Mental illness is not contagious, mental illness is not a choice, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

I recently came across Kim Hix's blog and I really appreciated her open and honest descriptions of her experiences being a parent of a child with a mental health diagnosis. Kim has approached parenting with a great amount of creativity, and I loved reading about the book she has written for her son called "No one is perfect, and you are a great kid". Doesn't that say it all? I am really pleased to have Kim as a guest blogger today. Thanks Kim!

Kim Hix 

I was asked to write a post so kindly by Emma and am more than honored that she asked. When deciding what to write about she suggested what I know, or what I am passionate about, so that was pretty easy. I am passionate about my kids, and especially bringing awareness to Mental Health issues in our children. More specifically to "Stomp Out Stigma" (see our cause on Facebook and join http://www.causes.com/causes/375639) 

I am passionate about this subject because my oldest child, Zack, now 15 was born with and has developed an array of mental/emotional illnesses. To date, he is diagnosed with IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder ) OCD, ADHD, Severe Anxiety and a strep infection brought about TourettesDisorder Spectrum (this is called PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Disorder Associated with Strep), as well as 3 head traumas. 

So, with all of this, needless to say our lives are quite chaotic and uncertain most of the time. However, Zack is quite a loving, HUGE hearted, caring, smart, and talented boy. Life with a child such as mine is "Predictably Unpredictable" as parents who love a child with any kind of disability will know and be able to relate to. I have devoted my life, since his birth, to helping him to become the best person possible. I am also determined to help other families on this same journey realize the are NOT alone, and to help others that do not have intense children as I do, realize that inappropriate, bad behavior does NOT = a bad kid. So many people see only the behavior, usually exhibited when the child is unstable, as a child out of control, manipulative, mean, spoiled or attention seeking. In most cases this is not the true personality of the child. I want people to understand that some kids, as well as adults, simply can not control emotions, responses, reactions or behavior, not because they do not want to, but because their brain simply will not allow it. 

I can obviously go on about this subject for hours but will not do that here. I have started a blog to hopefully share our story with other families that are on the same journey we are, to let them know that their circumstances are NOT unique. Along with my site www.youareagreatkid.com that offers some resources as well as the childrens book I wrote for and about Zack to help other kids like him who feel different.  If we, as a society, talk more about this then the stigma will eventually fade. If you would like to read our story please follow our blog here:http://goodboyroy.wordpress.com/our-story-the-journey/ from the Goodboyroy.com site. And if you want to know what is GoodBoyRoy.com, well....you can find out about that too. 

Remember, you, as the parent, are your childs BEST advocate. The more you know, the better equiped you will be to help them and help others understand. I will leave you with this, our motto: Mental Illness is Not contagious, Mental Illness is NOT a choice, Knowledge is Power.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Today I am offering you a posting from a regular guest blogger who we haven't actually heard from for a while. Emma Crees has always been an amazing blogger, wise with words and wise with thoughts. I really enjoyed her blog post today, it's quite interesting to realise how children see the world. I think this blog is one for mothers with a connection to disability, as we can all understand that sometimes the dandiest things come out of the mouth of a child. (Please check out Emma's blog site which has recently been renovated, at http://writerinawheelchair.blogspot.com.)  

Emma Crees

A good friend of mine has a four year old son. I’ve known her (and him!) since he was about 16 months old so he’s grown up knowing me.


I use a manual chair a lot of the time and that’s the chair I prefer. But I also don’t drive due to my CP (spatial awareness problems meant when I tried it wasn’t a good idea and I’ve never been back) so I have a powerchair as well which I use most of the time I’m out and about. R (my friend’s little boy) has seen me in both my chairs although I think he’s probably more used to my powerchair.

If you ask him about my powerchair, he’ll tell you it’s a wheelchair. He’ll also show you where the horn on it is and he frequently climbs up for hugs. But if you ask him what my manual chair is? That’s a wheelbarrow. He’s called it that several times even though we correct him whenever he does. It’s really cute and more than a little bit funny.

Then the other day I was talking to someone I volunteer with. She’d taken her granddaughter (I think she said she is 6) camping. Said granddaughter had been desperate for the loo so they’d parked in a disabled space. She said to me that there were about six free disabled spaces and it “wouldn’t matter” (I would have said something about that but you’ve got to pick your battles). Anyway, apparently she asked her granddaughter if she knew what disabled parking spaces were for or who disabled people are or some such, I forget exactly which. And she replied “those people who go round in wheelbarrows”.

I really, really love the way kids see disability and the way they react to it. It’s so refreshing. I wish more adults would take a lesson from their kids and realise that disability is different. But that’s not a big deal, it’s OK. Some do but not many.

And the “Wheelbarrow” comments I keep hearing about (if two kids saying it can be called keep hearing about) do amuse me and make me smile. I can’t remember the last time a TAB adults random disability comment made me smile and laugh like that. I wish I could.

Author Maryanne Harrison

I am very lucky to get some fantastic people writing on this blog, sharing some amazing stories and making a difference in the lives and hearts of others, simply by touching them. I came across the amazing Maryanne Harrison when I was lucky enough to fall on her amazing and inspirational books that she is developing to educate children on accepting difference. Her Ted Books are truly a marvellous invention that really assist parents, teachers, carers and family members to teach children about the fact that on the inside we are all the same! Enjoy her blog post.

Maryanne Harrison

I am a children’s book author and advocate for people with disabilities. When I was three years old I lost most of my hearing after contracting measles, and then mumps, within a few weeks of each other. The doctors told my parents that I would need to be institutionalised but my parents refused, and sent me to Blackburn Primary and Blackburn High School.



It was when I was in my mid forties that the hearing in my right ear starting deteriorating further and my hearing aid was not working for me, so in September 2009 I received a cochlear implant. It was while I was recovering from my operation that I decided to put together a children’s book to try and teach, not only children, but parents on the importance of respecting differences. I had been working with primary school children on a disability awareness program and this also helped to inspire me to write the book.


People who experience hearing loss may also be unable to work and socialise therefore suffering from isolation and even depression. There are around 15,000 middle aged Australians who would benefit from a cochlear implant. This would mean that they could continue working if they so wished, socialise and travel. Having a cochlear implant will take a hearing impaired person from being extremely deaf to just having a minor hearing loss.


As a mother, author and a person who grew up with the challenges of a hearing disability, I understand how critical it is to educate and inspire children from an early age to accept and appreciate all people no matter how ‘different’ they may be; in fact differences are good!


Children generally do not notice when someone has a disability, it is only when someone else, usually a grownup, points it out to them. If my book can teach children and their parents to realise that being different is OK then I have achieved my goal. Everyone is different in some way, we all need to respect this and accept it. In order to build an inclusive community we need to be open to everyone living in our communities. This means not just in the accessibility of our communities but also in the way we welcome everyone into our communities. It is not accessibility that isolates the disabled; it is people’s attitudes. This is what I would like to see taught through my book. If we can change the way children think about the disabled then they will accept this is the way of the future and respect people who may be different in some way.


If teachers can use the book in the classroom to teach children about respect then they are also doing their bit to help educate future generations. Anyone can do what I have done; just put yourself in the shoes of someone who may be in a wheelchair, blind or deaf. Try to imagine what it would be like. Try wearing a blind fold, ear plugs or use a wheelchair to get around. You will soon develop a respect you would never have thought possible for people who live like this every day of their lives. Try getting your students to do any one of these things so that they can also see how hard it is.


My husband, Lindsay, and I are parents of three well adjusted children. (Tommy 17, Annalise 15 and Charlee 10). Lindsay has been behind me every step of the way encouraging and guiding me. His belief in me has been the main reason for me to have arrived at this point with the book – I would not have been able to achieve what I have so far without him. My family have been my strength, and I would most certainly not be where I am today – a published author – without their love and support.


A very good friend and mentor, Derek Barker from Barker & Barker Media in Melbourne, put me onto IDEAS. It is a fabulous link to information for anyone looking for resources to make life easier for the disabled.


At the moment I am concentrating on getting TED’s book out into the community. I have set up my own business from home (Ted Books www.tedbooks.com) and I am working hard on marketing and advertising the book in whatever way I can. I feel that I have been given a voice; the disabled do not need others to speak for them, we can speak for ourselves.