REMAKING MR. JONES

I have been trying for most of the past week to express in mere words both my deeply felt gratitude for your insightful and sensitively crafted story on James (“Remaking Mr. Jones,” by Anne C. Roark, Oct. 6) and my admiration for Anne Roark’s wonderful writing skill and the integrity she brought to her task.

She was able to capture James--indeed, all of the “characters” in this saga--with both our human weaknesses and our hearts intact. For me, one of the best examples of her eloquence was her reference to James’ wide grin as “revealing not only the gaping hole in his mouth but a hollow space in a soul hungry for attention.”

I have worked for many years, traveling across the country and abroad, to convey the importance of physical appearance and how people with disabilities are perceived and treated. With one story, you have reached--and will continue to reach--millions more than I have in 20 years.

ROBERT D. SHUSHAN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION