‘Wordless Book’ tells a story of Refugee Trauma
ISSTD Fellow Valerie Sinason is co-author of a novel new book, a book without words. A Refugee’s Story is a graphic story, with each page containing a scene following a refugee family as they flee war, are separated, arrive in a new country, and are eventually re-united.
Wordless stories are especially important for people who may not be able to read, or do not speak English. This book has an especially important role for refugees who have an intellectual disability, which can make processing written or spoken language more difficult.
The book comes with some helpful suggestions about how to use it, as well as some ideas of how to support refugees.
A Refugee’s Story is published Books Beyond Words, a UK charity created by Baroness Professor Sheila Hollins to assist people with intellectual disability. Books cover a huge range of topics including sexual abuse, being mugged, hygiene and going to the doctor. After the theme of the story is agreed, an artist provides the rough drawings. These are then trialled by people with a disability to ensure they understand the pictures. After this, final changes are made and then the book is produced. Valerie is also coming-author for Jenny Speaks Out and Bob Tells All, which are about male and female abuse, Susan Growing Up, which is about having a period, and other books including Mugged, Going to Court, and Going to Therapy.
Unlike most books we highlight in News You Can Use, this book is actually a work-in-progress, but also still able to be used in its current form. It has been made available for free for anyone who works with refugees and can be ordered in PDF form here.
Welcome ISSTD’s New Members in September!
| Professional Members Maria Teresa Alva Carla Georgina Ariscain Gine Michelle L Burda-Wood Andrea Calleja Gina Cardillo Deana Carson Eileen Chang Christina Clark Jo Coombs Michelle Costanzo Victoria De Chiara Sabrina Dobson Nicole Dour Anna Felice Laura Elena A Ferron Martinez Kimberly Foreman Thyra Fossum Alejandra Giesecke Gonzalez Diane Gillespie Jenny Gomez Stephanie Green Sarah R. Halcrow Lance Fitzpatrick Hicks Rhonda Kamai-Kekela Katherine Kandaris Frances Kelley Kimberly Krueger Nikole Layton Katherine Loveland Sherry Murray Maria Panizza Pamela Pearce Georgia Schmidt Juan-Ignacio Recule-Rivera Kellie Rice Abby Rozen Kruti Shah Gina Simonelli Stacie Smith Mandy Tewell Stephanie Triana Silvia Bocanegra Julie Westlin-Naigus Connie Zieren | Emerging Professional Members Alysha Bernstein Julia Carranza Neira Whitney Davison Manal Elawar Kendra Hill Saira Khan Beth Manns Elena Minerva Sara Marie Rice Kathleen Roberts Fanny Robichaud Erica Scannell Johannah Song Jennifer Lee Todaro Alyssa Lovett Winchell Student Members Hiba Ali Linda Encinas-Fulgham Drew Feldbaum Karen Kallen-Brown Amy O’Brien Cassandra Rolston Samantha Stokesberry |
Do You Have News ISSTD Members Can Use?
We need your help to make NYCU a great feature, full of news and sharing the activities of our community members. Do you have a book or book chapter coming out that you wish to share? Have you received an award for your work in the field? Have you been part of developing a new website or training course? Have you had a chance to develop something creative and unique that you wish to share with others in the field? If so, we want to hear from you! Don’t be shy, submit your news to us so that we can share with other members. (Please be aware: we do not offer book reviews, but a chance to share with others that your book has been published.)
Submission Deadline: 20th of the month
Send to ISSTD Editor, Kate McMaugh: katemcmaughpsychology@gmail.com