Latest News From Mary McHugh

I started this site because of all the friends I made after writing "Special Siblings:  Growing up with Someone with a Disability." 

They are all interesting, unique, loving, caring, generous, extremely talented people and I cherish their friendship.

Through this site, I will give you links to what they are doing now:  Rachel Simon, who wrote "Riding the Bus with My Sister," which you will remember was made into a movie by Rosie O'Donnell, has a new novel coming out in May that you absolutely must not miss. It's called "The Story of Beautiful Girl" and it's a book that transcends all other books with characters with disabilities. It's just superb and I feel lucky that I got to read it while she was writing it. I couldn't wait til the next installment. I think it should win the Pulitzer Prize. Be sure and get it when it's published.  Go to Rachel's website:  www.rachelsimon.com to find out what's happening with her books and be sure and read her blogs at http/rachelsimon.com/blog . 

Susan Hamovitch, whose brother Alan was born with severe mental disabilities, produced a film about him called "Without Apology", www.withoutapology.com,  which will break your heart and inspire you.  She is now working on a documentary about Katrina, www.mamasuesgarden.com.  And she's doing lots of other fascinating things which you can read about on her new website:  www.oneeyedcatproductions.com. It's beautiful and full of her unique creativity. Check it out.

Beth Finke, who wrote "Long Time, No See", has written a beautiful book about her guide dog Hanni, "Safe and Sound" and is doing a book tour. Check out her blog site:  www.bethfinke.wordpress.com and go to her web site www.bethfinke.com to find out about Beth's work and to see a picture of the cover of her book..                               

Don Meyer, the founder of the sibling movement, who started sibling support groups (SibShops) all over the country and in England and Australia, is the editor of a new book "Thicker Than Water," which you can buy through his web site:  www.donmeyer@siblingsupport.org.    And if you look under "Videos" in my web site, you will see two videos talking about this book, in which I have a chapter.     

Emily Marino Holl is Senior Manager of the Professional Information Department of YAI in New York, and the sister of Peter Marino, and she has organized a panel for the YAI conference in New York on April 28, at which several of us will read from "Thicker than Water" and talk about what it's like to be the sibling of someone with a disabiilty.  To find out more go to:  www.sibsNY.org.

John Kramer who has a brother with a disability  is the Executive Committee Vice-Chair of The Sibling Leadership Network and he says to go to this web site, which has a number of interesting sites for siblings:  www.delicious.com/jkrame3.  

Pat Olsen grew up with two alcoholic brothers and has written an excellent book to help the siblings of people in similar circumstances.  Her book is called:  "Sober Siblings:  How to Help Your Alcoholic Brother or Sister -- and Not Lose Yourself."  She wrote it with Dr. Petros Levounis.  Go to www.sobersiblings.com to find out more. 

 Anybody else who is working with people with disabilities and wants to tell people about upcoming events let me know and I will put it here on my site.

If you want to see the story of my life with Jack in pictures, go to Photo Gallery.

To see the three videos I made about being a sibling of someone with a disability, go to Videos.

And If you want to read more about me and see a video of me tap dancing, go to About Me.

And to made a video call to me: 

And my big news is that I have an on-line TV show called "What's Happening" on Family NetworkTV.com which is a new network for the families of people with special needs and anybody else who works with these families, is related to them, or just wants to see a really lively, colorful, fantastic TV show.