On Sunday, March 2nd at 4:00 PM, Jennifer Briggs will join us to talk about her debut memoir Watching Sarah Rise with Soulforce author Joseph Arnold.
About the Book
For readers who love inspiring true stories, a contemporary memoir from a mother who helped her nonverbal daughter with autism find her voice.
Families who have supported a child with special needs will connect with this memoir about Sarah, a feisty girl with autism and a unique genetic blueprint. Her mom, Jenny, is equally feisty and determined, which leads her to make a commitment that dramatically changes her and Sarah’s lives—as well as those of many others.
Sarah’s early years are filled with challenges, and Jenny and her husband, Carl, try various therapies in an effort to help her. At four years old, Sarah is still nonverbal, still doesn’t use the potty, and still struggles with eating. Jenny knows she must do more. She has heard of a method developed by the Autism Treatment Center of America called The Son-Rise Program, which, through loving, supportive interaction, aims to foster social connection in people with autism. It is a huge undertaking, requiring hours of one-on-one therapeutic playtime, which means Jenny needs to find and train volunteers to make it possible. Though Jenny isn’t sure she can do it, she decides to try. She calls her program Sarah-Rise.
Accompany Jenny as Sarah’s language explodes, her eye contact intensifies, and she plays games, plays imaginatively, uses the potty, eats healthily, reads, and writes. Have your heart warmed and your socks knocked off by this momentous journey.
About the Author
Jennifer Celeste Briggs has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore college. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism. When Sarah was four, Jenny decided to run a Son-Rise Program for her, calling it Sarah-Rise, and training at the Autism Treatment Center of America. The Son-Rise Program is a loving child-centered approach to helping those with autism and other challenges connect socially, verbally, and through increased eye contact. Organizing hundreds of hours of therapeutic play time for Sarah, Jenny trained and coordinated multiple volunteers who contributed their love and creativity to the venture. Jenny started a blog to share the experience of Sarah-Rise and has heard multiple times that her words were helpful to others dealing with life struggles. Jenny wants to help parents feel understood and to spread the word about The Son-Rise Program. She hopes that her words bring comfort, joy, and inspiration to readers whatever their challenges and journeys may be. For more info, visit watchingsarahrise.com.
Joseph Arnold (affectionately known as “The Art Whisperer”) is a Creative Magic Mentor for artists and creatives and the Director of the Soulforce Arts Institute. He is the author of the award-winning book, Soulforce: How to discover your artistic purpose, create more freely, and make art that matters. Joseph provides artists of all kinds and backgrounds with tools to reconnect with their Soulforce, helping them navigate physical discomfort, manage emotional challenges, enhance their creative spirit, and contribute positively to their communities. Beyond his directorial role, Joseph is a versatile violinist with a rich repertoire that includes jazz, fiddle, rock, and classical tunes. He has played for varied audiences across the U.S. As an Alexander Technique teacher, Joseph assists fellow artists in relieving physical tension and discomfort, while promoting ease and fluidity of movement. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Joseph spends his time playing Gypsy Jazz with the Hot Club of Philadelphia, volunteering at his local food forest, and exploring the outer reaches of inner space.