For the Love of Stephen: The Story of a Boy Who Was Never Broken

For the Love of Stephen: The Story of a Boy Who Was Never Broken

“Stephen’s story is beautifully told through the eyes of his brother, Stuart. Steve was different, not less. You will love his story.” — Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Author & Advocate Born premature in 1954 and diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Steve Jones was never expected to live a “normal” life. Professionals urged his parents to institutionalize him, to forget, to move on. Instead, they chose love. For the Love of Stephen: The Story of a Boy Who Was Never Broken is a powerful sibling memoir that spans five decades of Steve’s life from the small-town prejudices of the 1950s, through public school desegregation for students with disabilities in the 1970s, to the quiet injustices and quiet joys of his adult years. It is a story of resilience, laughter, heartbreak, and radical belonging. Through sharp honesty, satirical critique, and moments of deep tenderness, Dr. Stuart D. Jones shares the story of his brother’s courage and humanity in a world that too often refused to see it. Along the way, readers will encounter: The absurdities and heartbreak of a system that failed people with disabilities - The fierce love of a family that defied societal norms - The triumphs and humor of a man who refused to be defined by labels - A tragic ending that underscores the urgent need for justice and inclusion Perfect for readers of Riding the Bus with My Sister (Rachel Simon) and Life, Animated (Ron Suskind), For the Love of Stephen is both personal and universal—an unforgettable story that asks us to see differently, love fiercely, and never look away. "Stephen's story is beautifully told through the eyes of his brother, Stuart. He was born premature in the 1950s and diagnosed as mentally retarded. Today, his condition is labeled Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD). His parents refused to put him in an institution, and he was successfully educated in a regular public school classroom. He also had a job he loved in hospital housekeeping. Steve was different, not less. You will love his story." - Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Author, The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism, Autism Advocate, Speaker, and Subject of the HBO movie Temple Grandin and the documentary An Open Door "For the Love of Stephen is a beautiful tribute to a man, a son, a brother, a husband, and, more importantly, a beautiful human being who showed the world how special someone with a disability can be. Stephen was not special because he had special needs, but because he was truly special in the way he lived his life with laughter and love." - Kim Dodson , CEO, The Arc of Indiana "You've done a fantastic job of weaving in Steve's story with the historical treatment of people with IDD, particularly how it happened in the scholastic system over the course of his life. But more than anything, you gave your brother a voice. Stories like this deserve to be told, and I believe people will be glad in the end that you told it." - Dan Levy , author, editor, and audiobook narrator "A deeply moving journey of love and loss, family and faith. For the Love of Stephen will make you laugh, cry, cheer, and jeer, leaving you inspired to advocate for every Stephen in the world." - Dr. Kathy Martin, President and CEO, Glenmeadow Retirement Community "For the Love of Steven is a deeply moving memoir that weaves raw honesty, tenderness, and humor to paint an unforgettable portrait of brotherly love, resilience, and loss. The author provides the reader with vivid storytelling and powerful reflections that capture the unrelenting nature of grief while celebrating the profound impact Steven had on his life on Earth. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a story that is as thought-provoking as it is deeply human." - Dr. Andrea Hickson-Martin , Chair, Education Department, Associate Professor, Elms College Dr. Stuart D. Jones is a retired higher-education executive and former church minister who now teaches college courses part-time and writes with a passion shaped as much by life as by books. Over the years, he has spoken at many universities, churches, conferences, seminars, workshops, and leadership events around the world on a variety of topics. A devoted advocate for disability rights, he believes every life has purpose and worth. Yet no credential has shaped him more deeply than being Steve's brother. Dr. Jones holds advanced degrees in both education and theology and has been published in several academic forums. For the Love of Stephen is his first work of narrative nonfiction-and by far, his most personal.