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Single mom of special needs child tells frank and inspirational story in self-help book

D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance offers powerful truths for other parents

Reno, NV, September 26, 2012 – Camilla Downs is a Reno-based single mother of two children, one of them with a significant chromosomal disorder. Downs’ personal struggles inspired her to write D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance specifically for parents of special needs children. Downs’ work underlines a clear message: You need not feel isolated and overwhelmed. She offers this group of families, now numbering in the millions in the U.S., inspiration, hope and specific advice and actions to help them become unstuck and more effective in their personal and professional lives.

“Feelings of isolation and overwhelm keep special needs parents stuck, especially when coupled with deeply ingrained erroneous thought habits,” said Downs. “Special needs parents can unknowingly isolate themselves and begin viewing their lives in a negative way. These findings from the discussions and interviews that went to the writing of D iz for Different have been further confirmed by the hundreds of discussions that have been generated since its publication in May of 2012,” she added.

Downs wrote and self-published D iz for Different in less than a year, prompted by her experiences as a single parent devising creative solutions to life’s challenges, including financial struggles. Friends and professionals who saw the value of a self-help book geared towards parents of special needs children donated services including the book’s cover artwork and design, editing, proofreading, interior layout and design.

Since the book’s publication, Downs has undergone her own professional transformation with a career change from social media consultant to special needs parent coach and mentor, offering hope and guidance to other parents of special needs children. Her Facebook page and blog at www.CamillaDowns.com have become platforms for parents of special needs children worldwide.

Endorsements for D iz for Different include Julie Zigler Norman, author of Growing Up Zigler: A Daughter’s Broken Journey from Heartache to Hope, and Jim Stovall, Emmy award-winning best-selling author of The Ultimate GiftD iz for Different has received positive reviews from parents of special needs children. Amazon reviewer, Carissa Johnson, said, ” D iz for Different is a motivational story of Camilla Downs’ journey, raising two children, each with different challenges, on her own. The gift she shares in her story is a positive outlook with advice that reminds us to be the best we can be in all our daily moments.” Amazon reviewer, Kathy Buchanan said, “An uplifting and honest book about facing life’s challenges. Teaches you that how you respond to adversity is within your control and that you can still be happy even when circumstances are less than perfect. As the mother of a child with special needs, I really connected with the author. A great read!” In another Amazon review, Liz Arches said, “A is for Amazing, B is for Beautiful, C is for Camilla and Courageous…When you see someone who is making such a fantastic job of parenting in difficult circumstances as Camilla is, it can be awesome in the sense of ‘daunting’ as much as ‘inspiring’. It might be hard to imagine that you could ever do anything like the same. But first-time author Camilla is happy to admit that none of this came easy to her, and to acknowledge that it doesn’t come easy to anybody. She just wants to share the positive attitudes and techniques that have worked for her and which might be helpful for other parents, offering parents the opportunity to enjoy every minute of every day with their children. And it’s all presented in short, pithy chapters, so you can get on with that enjoyment all the sooner!

For the short book trailer visit “D iz for Different” Book Trailer on YouTube and for more Amazon reviews visit “D iz for Different” on Amazon. For more information visit www.CamillaDowns.com, or to book Camilla for a speaking engagement, schedule an interview or to have Camilla as a guest on your blog, please email [email protected].

Camilla Downs is an award-winning author, speaker, workshop facilitator and freelance writer. Her book, D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance, was published in May, 2012. The book offers Downs’ personal experiences in facing and overcoming life’s trials with grit and humor, along with providing practical “Tips for the Journey” throughout the book.

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