The shy one.
I was born in Nova Scotia. My father was in the Navy and we were moved back to Victoria in 1961.
In August of 1962 my family was in a very serious car accident ,which changed our lives forever. My parents were told if I lived, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. My father said. I was a fighter.
As life went on I worked through bullying, and I worked through discrimination.
When I was 29 years old, my son was born.
When he started school, hed encourage me to volunteer at his school. Then he encouraged me to try to get a job at his school.
He also encouraged me to write down stories that I told him. At the age of 6 he did the illustrations for my first published book, called. “Mom, why is the sea salty?”
We did three more books together.
I continued writing and joined a writers group. My second published book is called The Shy One.
Two sisters ages 13 and 15 did the illustrations for a story that is about a little white elephant, that is different than all the rest in her herd. I didn’t have to look far, because I was that white elephant. I was different than all the students that I went to school with.
Seven years ago, I started volunteering with a man named Brian Gray who runs a program at the local Rec. Centre. The program is called Play Beyond Expectations. He noticed my disability and he knew that I would have the ability to help others, like myself, or with other people with challenges.
He, helped me get a paying job, working with people with Autism and other challenges.
I’ve been working with Lifetime Networks for the last 3 years, and I love it.
I would like this book to be in all Elementary Schools because there are little white elephants, just like I was, in all schools.
They need help and encouragement to face the many challenges caused by bullying and discrimination as they grow up.
The book cost $15.00 and I donate $3 of each sale to the Victoria Society for children with Autism.
To buy a book please Email me at mom2000@yahoo.com and put ‘Buy a book’ in the subjest line.
Sandra Dixon.