Page 29 - CL winter 2023 for web

arts: books

Self-advocate and university research assistant Richard Keagan-Bull describes a disturbing trip
to Auschwitz, and Michael Baron follows the ups and the downs of loving a child with
profound and multiple disabilities

‘I ask that this never happens again’ from Poland and the female

assistant who was from Germany
all standing there – together, and I
just ask that we try and learn from
Don’t Put us Away: Memories of Jacek was visiting his family in our mistakes and that this never
a Man with Learning Disabilities Poland at the time and joined me happens again.
Richard Keagan-Bull for the visit to Auschwitz. It was It made me quite angry it did,
Critical Publishing, 2022 just me, one of the assistants and and I wanted to kick something I
Jacek who went. did, but with a lady being there I
I found it very moving. Just felt I shouldn’t do that.
In this edited extract, Richard walking around and looking at I feel quite angry inside now I do
Keagan-Bull recounts visiting some of the things there. – about the way they were treated
Auschwitz. His autobiography What shocked me the most like cattle – like they weren’t worth
covers many other travels, living was that everyone had labels anything. I can see now why
in a L’Arche community for people pinned to their prison uniforms people who lived through that,
with living disabilities and growing and I asked Jacek, my friend, when they see those uniforms, they
up in the 1970s as people were what label I would have had. feel sad and angry.
increasingly being given a voice. I don’t think I would have I think in life we should try and
been here today, nor none of my understand each other and work
went to Poland with two other friends. I think that if I were there things out and never want war –
people with learning disabilities they might have decided to do just be happy with what we’ve got.
and three assistants from our some tests on me in their so-called It doesn’t matter if you’re black or
community for our summer “hospital room”. white, if you can speak or if you
I lidays. I had heard about And I was just so pleased that can’t speak – it’s what you can give
o
h
Auschwitz and really wanted to visit. there was me from England, Jacek that counts. n

An experience like no other Pete’s days and nights at
home, the holidays,
interactions with the wider
family, the schools, the
The Joy of Knowing Pete insight into her son’s likes and travel by train and car, and
Hazel Morgan dislikes, and his real appreciation the last days.
YouCaxton Publications, 2022 of the changing world about him. The family coped and
Review by Michael Baron An example is Pete’s hatred of they cared, and it was
snow, and how it interfered with his within the bosom of a
delight in walking. His satisfaction loving church. We may
azel Morgan writes of with life is shown in the progression well wonder at the role
The Joy Of Knowing from first days in school to his last of the church in general
Pete. That’s her late weeks in the Chantry, a Sue Ryder but, in the Morgans’ case,
son Pete, born with specialist neurological care centre in not this church. It was
HDown syndrome Ipswich. There he received an important part of
and profound and multiple wonderful care in what was, apart Pete’s story.
learning disabilities. when he was from living with his His parents could judge this – as
“Do not despair,” seems to be her family, his final home. with so much else – from the
message, for Pete is a joy This book is permeated with non-verbal Pete. The subtitle of
throughout his short 18-year life. lessons on how parents and siblings Morgan’s book is: “Much was said,
Morgan tells it all in a book live with disability. Morgan does yet no words spoken.”
about love and sharing the good not write like the Oxford graduate His death touched so many that
and the bad – a memoir of the ups she is but tells us straight how it is at the end, the sad event filled the
and the downs of loving a child an experience like no other. pews. This is a fine memoir which
with profound disabilities. Parents and siblings will read repays the reader a hundred fold.
Read Morgan’s book for her how the Morgan family coped; Pete we shall remember. n

Community Living winter 2023 vol 36 no 2 29