{"product_id":"the-accomplice","title":"The Accomplice","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWinner, 2026, International Impact Book Awards in the Health - Internal Medicine Category and the Psychology - Mental Health and Emotional Struggles Category.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWinner, Bronze Medal in the 2023 Readers' Favorite Non-Fiction - Education Category.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eFinalist, 16th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in 3 categories: Book Cover Design, Caregiving, Miscellaneous.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eFinalist, 2022 The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in 2 categories: General Non-Fiction, Parenting\/Family\/Relationships.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinalist, 2023 Readers' Choice Book Awards. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinalist, 2023 Readers' Favorite Book Awards.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e Natalia looked to me for help, telling the woman that she had a disability, I was her mother, and she needed me to speak on her behalf. The woman, belittling Natalia, told her she didn't look like she had a disability, and she wouldn't allow me to help. Here's how the conversation went: \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Well, honey, how old are you?\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I'm twenty,\" Natalia said.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Well, are you going to have Mommy helping you when you turn twenty-one?\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI jumped in. \"So, how old are you?\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Thirty-five,\" she said.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Oh, I see you are wearing glasses. Are you going to take those glasses off when you turn thirty-six?\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe woman called her supervisor. While we were waiting for the supervisor, Natalia said something very thoughtful about her challenges. \"Mom, things are hard for me. I need assistance just to get the assistance.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Melissa Jacobus adopted her children, she believed all her prayers for a family had finally been answered. But while other parents were dealing with the usual challenges that come with raising children, Melissa experienced those challenges tenfold.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Accomplice\u003c\/em\u003e follows several years of her life as two of her children, now grown in the eyes of society yet still cloaked in an invisible disability, struggle to survive a world that doesn't understand them, their needs, or their disability. Substance abuse, homelessness, jail time, and worse can be all-too-common outcomes for those impacted by FASD, also known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Melissa tries to advocate and safeguard her children from these outcomes, she realizes her ability to help them, and others, is at the mercy of an uninformed society.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Accomplice\u003c\/em\u003e is a call to action for the country to acknowledge FASD for what it is-a developmental disability that affects millions-and to help society recognize that this \"invisible\" disability is more than visible, it's a crisis.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Booklogix","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50020882186490,"sku":"9781665300032","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0840\/1253\/1962\/files\/imageloader_4f390614-4221-4692-aa9d-a2793337b57b.jpg?v=1786137121","url":"https:\/\/mindsourcebooks.com\/products\/the-accomplice","provider":"Mind Source Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}