Nicole is 2 years old, and her family, after months of worrying, has just learned she has mental retardation. In a fast-paced, engaging story, mother Sandra Kaufman frankly reveals the feelings of denial, guilt, frustration, and eventual acceptance that result in a determination to help her child live an independent life. This edition, revised on the 10th anniversary of the book’s original publication, adds a “progress report” that updates readers on Nicole’s adult years and reflects on the revolutionary changes in society’s attitudes toward people with disabilities since Nicole’s birth.

Retarded Isn’t Stupid, Mom! remains a celebration of all that a child can grow to be.

Author Biography

After 20 years of full-time mothering, Sandra Z. Kaufman returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology (1977) and a master’s degree in research methods and evaluation (1981), both from the University of California-Los Angeles. From 1979 to 1991, she was a Staff Research Associate in the university’s Socio-Behavioral Research Group. During that time, she had articles published in professional journals and contributed chapters to two books. Retarded Isn’t Stupid, Mom! was first published in 1988. Based on 21 1/2 years of ethnographic study, Ms. Kaufman recounted what her daughter had taught her about being a young woman trying to make her way in the community. Ten years later, the revised edition continues to be relevant to the concerns of parents and families of people with mental retardation. Since 1991, Ms. Kaufman and her husband have been enjoying retired life in Southern California. Their three children live and work nearby.

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