In part, the book is about the authors themselves. In their own words, Crawford and Hubert talk about work, school, home and dreams. They also talk about the power of literacy - how difficult it can be to learn, yet how good it feels to be able to communicate more freely. As Crawford writes in the book, some of his plans may have to wait until he is more comfortable with the written word. "I need more time. I have to practice more."

Working closely with Devins has helped, especially when it comes to developing money skills. Games played with fake money are his favourite, he says. "If I learn more about money, I can become more independent."

Writing about himself was comfortable, he says. More important, it may encourage other people to be more understanding about people with disabilities. "Maybe it will get people to listen more."

By anyone's standards, he has come a long way. Originally he signed on with ERS as a way to fulfil hours of community service for past misdemeanours. By saving money and proceeding with the advice of ERS, he has bought a condominium by his won labours. He lives there with his girlfriend, Dianne; their cat, Dede; and several kittens. He and Dianne plan to marry in 1996. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV and movie videos, playing video games and having fun with the cats.

He has also travelled a fair stretch, thanks to his involvement in various Special Olympics. "We play soccer, floor hockey, stuff like that. We have a lot of fun. We go all over the place."

Yet Crawford is not content. He gets angry when he sees how poorly people with disabilities - "handicaps," in his words - can be treated. "People put them down. They don't think (people with disabilities) are good. People treat them like garbage." He warns that government funding for services may run short, or even stop altogether.

He worries that people with disabilities may buck beneath this strain. "I don't think they can deal with this much stress anymore," he says. "I've got a feeling some of these 'handicaps' are near, shall I say, a suicidal part of life. They don't care about no one. They don't care about themselves."