Mother’s Book Reminds Readers: Kids with Special Needs Are Still Kids
August 22, 2018
By: Kristen Thometz
Source: Chicago Tonight
Like most children who spend the day at the beach, the character at the center of a new book builds sandcastles, flies kites and collects seashells with his family.
But the protagonist of “Ben’s Adventures: A Day at the Beach” has challenges some children might not be familiar with: cerebral palsy.
Elizabeth Gerlach wrote the book as a tribute to her son, also named Ben, who died in May 2016.
“I thought it would be nice to create a book that was inspired by him and showed his smile and showed him in a wheelchair,” said Gerlach, who lives in St. Charles. “Just because he’s in a wheelchair doesn’t mean he can’t dream up an adventure.”