A UNIVERSITY student from Thelwall has written a book to help make all children happy in their own skin.
Catherine Lord, 22, plans to dedicate her life to helping children with difficulties, and Mr Millet’s Farm was originally written to help a little boy for who she cared for, Raj aged 12, who has Cerebral Palsy.
A volunteer at the Warrington Association for Special Needs Children since the age of 15, Catherine has recently completed a degree in Speech and Language with Deaf Studies, and is now set to move to Essex to begin her Masters in Speech and Language Therapy.
Her proud sister, Rebecca, said: “She is the most passionate person that I know and she cares so much about the children she works with.
“In between her weekly time spent being a personal assistant for a little boy called Raj who has Cerebral Palsy and a little girl called Valentina who has Autism, she has written a book.
“The book was originally for Raj who responded well to the story he heard, is aimed not just at special needs children but all children and it tells the story of a bear in a wheelchair who goes to Mr Millet’s Farm, where all the animals are a little bit different. The moral of the story is that its great to be unique and be who you are.
“The book had been designed, illustrated and self published on Lulu and we are hoping to sell as many copies to schools and to play schemes over the country. I am now trying to get the book published so that is assessable to schools and play schemes.
“She had her last summer as play leader at Playability Warrington and she has been working there since she was 15, so its been quite an emotional time for her but she has continued promoting her book.
“Cat’s aim is to make all children happy in their own skin and with who they are. Autistic children often find it hard to make friends and she wants to dedicate her life to this.”
Catherine lived in Australia for six months and worked with adults on camps, taking them away on holidays. She has spent this summer leading the WASC, now known as Playability, summer play scheme, where she is in charge of volunteers and staff, as well as children between five and 11.
She said: “I had written a poem in sixth form and read it to Raj and he responded well so I decided to turn it into a story. Raj was laughing along to the story and he loves that he is actually in the book.”
To find out more about Catherine and her book, visit: http://www.facebook.com/catherinelordbooks
Picture shows Catherine Lord and her book
