Overview

TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY, THE STORY OF A GIRL WITH A QUIRKY MIND, AN ECCENTRIC FAMILY, AND OH YES, A DISABILITY describes life and the realities of having a disability in 60 short chapters, arranged chronologically. Although several books on disabilities already exist, the use of two narrations is unique. The subject is Becky Taylor, from her birth in 1972 to about age forty. The mother, Dena Taylor, begins the book by telling us about her daughter's earliest years, discovering Becky's cerebral palsy, and her exceptional gift for calculus and depth of thought at the age of four. Then Becky and Dena, from their own distinct perspectives and styles, in counterpoint, write of Becky's early childhood, school years with the family, and on to college and adulthood. Stan Rushworth wrote about the book: ""..we experience the honest, blended lives and feelings of these two women, navigating all that happens together from birth through adulthood, from different viewpoints that are very deeply intermingled.... carries strength, humor, and pain, and it will make a profound difference in people's lives."" TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY is a hero's journey with Becky Taylor at the forefront of the 1975 federal education act mainstreaming disabled children into the public schools. Parents, teachers, people with disabilities, people who know and work with people with disabilities, those curious about how a child's mind works, and even brain researchers will find TELL ME THE NUMBER BEFORE INFINITY a fascinating and informative read. The title is Becky's answer to her father's question to her as to whether infinity is an odd or an even number. She was four years old at the time, the same age as she was in the cover photo. Becky Taylor has a degree in accounting, and is a Computer Science graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She lives in Santa Cruz where she vice-chairs the Commission on Disabilities, and is involved in other civic organizations. Dena Taylor, M.S.W., Rutgers University, is the mother of two grown daughters, and is retired from careers in social work and education. She is the author, editor and co-editor of six books on women's issues. Included are 20 photos and newspaper clippings from throughout Becky's life, and resources with links at the end of the book.

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9780977307081

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Reviews

I learned so much about human nature reading this book that I forgot to worry about the disability of one co-author and the enormous frustrations of the other. It's not that this exceptional mother-and-daughter team glosses anything over; they face all of it like warriors, with ingenuity and courage, and we learn a great deal from that, too. Rather it's their focus on the power within that struck me to the core. It's hearing myself laughing out loud at their beautiful sense of humor. It's understanding through them that the strength it takes to face life head on can inspire readers like me, who feel genuinely renewed at book's end. -Patricia Holt, former book review editor, San Francisco Chronicle This book should be required reading for teachers and everyone in equity and critical disability studies. -Gloria Filax, Professor of Disability Studies, Athabasca University .. . it's a big thing to feel one's life has been changed by something-and reading this book has done that for me. -Kathryn Chetkovich, author of Friendly Fire This is a story of a family always focused on the child's full humanity and capacity and of the child trailblazing her own, unique path in the world.... It will change how you think about cerebral palsy and families. -Julie Olsen Edwards, Early Childhood & Family Life Education specialist, co-author Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Cabrillo College faculty. It tugged at my heart, made me laugh, infuriated me and gave me deeper and richer understanding of what it's like to be in the world with a physical disability. I applaud these two strong women for their clarity, honesty and humor. -Helene Simkin Jara, author of Because I Had To and upcoming True Doll Stories

I learned so much about human nature reading this book that I forgot to worry about thedisability of one co-author and the enormous frustrations of the other. It's not that this exceptional mother-and-daughter team glosses anything over; they face all of it like warriors, with ingenuity and courage, and we learn a great deal from that, too. Rather it's their focus on the power within that struck me to the core. It's hearing myself laughing out loud at their beautiful sense of humor. It's understanding through them that the strength it takes to face life head on can inspire readers like me, who feel genuinely renewed at book's end. -Patricia Holt, former book review editor, San Francisco Chronicle This book should be required reading for teachers and everyone in equity and critical disability studies. -Gloria Filax, Professor of Disability Studies, Athabasca University .. . it's a big thing to feel one's life has been changed by something-and reading this book has done that for me. -Kathryn Chetkovich, author of Friendly Fire This is a story of a family always focused on the child's full humanity and capacity and of the child trailblazing her own, unique path in the world.... It will change how you think about cerebral palsy and families. -Julie Olsen Edwards, Early Childhood & Family Life Education specialist, co-author Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Cabrillo College faculty. It tugged at my heart, made me laugh, infuriated me and gave me deeper and richer understanding of what it's like to be in the world with a physical disability.I applaud these two strong women for their clarity, honesty and humor. -Helene Simkin Jara, author of Because I Had To and upcoming True Doll Stories

Very powerful narrative in two voices. This book should be required reading for teachers and everyone in equity and critical disability studies. -Gloria Filax, Professor of Disability Studies, Athabasca University Tell Me the Number before Infinity is enlightening, moving, often funny, sometimes enraging, and just a plain old good read... it's a big thing to feel one's life has been changed by something--and reading this book has done that for me. -Kathryn Chetkovich, author of Friendly Fire This is a surprising book -- unsentimental, sparse, courageous and loving. Two remembered stories of lives impacted (but not defined) by cerebral palsy....Moments simmered down into pithy, revealing, understated segments. This is a story of a family always focused on the child's full humanity and capacity and of the child trailblazing her own, unique path in the world. A must read for teachers, social workers and parents. It will change how you think about cerebral palsy and families.-Julie Olsen Edwards, Early Childhood & Family Life Education specialist, co-author Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Cabrillo College faculty. I sat down to read a few chapters and could not put this book down....it tugged at my heart, made me laugh, infuriated me and gave me deeper and richer understanding of what it's like to be in the world with a physical disability.I applaud these two strong women for their clarity, honesty and humor. -Helene Simkin Jara, author of Because I Had To and upcoming True Doll Stories I learned so much about human nature reading this book that I forgot to worry about thedisability of one co-author and the enormous frustrations of the other. It's not that this exceptional mother-and-daughter team glosses anything over; they face all of it like warriors, with ingenuity and courage, and we learn a great deal from that, too. Rather it's their focus on the power within that struck me to the core. It's hearing myself laughing out loud at their beautiful sense of humor. It's understanding through them that the strength it takes to face life head on can inspire readers like me, who feel genuinely renewed at book's end. -Patricia Holt, former book review editor, San Francisco Chronicle This book should be required reading for teachers and everyone in equity and critical disability studies. -Gloria Filax, Professor of Disability Studies, Athabasca University .. . it's a big thing to feel one's life has been changed by something-and reading this book has done that for me. -Kathryn Chetkovich, author of Friendly Fire This is a story of a family always focused on the child's full humanity and capacity and of the child trailblazing her own, unique path in the world.... It will change how you think about cerebral palsy and families. -Julie Olsen Edwards, Early Childhood & Family Life Education specialist, co-author Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Cabrillo College faculty. It tugged at my heart, made me laugh, infuriated me and gave me deeper and richer understanding of what it's like to be in the world with a physical disability.I applaud these two strong women for their clarity, honesty and humor. -Helene Simkin Jara, author of Because I Had To and upcoming True Doll Stories

Very powerful narrative in two voices. This book should be required reading for teachers and everyone in equity and critical disability studies. -Gloria Filax, Professor of Disability Studies, Athabasca University Tell Me the Number before Infinity is enlightening, moving, often funny, sometimes enraging, and just a plain old good read... it's a big thing to feel one's life has been changed by something--and reading this book has done that for me. -Kathryn Chetkovich, author of Friendly Fire This is a surprising book -- unsentimental, sparse, courageous and loving. Two remembered stories of lives impacted (but not defined) by cerebral palsy....Moments simmered down into pithy, revealing, understated segments. This is a story of a family always focused on the child's full humanity and capacity and of the child trailblazing her own, unique path in the world. A must read for teachers, social workers and parents. It will change how you think about cerebral palsy and families.-Julie Olsen Edwards, Early Childhood & Family Life Education specialist, co-author Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Cabrillo College faculty. I sat down to read a few chapters and could not put this book down....it tugged at my heart, made me laugh, infuriated me and gave me deeper and richer understanding of what it's like to be in the world with a physical disability.I applaud these two strong women for their clarity, honesty and humor. -Helene Simkin Jara, author of Because I Had To and upcoming True Doll Stories

Author Information

Becky Taylor is a Computer Science graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She currently lives in Santa Cruz where she is the vice chair of the Commission on Disabilities and is involved in other civic organizations. She co-wrote ""Tell Me the Number before Infinity"" with her mother, Dena Taylor. Dena Taylor, M.S.W., Rutgers University, is the mother of two grown daughters. She lives in California and is retired from careers in social work and education. She co-wrote ""Tell Me the Number before Infinity"" with her daughter, Becky Taylor.

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