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Canfield author attempts to help others by sharing her experiences
By Justin Wier
CANFIELD
Michele Gianetti said raising a daughter with special needs can leave parents feeling lonely because their child isn’t like other children. But she has been able to help herself and others by writing books about her experience.
Gianetti’s daughter Elizabeth, who graduated from Canfield High School on Sunday, has dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder, and sensory processing disorder.
Dyspraxia affects her motor skills and makes it difficult for her to figure out the steps to complete a task. Sensory processing disorder make things such as sounds, lights and taking a bath feel wrong.
Gianetti decided to take conversations she had explaining these conditions to her 11-year-old son Michael and use them to help others.
She wrote a children’s book called “Emily’s Sister,” which is told from her older daughter Emily’s point of view.
Throughout the course of the book, Emily learns how to understand and help her sister. The goal is to help younger children understand growing up with a sibling who isn’t like everyone else.
“I thought, ‘What a nice way to allow those kids to start the conversation,’” Gianetti said.
She hopes the book will help siblings not only of kids with dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder, but also those with autism. Gaining a deeper understanding complements efforts to make people aware of such conditions.
“It’s one thing to be aware of it, but it’s also different to understand it,” she said.
This is Gianetti’s second foray into writing about her daughter. While “Emily’s Sister” was released earlier this year, her first book, “I Believe in You,” dates back to 2011.
That book documents Elizabeth’s life from birth to age 11 and has been used by universities in special-education and occupational-therapy classes.
“It’s like a memoir,” Gianetti said. “But it’s also helping, which was my hope ... to help others.”
When Elizabeth was born, Gianetti said they didn’t have as much support. Her family couldn’t go to the internet with their questions in 1997.
Elizabeth has come a long way through hard work, Gianetti said. Sunday, she received a diploma from Canfield High School and she plans to attend Youngstown University this fall through the TOPS, or Transition Options in Postsecondary Settings, program.
When Gianetti visited an elementary-school class to talk about “Emily’s Sister,” Elizabeth signed the book and answered questions from students.
“I like all Mom’s books,” Elizabeth said.
Gianetti is a registered nurse, and she said she never envisioned becoming an author. She started writing “I Believe in You” because Elizabeth said nobody understood her. She said she’s enjoying where it’s gone.
“It’s nice to help people and kind of give hope,” Gianetti said.
She wants to write a book that would serve as a sequel to “I Believe in You,” telling the story of Elizabeth’s life since age 11. In the meantime, she blogs at www.michelegianetti.com, and her books can be found on Amazon.