The Accomplice

<p><strong><em>Winner 2026 International Impact Book Awards in the Health - Internal Medicine Category.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Winner Bronze Medal in the 2023 Readers' Favorite Non-Fiction - Education Category.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Finalist 16th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards in 3 categories: Book Cover Design Caregiving Miscellaneous.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Finalist 2022 The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in 2 categories: General Non-Fiction Parenting/Family/Relationships.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Finalist 2023 Readers' Choice Book Awards.            </strong></p><p><strong>Finalist 2023 Readers' Favorite Book Awards.</strong></p><p></p><p><em> Natalia looked to me for help telling the woman that she had a disability I was her mother and she needed me to speak on her behalf. The woman belittling Natalia told her she didn't look like she had a disability and she wouldn't allow me to help. Here's how the conversation went:</em></p><p><em>Well honey how old are you?</em></p><p><em>I'm twenty Natalia said.</em></p><p><em>Well are you going to have Mommy helping you when you turn twenty-one?</em></p><p><em>I jumped in. So how old are you?</em></p><p><em>Thirty-five she said.</em></p><p><em>Oh I see you are wearing glasses. Are you going to take those glasses off when you turn thirty-six?</em></p><p><em>The woman called her supervisor. While we were waiting for the supervisor Natalia said something very thoughtful about her challenges. Mom things are hard for me. I need assistance just to get the assistance.</em></p><p></p><p>When Melissa Jacobus adopted her children she believed all her prayers for a family had finally been answered. But while other parents were dealing with the usual challenges that come with raising children Melissa experienced those challenges tenfold.</p><p><em>The Accomplice</em> follows several years of her life as two of her children now grown in the eyes of society yet still cloaked in an invisible disability struggle to survive a world that doesn't understand them their needs or their disability. Substance abuse homelessness jail time and worse can be all-too-common outcomes for those impacted by FASD also known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.</p><p>As Melissa tries to advocate and safeguard her children from these outcomes she realizes her ability to help them and others is at the mercy of an uninformed society.</p><p><em>The Accomplice</em> is a call to action for the country to acknowledge FASD for what it is-a developmental disability that affects millions-and to help society recognize that this invisible disability is more than visible it's a crisis.</p>