Terrell Dougan

Terrell Harris Dougan became active in advocating for the mentally disabled when she was 12. Her sister, Irene, then six, had just been diagnosed as mentally disabled as a result of a birth injury. Her father started the first Salt Lake County Association for Retarded Children, created a day care center, and organized and created more services for developmentally disabled children. In 1968, Dougan became the president of the Utah Association for Retarded Children (now the Arc of Utah), and in 1972 was invited to be on the board of directors of the National Association for Retarded Citizens (now the Arc of the United States). Her latest book, That Went Well: Adventures in Caring for My Sister (Hyperion) is a humorous and touching memoir about life with her special needs sister.

An in-demand speaker, Dougan was previously a motivational speaker on health and fitness for mature adults, and has spoken nationwide at conventions, conferences, corporations, and community organizations. Though Dougan is proficient in all aspects of the options for care, and the historical progressions of benefits and rights for developmentally disabled citizens, her presentations appeal not just to families of special needs children and adults. They are perfect for any sponsor looking for an educational and uplifting story for their organization, employees, students, or clients to enjoy.

Her sister Irene lived at home until she was 18, and then spent five years at the Devereux School in Goleta, CA. After that, Irene came home to take advantage of the new community services springing up in Utah. After several years in group homes and supervised apartments, she moved on to a private program run by Dougan with hired companions in various apartments and homes. That Went Well tells of the adventures they had together trying to make Irene’s life work in the community. Dougan uses her skills has a humor writer in lightening up a potentially tragic subject, sharing the joys as well as the frustrations known by every sibling or parent of someone with special needs.

Dougan’s other books include (with Jo Rose) This is the Place: A Guide to Salt Lake City, which was updated 10 times over 20 years, and (with Lyn Isbell and Pat Vyas), We Have Been There: A Guidebook for Families of People With Mental Retardation, a collection of stories from the heart from families all over Utah, and by the mentally disabled themselves. It is still used in college classrooms in special education around the country. She has been a journalist since she was in grade school, writing reports from her school to the local newspapaer, then a correspondent for Good Housekeeping, reporting college trends from her school, Stanford University in the late 1950’s. She won a Guest Editorship at Mademoiselle magazine in her sophomore year.  She worked next in the Manila, Philippines, for the U.S. Information Agency’s Free World magazine. After the birth of her two daughters, she wrote an award-winning weekly column called “Of All Things” for Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, which ran for 13 years.

Dougan took a vacation from writing while working for Governor Scott Matheson of Utah. She also got her private pilot’s license, acted in many commercials and on the stage of Pioneer Theater in Salt Lake. She lives with her husband of 49 years, Paul, in Salt Lake City. Her two daughters and their families live five minutes away, and Irene lives just up the hill, happy and busy with companions who care for her and love her.

That Went Well: Adventures in Caring for My Sister

Six Lessons My Sister Taught Me: Confessions of a Co-Dependent

Strolling Through the Mine Field or, How to Get What is Needed from Your Family Member’s Caregivers

The Writing Life: Six Silly Secrets That Work

Eight Tricks to Reaching Your Golden Anniversary Without Killing Each Other

Aging Gracefully for Fun and Profit in Your Spare Time