ATLANTA, Georgia (November 1st, 2009) ? Morasha Winokur’s compelling book, “My Invisible World” (ISBN 978-0-9842007-0-2) shares with tween-humor and bitter-sweet honesty her young life as a sibling of a brother with special needs. Adopted internationally, both Morasha and her non-biological brother, Iyal, leave Russia together as fourteen-month-old infants when their new parents bring them home to Roswell, Georgia. A few years later, the family is informed that Iyal had been exposed to prenatal alcohol resulting in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This life long birth defect leaves an individual with cognitive, physical, neurological and behavioral impairment.  FASDs (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) are the leading known preventable cause of intellectually disability. It may be the most undiagnosed or misdiagnosed developmental disability of our time, as up to 1 out of 100 newborns, “tens of thousands of babies each year” in the U.S. are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. And yet 1 out of 8 pregnant women still consume alcohol. (CDC 2009)

Morasha clearly explains to kids and adults alike, through anecdotes and philosophy, how down right “annoying” it can be to navigate her seemingly impossible world. FASDs are 100% preventable, but 0% curable. She asks, “When will it stop?  Not soon enough as far as I’m concerned.” With alcohol attached to this diagnosis…shame and blame build barriers to compassion and understanding for both the birth mother and the baby born to her. Reading Morasha’s book may provide a breakthrough to greater understanding and acceptance of this cultural undertow.  Shakespeare said, “Age is counted not by calendar years but by wisdom.” An eleven-year makes clear how we must support the individual and the family dealing with the unimaginable disability we don’t want to see.

Oh, you may want to check this out…

Morasha was just featured on CNN.com’s program, “Young People Who Rock”!  You can see her live interview

Local Book Signing Information:
Where: Borders in Watchung Square  1511 Highway 22 Watchung NJ 07069
When:  Saturday, November 28th 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Contact:
Donnie Kanter Winokur – 770-856-5424 TheChancerChronicles@gmail.com

Press Kit Information

What can happen?

• Flush medicines down the toilet and you can harm the environment
• Throw medicine out in the trash and pets and children can get to it
• Throw medicine out in the trash with labels on them and thieves can get it
• Throw the medicine out in the trash or leave around carelessly can result in illegal use.

So go to the site near you and get educated!

Pass the word and join the effort on Saturday, November 14, at a site near you.

Not in New Jersey? No problem. Just go to Google and key in Operation Medicine Cabinet “Name of your State”  For example Operation Medicine Cabinet “North Carolina”