This image is the cover for the book Two Souls, Tandem Journeys

Two Souls, Tandem Journeys

For anyone touched by the complexities of mental or physical disabilities, know this: you walk a path shared by many.


Marrying young, the author welcomed a precious baby boy into her world. But as the months unfurled, a mother’s intuition whispered that something was amiss.


Journey alongside this resilient mother and her son as they navigate:


The twists of misdiagnoses, culminating in the dual challenges of autism and deafness;Tense stand-offs with a school system too quick to prescribe life-long medications;Contentions with county officials reluctant to provide essential services;Heart-wrenching episodes leading to his stay in a state mental hospital, and the beacon of hope from a non-profit that restored his well-being;Advocacy battles against bureaucratic walls, tirelessly fighting for proper care for the multiply-disabled deaf;A transformative spell of acceptance and growth in the commune of Rajneeshpuram, and much more...


Embark on this deeply emotional odyssey, witnessing their struggles, their joys, and the profound lessons they learn along the way. Discover the unparalleled patience and gratitude that can bloom from a parent’s unconditional love. By the journey’s end, you’ll be reminded of the boundless power of courage, determination, and the belief that happiness is attainable, even against overwhelming odds.

Roshani Shay Curtis, Ph.D.

Roshani Shay Curtis, Ph.D., taught political science at Pacific Northwest universities for nearly 30 years. She raised four stepchildren and a son with deafness and autism, who is on the low-functioning end of the autism spectrum. He was born in 1964 and remained undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for many years. Roshani is grateful for her political science background, as it enabled her to engage in many advocacy activities over the years, especially those focusing on people with multiple disabilities. Roshani served for more than a dozen years on the Board of Directors and as Board President of Garten Services, Inc., an Oregon nonprofit business that employed nearly 500 people with disabilities at its peak. In 1993, she was named Oregon’s Nonprofit Board Member of the Year. Roshani also served for many years as the Secretary-Treasurer of Independent Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. (IOU), a small nonprofit that she and others formed to assist those with deafness and other disabilities who were in need of temporary financial assistance or were not getting the services they needed. Before retiring, Roshani also served as Executive Director of the Hawaii Wellness Institute and taught meditation, a practice that has helped her face many challenges with more equanimity.

Austin Macauley Publishers