Penn Manor High School alumna Kelly Mantoan, now living in Hammonton, N.J., has written a book for parents who face an uncertain future following the diagnosis of their child with a life-altering physical or intellectual disability. As a mother of five, two of whom have a rare, neuromuscular disorder, Mantoan knows first-hand the struggles these parents face and strategies for overcoming them.
In her book, "Better Than OK: Finding Joy as a Special-Needs Parent," published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, Mantoan outlines the stages parents typically go through following a life-changing diagnosis and the steps they can take to find a new normal that is not only OK, but that is better than OK. Mantoan herself went from experiencing constant depression and almost losing her Catholic faith to being the writer of a humor blog and a public speaker known for her upbeat talks.
Friends and family who want to know how best to aid special-needs families will also find tips and advice on what to say and what not to say, plus ways to offer help. Organizations, churches and businesses can learn how to better welcome and accommodate families of all abilities. Parents who have been isolated and cut off from support services during the pandemic will find tips for rebuilding community, as well.
Mantoan is the founder of Accepting the Gift, an apostolate that provides resources and support to Catholic parents of children with special needs. She also blogs at "This Ain't the Lyceum," which is about homeschooling, special needs parenting and Catholic family life. When she speaks to groups, she shares that God's plan for people's lives is often much better than anything they can imagine.
After graduating from Penn Manor High School, she continued her education at Kutztown University.
For more information, email kellymantoan@gmail.com or visit http://www.thisaintthelyceum.org.
Leave a Review