Wilfred and Me Book Launch

Jeff Green | Nov 16, 2016

Three years ago.

In 2013 Jan Miller published Dear George, a book about her experiences as a counsellor using Neuro-Linguistic Therapy. A the time she said the key to all the work she did was communication.

Three years later, now retired as a therapist more or less, Miller has published a new book, a mediation on her long-standing, recurring relationship that is called Wilfred and Me.

Miller met Wilfred at her first job as a Councillor. Wilfred was a deaf man in his early 20's who had recently been released from Rideau Regional Institution. He was few years younger than her, and he had no language. He did not know sign language and had not been taught any other way of communicating other than some basic gestures.

“Wilfred knew nothing about deaf culture, nor did I, and we both learned from some people from Gallaudet University, but we both remained outsiders to the deaf community.”

Years later, when she moved to Kingston she sw Wilfred again. He had also ended up in Kingston. She helped him get settled into a job at Shoppers Drug Mart, where he has worked for 16 years.

She was working with a program that helped people maintain their employment and worked with Wilfred. Over the years they have become friends and she eventually realised that she has learned a lot from Wilfred.

“The book started because he was having a difficult time. He has only bad stories in his life. So since he is an artist I said id he drew some pictures I would tell a better story about him than he had in his head, and it kind of took off.”

She said that the process of working on the book has been positive for Wilfred, and now that is complete it is time to celebrate.

Two events are planned for next week in Kingston, a book signing at Chapters at 2376 Princess Street on Thursday, November 24 from 1-4 pm, and a reading at Physiotherapy Kingston at 1469 Princess on Saturday, Novemer 26 from 1-4 pm. Readings will take place at 2pm and 3pm. Wilfred and Me will be available at Nicole's Gifts in Verona, Novel Idea and Woodpecker Lane Press in Kingston, and through Amazon and JanMiller.com.