A Leg to Stand On: Standing Up for Amputees
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2015/02/19 - Updated: 2022/03/27
Category Topic: Disability Publications - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Vietnam-era veteran Lois Olson describes life as amputee in endearing new children's book A Leg to Stand On. Olson is a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force. She has personally discovered the mental benefits animals can present to people with disabilities. By weaving a personal aspect into the storyline, Olson encourages readers to embrace diversity with open arms.
Introduction
The Amputee Coalition states that almost two million Americans have experienced limb loss. With this many people living as amputees, society should learn to accept these differences.
Main Content
As a leg amputee, Lois Olson uses her personal experiences as inspiration for "A Leg to Stand On." The book features Olson's family friends and three-legged therapy dog Kip. Together they all learn to accept each other's differences to help an injured goat.
Olson is a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force. She has personally discovered the mental benefits animals can present to people with disabilities. By weaving a personal aspect into the storyline, Olson encourages readers to embrace diversity with open arms.
"I wanted to create a book that described amputees to children," Olson said. "The book incorporates the compassion of animals into the lesson of acceptance."
By viewing the world through the eyes of an amputee, children and adults alike can learn about the people with disabilities and understand some of the struggles they encounter.
About the Author
Lois Olson is a Vietnam-era veteran. She has twenty-five years' experience raising Saanen dairy goats and is the adoptive mother of six international special needs children. In addition to publishing, Olson is affiliated with her church, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and American Dairy Goat Association. Olson resides in northern Michigan with her two English setters and an elderly cat.
"A Leg to Stand On"
By: Lois Olson
ISBN: 978-1-4908-4833-4
Available in softcover, e-book Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and WestBow Press
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.