Always Being Three: The Lifelong Misadventures of My Intellectually Disabled Brother

By Gayle Noble

At birth, Gary's brain was deprived of oxygen, resulting in a life-long disability: his intelligence never developed past that of a three-year-old child. He was an active, curious child who developed language skills but never used them to make his needs known or to engage in conversation. Unable to voice his needs and desires, he expressed his frustrations by acting out, yelling, breaking windows, and locking himself in the bathroom when he did not want to comply. There were few educational or training programs for intellectually disabled children in the 1950s-1960s except state hospitals, which were societally accepted as an appropriate way to "serve" these children.

Gary's younger sister Gayle observed his entire life and summarized his hardships in Fairview State Hospital, through several failed community placements, his return to and success as an adult at Fairview, and finally his move into a successful community placement. She outlines historical legislative changes meant to protect the intellectually disabled (laws that were not always implemented as intended). She summarizes her difficulties working with doctors, community caretakers, social workers, and government agencies that were tasked with caring for and advocating for disabled people who did not always take responsibility for caring for her brother as she knew was their duty under the new laws.
She provides a sibling's view of the effects of disability in families.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CTCPK79V
• ISBN13: 9798876896117
• Release Date: January 2024
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"