Meet Shonda Schilling, author of "The Best Kind of Different"

Join the amazing Shonda Schilling, founder the Shade Foundation of America and wife of retired Boston Red Sox All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling, for an inspirational conversation about her family's painful and joyous story of her son Grant's struggle with Asperger's Syndrome, how it changed the lives of her and her husband, and what other parents can learn about this increasingly common diagnosis.  Copies of Shonda's new book, The Best Kind of Different: Our Family's Journey with Asperger's Syndrome,  will be available for purchase at the event.   This event is kindly co-sponsored by Parent Talk, the Wellesley Free Library, and Wellesley Booksmith.

ABOUT THE BOOK
In The Best Kind of Different Shonda details every step in her family’s journey through Asperger’s, offering an intimate and candid portrait of this condition from a parent’s point of view. Shonda chronicles Grant’s early years, confronts the guilt and pain that engulfed her after learning of her son’s condition, and celebrates Grant’s success in the two years since his diagnosis. With insight and helpful advice for parents, she provides an honest and moving glimpse inside her family—as two parents struggle to understand the complex beauty of their son.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In addition to her newfound work raising awareness about Asperger’s syndrome, Shonda Schilling is a survivor of malignant melanoma skin cancer, an experience which led her to create the Shade Foundation of America. Shonda and retired All Star pitcher Curt Schilling have been married for seventeen years.  They have four children and live in Medfield, MA.

ABOUT THE CO-SPONSOR
Parent Talk is a community-based organization helping families with young children connect, learn, play, and grow together. They offer comprehensive enrichment activities designed to help members build relationships as well as educational tools and vehicles focused on child development and parenting. The membership is comprised of approximately 500 families residing in Needham, Dover, Westwood, Natick and surrounding towns.

Parent Talk members enjoy numerous benefits including playgroups, newsletters, lectures, free access to their indoor playspace, free museum passes, retail discounts, reduced rates on select children’s classes, family activities, and social events for children and parents. In addition, Parent Talk offers clubs and committees designed to engage members in the community and develop life-long friendships. Founded in 1991, Parent Talk is a non-profit organization run entirely by a network of dedicated volunteers and holds a large and active presence in the local community.