When Alan and Joyce Brigish found out their newborn son Cy had Downs Syndrome, they were told he had limited capacity to learn and were encouraged by medical professionals and friends and family to institutionalize him. The year was 1968. Instead, Joyce and Alan brought Cy home and set to the task of raising him as they would their other children who came in quick succession. Today Cy works at several jobs, lives independently and recently celebrated his 50th birthday and 40th Summer at Camp Jabberwocky on Martha’s Vineyard. Joyce Brigish was not present to celebrate these milestones with Cy; she died in 2016 from cancer, but her legacy of inclusion, advocacy and love was very much at the center of the celebration. Susan Klein’s book Joyce’s Way: Finding Normality Despite Disability is the story of a mother helping her son reach his potential and pioneering a new way of seeing people with disabilities. On The Point, we talk with Susan Klein and Alan Brigish, who provided images for the book.
Here's a link for more information on Joyce’s Way
