Journey into personhood

In Journey into Personhood Ruth Webb tells the story of an individual born with severe cerebral palsy who struggles to become a person in her own eyes as well as in the opinion of those around her. By developing both the inner ability to learn, live, and work independently and the outer ability to convince others to give her the freedom to do so - physically and emotionally - Webb earned a Ph.D. in counseling and guidance. With that validation of her intelligence and competence, she entered upon a fulfilling career working with mentally retarded people and other people with disabilities. Writing objectively, humorously, and as dispassionately as possible, Webb lets the reader determine the cumulative impact of her condition and experiences. She describes situations that produced feelings of hopelessness and rage when her family, friends, and colleagues denied her opportunities to participate fully. She portrays the psychological effects of her inability to walk, to use both hands, to move smoothly, and to speak clearly. And she reveals the strength given her by spirit guides, both earthly and heavenly, who provided support at major junctions in her life. Her matter-of-fact yet intensely felt account will help all readers understand anyone who lives with a disability. . Ruth Webb's Journey into Personhood begins in 1923, when persons with disabilities such as hers were not encouraged to expect a life outside of institutions. Moving to a retirement community in 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was becoming a tangible sign of fuller participation for everyone, she again struggled to define herself as an integrated person, not just a "collection of strange sounds and movements." Her honest and rewarding autobiography proves that rich lives can be created from the most encompassing disabilities. Her journey has indeed been worth all her hard work.