Miguel Angel Juarez

Earth Angels, A Documentary for Specially-abled Children Miguel Angel Juarez

Karen Nicksich and Heritage University Assistant Professor Miguel Juarez are celebrating the publication of their co-authored book, Earth Angels, a pictorial documentary chronicling the lives of "specially-abled" children. Earth Angels features the personal stories of nine families who have children with special needs. It chronicles the joys and challenges the parents of these children face on a daily basis. Heritage University social work students Ana Tapia and Delaney Helmerson provided research assistance for Nicksich. The pair assisted with interviews and photo sessions with the families, and helped sort through 1,500 images to select the ones featured in the book. Nicksich praised Tapia and Helmerson for their work with Earth Angels. "Seeing Ana and Delaney connect with great people will help them realize that they are part of something big and beautiful. I will be forever thankful for the truly limitless potential that these young women have," Nicksich said. "Earth Angels is a book about community, empowerment, self-expression, self-esteem and love. It is a book about abilities, not disability. "