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It's 1978, and inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream society is still a radical concept. Determined that their son Ty will take his rightful place in the world, Mike and Nancy Belnap ignore the doctor's advice to abandon him. Instead, they embark on a lifelong journey of discovery.
From Adelaide to the USA, from the Whitsundays to the South Pacific, the Belnaps seek answers and demand equality for their son. Both teachers, they take on the education system and adapt it for the benefit of all children with a disability. From their adventures sailing the high seas to their fight for Ty's rights, their story is a roller coaster ride of near-disaster and hard-won delight. And when young Ty reveals an astonishing talent, the Belnaps again find themselves travelling the world, this time in Ty's wake.
Positivity is the Belnaps' touchstone, but there's no escaping the realities of disability parenting. When tragedy strikes twice, Mike must prepare Ty for the worst-case scenario: life without both parents.
About the author
Mike Belnap is an American expat who came to Australia in his twenties to teach high school and liked it enough to stay for most of his life. He quickly became a leading educator and mentor working with disadvantaged and disruptive students and, after his son Ty was born with Down syndrome, added Special Education to his portfolio. An incorrigible surfer and sailor in his spare time, he is now retired and fighting terminal cancer.Mike is the co-author with Nelle Frances of the additional needs educational handbook, Sustainable Social Skills.
