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13 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,M arch 28,2019 w aterloochronicle.ca The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is proud to be a champion and voice for Canadians who care about cancer. We are committed to supporting and engaging people in communities across the country. The Waterloo-Wellington Community Office is gearing up for another busy April. Volunteers will be going door-to-door in your neighbourhood canvassing. Watch out for local businesses that have pin boxes on display throughout the month of April! From April 4-7 you will see volunteers at local grocery and LCBO stores asking for a donation in exchange for a daffodil pin. Thank you to our volunteers, community partners, and donors! Our vision to create a world where no Canadian fears cancer is only achievable if we work collectively with people united by the same goals. With the help of hundreds of thousands of people that CCS brings together, we are a force-for-life in the face of cancer. Visit www.cancer.ca/daffodil for more information. Or call our office at 519-249-0074 to learn about other ways you can get involved. 20 - 50% Off Specializing in Bra Fitting since 1983 927 King St. East, Unit 106, Cambridge 519-621-6080 | 1-877-206-6080 | fransmastectomyboutique.caCertified Mastectomy Fitters | Fashion | Sports | Recovery Care & Compression Garments | Swimsuits 6 - 30 a 20 - 50% Off Entire stock of bras & swimwear Until April 27 Celebrating 35 years in business www.numeboutique.com 1-800-513-9379 • 815Weber St. E., Kitchener519-571-9820 "Don't ever let anyone define who or what your child is going to be." It's a message you might expect from someone like John Hendry, who served as a public-school board trustee for three decades. But for Hendry, the mes- sage comes straight from the heart and home. The just-released sec- ond edition of his book, Held Back By Nothing: An Incredible Story of Facing Special Needs with Uncom- promising Courage, spans the life of his son Steven who was born three months prematurely with cerebral palsy. The book mainly aims to give hope to other par- ents of children with disa- bilities - "That things can be OK," says Hendry. "Because parents worry - and I go back to when our son was born - you really worry about how they'll make it when they get old- er," he said. "It's a really daunting fear you never get rid of." A second edition of the book was printed because of demand. Rather than simply re-publish the same book, it was decided to up- date information and add pictures, said Hendry. The new cover features a photo of Steven as a new- lywed. Despite the many moun- tains he was forced to climb in the face of adversity, "It's also a feel-good book with some humour," said Hen- dry, referencing a time when he taught Steven to drive. Steven was severely challenged when he was first born and required sev- eral surgeries to keep him alive. The book takes people though various stages of life when Steven was grow- ing up - the situations he and his family were forced to deal with and resolve, and the trauma that comes from of living in a world of "normal people," Hendry said. Ultimately, he believes it's the authenticity of the book that sets it apart. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of books out there, but they're not written by people that have actually lived it. They're often pro- fessionals in a certain place," Hendry said. "No one can understand really what a person with a disa- bility goes through unless they're either a person with a disability them- selves, or a family mem- ber." Hendry, who's also a professional public speak- er, said he's currently working on a speech called the Illusion of Inclusion, which may become a book eventually. Though many employ- ers pride themselves on in- clusion and boast of work- place diversity these days, many still fall short of pro- viding an equitable envi- ronment, he said. "There are plenty of ex- amples where persons with disabilities apply for jobs or promotions and always seem to come up short. The reality is there continues to be subliminal bias against people with disabilities that only a paradigm shift in attitudes can achieve, not corporate policy," said Hendry. He believes his book can serve as a handy resource for teachers and other pro- fessionals to help them have a better understand- ing of the day-to-day strug- gles of both children and parents, with a story and messages that are as time- less as they are universal. Published by Hugo House Publishers out of Denver, Col., the book is available online at the pub- lishers bookstore, amazon- .com and amazon.ca, as well as major book stores Barnes & Noble (USA) and Chapters/Indigo Books (Canada). John Hendry is a Kitch- ener resident and graduate of Wilfrid Laurier Univer- sity who served in the Roy- al Canadian Navy. In 2011 he received the highest award for a public-school board trustee in the Prov- ince of Ontario - the Dr. Harry Paiken Award of Merit for outstanding com- mitment to public educa- tion, students and the com- munity. Hendry has ful- filled cabinet appoint- ments to the Ministers Advisory Council on Spe- cial Education as well as the Accessibility Stan- dards Council/Standards Development Committee. He has been an outspoken advocate for persons with special needs and has spo- ken on several occasions at the Pacific Rim Interna- tional Conference on Disa- bilities and Diversity. BOOK AIMS TO GIVE HOPE TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES Kitchener resident John Hendry is a former longtime school board trustee, public speaker, author and advocate for individuals with disabilities. Star-Metroland File Photo BILL JACKSON bjackson@kitchenerpost.ca COMMUNITY FORMER SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE RELEASES SECOND EDITION OF SON'S STORY