What Matters: Reflections on Disability, Community & Love

Janice Fialka is a brilliant writer. Micah Fialka-Feldman is her son. He is a teaching assistant at Syracuse University and one of the most charming people you will ever encounter. This remarkable story, draws on the reflections from family and friends - and walks us through the journey to this remarkable current reality. But the story begins as a stunning disability story except that this family said no. They decided that Micah wold be fully included and have a full life. And does he ever. Remarkably, Janice, Rich, Micah and Emma do not hold back. They have the courage to tell the story warts and all... which is why it is a must read for every family, every teacher - every person who cares about another person. And stay tuned - because the movie is coming: Dan Habib is shooting it now, so read on and then order the movie.

Janice Fialka, LMSW, ACSW is a nationally recognized lecturer and author on issues related to disability, parent professional partnerships, inclusion, and raising a child with disabilities. She is also a parent, a sometime poet, a storyteller, and an award-winning advocate for families and persons with disabilities. Janice has provided the keynote address and workshops at numerous national, state, and local conferences throughout the United States and Canada and conducts trainings for schools, organizations, and parent and advocacy groups. She was named Social Worker of the Year in 2007 by the National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter. Janice, her husband and Paul Rossen produced the film, Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College which documents Micah s experience as a college student. It received the 2006 TASH Image Award. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in 2015, Janice and Rich joined the ADA Legacy Tour bringing the gigantic hero puppet of Justin Dart, known as the father of the ADA, to several cities, including Washington D.C.