not to institutionalize or stigmatize her daughter . . . [Schaefer] has a knack for evoking empathy because of her resolute optimism and refreshing bluntness. Readers may be moved to tears and laughter as they share the tragedies and triumphs of these two unique women. Due to the challenges faced by Catherine, stories of even the most ordinary events in her life become extraordinary. Their extraordinariness is because of the sheer complexity of the effort required on the part of everyone involved in order to accomplish them. Schaefer, through her positive approach towards adversity, inspires in the reader an appreciation for the smallest pleasures in life." - Brenlee Carrington, The Winnipeg Free Press "This is not a reference book for those seeking information about cerebral palsy. Rather, it is a celebration of the lives of some remarkable people; in that respect, it succeeds admirably." - Canadian Book Review Annual "In this book, Nicola Schaefer shares her experiences of being the mother of a child with cerebral palsy. Her daughter Catherine was born in Winnipeg in 1961. Schaefer takes us through the challenges she faced to get appropriate care and stimulation for her daughter. She came up against significant roadblocks because there were minimal programs available for people with disabilities. At that time, most people with mental disabilities were institutionalized, and Schaefer wanted no part of that for her child. Schaefer has spent most of her life advocating for programs, not only for her own daughter, but also for other families in similar circumstances. A significant part of this book deals with the lack of services in Winnipeg and how Schaefer attempted to change that. Schaefer also shares personally about her own feelings of what it means to live with a child who is disabled. I could relate to many of the feelings she expressed, including guilt, anger and exasperation. But it was mostly joy, the kind that comes from a child accomplishing a milestone. The photographs throughout the book help the reader get a better picture of the challenges the family faced and the love they had for Catherine. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of people with mental disabilities. I hope that this book will encourage you to make a new friend the next time you encounter Catherine or someone like her." - Mennonite Brethren Herald, April 2001

About the Author

Nicola Schaefer and her husband Ted are the parents of three children -- Catherine, Dominic, and Benjy. Nicola is active in the Canadian Association for Community Living and the L'Avenir Co-op. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Fitzhenry and Whiteside; Revised edition (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550412884
• ISBN-13: 978-1550412888
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,361,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compassionate guide for anyone working with the disabled., November 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Does She Know She's There? (Paperback)

Does She Know She's There? brings the story of Catherine Schaefer up to date. Brought up at home, after doctors told her parents to put her in an institution, Catherine now has her own home, and is an integral part of her community. The book, by her mother, Nicola, is a funny, intelligent, and compassionate story of her years of effort to create an atmosphere where her daughter can thrive and have joy in her life. And yes, Catherine knows she's there!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read for special educators, November 8, 2004

By 

Erin "Erin" (Kimberly, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Does She Know She's There? (Paperback)

We read Does She Know She's There? as a requirement during our college course about teaching students with significant disabilities. We all really enjoyed the book. Although the novel was long, we found it to be a heartwarming story. Nicola Schaefer journals about her life with her daughter Catherine. Catherine is a child with multiple physical and cognitive disabilities. At a time when institutionalization was a common answer for children with disabilities, Nicola spent the great majority of her life advocating for her daughter and other children like her. She worked to get Catherine into appropriate schools and provide nurturing environments for children and adults with significant disabilities. Schaefer's genuine writing style brings readers into the story where they experience both her heartaches and joys. The text is also complimented with touching black and white photos of Catherine and the people that were important in her life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 2 versions, August 4, 2004

By 

S. Beres (Oshkosh, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Does She Know She's There? (Paperback)

Be careful! There are two versions of this book. You want to read the newer version, so you can get the whole story. Both versions are great. It is an inspirational true story written by a mother of a child with a severe disability. It discusses the mother's courageous attempts to better the quality of her daughter's life, when that was not the normal.