Disabled Books

This book provides clear, easy to use strategies for teaching and communicating with children on the autism spectrum. The author's contend that behavioral problems exhibited by children with autism are most often the result of frustration that comes from their inability to communicate effectively. Behavioral problems can be successfuly addressed by focusing on what the child is trying to communicate. Rationale for the strategies suggested is provided. I recommend this book for educators and parents.

There are so many books on autism and not all are applicable to our family's situation. I tend to read a library copy before purchasing. When it came time to return this book, I decided that this was one for our personal library. It's easy to read and I will refer to it over and over. Methods are easy to understand and implement. As a parent of an autistic child, it's one of the few books I've felt that will be invaluable.

This is the best book to own if you are working with a child with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder(ASD). It is amazing how much the editors fit into this little book. The overall philosophy of the book is towards an eclectic approach to ASD. It presents many different ideas from different people, all of which could be added to a program, method, approach for a particular child. If you are dogmatic about one method, this is not the book for you. The book starts out with several chapters looking into what we know about autism, a Temple Grandin chapter on what it is like to have autism and a Charles Hart chapter on what parents want (required reading for educators!). Then there are chapters on enhancing communication in nonverbal children, echolalic, and verbal children. These chapter are by Prizant, Rydell, Twachtman . Then there are a bunch of chapters on strategies for social stuff. Carol Gray wrote one chapter on social stories. This book is readable, full of ideas. I hope the authors plan to keep the book fresh with a new edition in a few years. As a parent of a child with ASD, I own two copies, and lend out the second to others who work with my son.

This book is a wonderful resource for learning how to approach children with autism. It is very easy to read and deals with a variety of different methods that can be used to deal with just about any level on the autistic spectrum. As a speech therapist working with variety of children with autism, I continually return to this resource to help plan my assessments and intervention. It is an excellent resource that addresses communication, play, pragmatics, parent desires, and self-control at a variety of levels. The chapters that deal with specific areas, such as enhancing social communicative interactions, often provide you with the necessary paperwork for assessment and/or intervention in the appendix. This is a must buy book! I would highly recommend this book to anyone working with children with autism.

This book is great for the General classroom. It has many ready to use materials; such as, charts, story webs, and much more. Also, the author offers an abundance of ideas to help the regular education teacher work with the Learning Disabled student in their classroom.

This book provides useful strategies for teaching all types of children, not just those with learning differences. Winebrenner promotes awareness of each child's unique learning styles and provides practical, teacher-friendly ways to make the classroom friendlier for children with learning differences, gifted children, and any other children who can benefit from sensitivity to their individual ways of learning.

Although the author has revised and expanded her similar book on teaching Gifted Kids, I think the present one (1966) still has great value, for all elementary students. Aside from Chapter 3 on understanding learning difficulties and intervening, all the other chapters are applicable to all students. Just look through the chapter headings: making all students welcome in your classroom, getting everyone involved in learning, matching your teaching to your students' learning styles... This is a very practical and valuable book for teachers. It has fairly comprehensive coverage, including 8 multiple intelligences, the teaching of reading, writing and math, authentic assessment, improving behavior, conflict resolution, enlisting parents as partners... There are many case examples, numerous techniques for each topic. Take spelling as an example (p111-115). Students are taught to match spelling with their learning styles: visual, auditory, tactile-kinesthetic and multisensory. There are 5 or 6 more techniques for spelling. Teachers are also reminded to "avoid circling spelling errors for visual learners". Susan pays attention to so many useful details. This book should be available in all primary teachers' libraries.

As a classroom teacher who is trying to adapt multiple intelligences and learning styles into my lessons, I found Susan Winebrenner's book a valuable resource. She has many stategies for aiding children with learning disabilities as well as controlling inappropriate behavior in the classroom.

Product is easy to follow, straight to the point, allows for interaction with the child. Well received by my High Functioning Autistic son. Now we just say are you going to choose A or B and he chooses the appropriate answer most of the time. Our fits and screaming have decreased with the use of this book. Sometimes he just chooses B anyway. :-)

I purchased this book for my sister whose daughter is very high functioning austic. We were at our wits end in dealing with her tantrums and insistence on having things her way. She caught onto this method very quickly and it has helped us in managing her tantrums. While we don't always succeed, sometimes she comes right out and says "I AM NOT CHOOSING A!!", most of the time she really wants to "do the right thing" and does select A.

I'm all about providing support and tools for children to understand themselves. Our kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other neurological issues often have difficulty not only perceiving the emotions in others, but in themselves. Flooded with feelings of anger or frustration it's difficult at that moment to make good choices in regards to behavior. As I have three children with Asperger Syndrome myself, I have often faced the issue of explaining to them that they can make positive choices when overwhelmed with feelings. (To quote my son, "Nuh uh!") It is not the time to reason with a child when he is in the middle of a meltdown, which is why it is so important to empower him with ideas and skills over a period of time, and to have a plan as to how to implement a plan BEFORE she or he is melting down. That is where this very simply written book comes in. Having this basic plan for making positive choices when upset, can prevent meltdowns.

The Way to A provides children with a concrete tool for understanding how they feel and behave during certain emotions, and then with an adult helping the child problem solve, they can decide on different options for what may calm or soothe themselves. This book is ingenious in that it is covered with wipeable pages you can use a dry eraser marker on to use over and over. Ideally each child would have his own book, but because it is reuseable, it can be used for every child in a pre-school, daycare, or elementary school.

Parents would be well served to work through this little colorful book with their child in order to not only provide their child with the tools to learn self-management, but to problem solve themselves and to gain a greater understanding of what sets their child off, and what calms him. While most parents of children such as ours already know these things (parents are the experts on their child), to see it written down makes it more concrete and reminds us that we DO have strategies. This is empowering for both child AND parent.

I think this is a lovely book, and also quite cute. I can't wrestle it away from my 6 year old at the moment, but it would also be helpful for my 11 year old, and the strategies themselves, are excellent for my 14 year old. The saying goes, "First, know thyself." This is a step in the right direction for creating a lifetime of self-management.

Kristi Sakai, mother of three children with Asperger Syndrome and Author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

This is a great book you can use over and over again.
We carry the red and green cards everywhere! All that
has to be asked now is if (whatever the issue is) is an
"A" choice or a "B" choice. It's a great tool to have.

This book is very informational. Dr. Batshaw explains disabilities from begginning to end in clear language. I used it for almost every paper I hve written for my disabilities class. Good for citing quotes.

"When Your Child Has a Disability" is the complete handbook needed for every parent with a disabled child.The book provides assurance to parents that they are not alone,while giving answers to commonly asked questions.The information provided enables parents to act as the child's advocate without fear.The book is easily understood and gives advice without frightening parents that they may not have the power or education necessary to fight for the child's well-being.Every parent of a disabled child should have this book as a reference.

If you are the parent of a child who has multiple special needs or are looking for a scholarly and readable introduction to children's disabilities, then When Your Child Has a Disability is a "must read" resource. Relevant and reliable, it is the most comprehensive overview for parents of special needs children that has been published to date.

A well rounded resource like this has been needed for parents for a long time, and Dr. Batshaw has done an remarkable job at fulfilling this need. Crucial topics are covered which are rarely addressed adequately, but are vital to children with special needs - for example, feeding, visual impairment, teeth and dental care.

As moderator of mailing lists on Adoption (from Vietnam) and Prematurity, it is rare that I can recommend a book for both groups, but this is one that meets the needs of many parents.

When Your Child Has a Disability covers four major areas - Getting the Diagnosis, Growing Up with a Disability, Developmental Disabilities, and a brief section called What the Future Holds. Each chapter in these sections is authored by an experienced practitioner in the field. They provide an concise overview for each subject, an explanation of the terminology, and a number of practical suggestions for your child.

The section on Growing Up with a Disability covers topics vital to parents of children with special needs, such as nutrition and feeding, dental care, and encouraging appropriate behavior. Specific disabilities are covered in the Developmental Disability section, including many disabilities linked to prematurity. Twelve developmental disabilities are addressed - cerebral palsy, hearing loss, autism, mental retardation, visual impairment, communication disorders, learning disorders, down syndrome, genetic syndromes, spina bifida, and epilepsy.

For parents of children who have special needs (or are "at risk" for developmental disabilities), When Your Child Has a Disability is invaluable. . No other book comes close for educated, practical coverage of developmental disabilities, and accompanying special needs, in children.

As a parent of a child with a disability, I found in this book some of the best information and advice that I have read on the subject of children with disabilities. While some chapters deal with specific disabilities, others provide more general valuable information for all parents of children with disabilities (e.g. how to deal with emotions, managing the relationships with medical professionals, the education process, legal rights and how to care for your child throughout his/her lifetime).

The book provides sound expert advice to all parents of a child with a disability - from choosing and visiting doctors to communicating with and feeding your child to dealing with common and not-so-common medical problems to understanding legal and educational rights and benefits. That advice will help parents to appropriately act on behalf of the child. While providing critical information on caring for your child, the authors let parents know that the parents are in charge because nobody knows our children better. The knowlegde from this book will empower parents to do what they believe is in the best interest of the child.

This book is a signifcant resource and a "must read" for any parent of a child with a disability. I suggest not only reading the book, but also keeping it close as a valuable reference tool.

I was informed by the publisher that a second edition is due to go to press. Is this correct? I hope so, as this is the best text ever written to detail ADHD, the current research, treatment methods, etc. This book is perfect for parents, educators, the medical profession, and psychologists who need an easy to read, informative review of the disorder and the current literature.

This is a great book. I purchased it from Amazon and received it before it was on the shelves. The book is clear and concise and helpful. My wife has ADHD and I am perplexed at her behavior quite often. This book has helped me understand her and may lead to a successful treatment approach. Thank you Dr. Lisa Weyandt.

This book is fabulous! I have been interested in ADHD for years but have never been able to find a single source that answers all of my questions - now I have. Extremely well written and a joy to read.

This book shows children what many professional writers know. Writing isn't easy, but it is rewarding. I adore this book and how people of all ages and skills can relate to it.

This is Helen Lester's true story of how she became a writer--from struggling in grade school to becoming a published author (many times). It's inspiring because it shows that writing is not simple--even for those gifted with the pen, but that it takes time and effort and a lot of rewrites. I would recommend it to anyone trying to show a child that writing does not always come easily, but that even the toughest writing struggles can be overcome with perseverance. It also explains the illustrator's job and how good illustrations help sell stories. Helen Lester's fiction books are hysterical and this companion "biography" is a must if you are a fan of her works.

This enchanting book must be read to every class of learning disabled students, and should be in every elementary classroom as well. Ms. Lester shows, with amusement and the touching words of a small child, that writing can be fun-for anyone! Even if writing is a struggle, it can be enjoyed. This book will make students with problems know it's okay to be different, and that they can still go on to a productive, happy life. That is so important, as so many adults are scarred by the unhappy times they spent in schools, attempting to learn what was for them, almost impossible. I feel almost all students would enjoy this book. Thank you to Mrs. Lester for saying what so many needed to hear.

This is a spiral bound notebook consisting of 394 pages including an extensive glossary and index. There are roughly sixty pages of checklists that are perfect for photocopying and utilizing on a daily basis.

The formats for these charts are adapted from Children's Hospital Chronic Illness Program. Charts are organized with the student's name, person trained and position in the top left corner. The columns allow for six dates to be entered under the following headings, Name and Procedure, Preparation, Identifies Supplies and Procedure. Located within these sections are numbered specifics anywhere from five to twenty. Many of the lists are two pages with the final line for the parent or guardian to sign and date.

My main purpose in borrowing Children and Youth Assisted by Medical Technology in Education Settings: Guidelines for Care was to learn the correct terminology for the variations used in tube feeding along with the precautions and tools needed. There are diagrams that show the placements of the tubes as well as the pump, feeding bag, syringe and clamp.

Also listed are points to remember, observations and possible problems that require immediate attention and those that are non emergencies. There are step by step guides on how to change tubes, along with the clean up of the area and how to dispose of tools and waste. The pages with explanations have these listed in italic font.

The details and diagrams help to grasp the enormity of this decision while explaining how the education system handles students with special health care needs. This book is the manual to help prepare all those involved in the daily lives of the children and also adults who must utilize these pieces of equipment.

This book is a valuable resource not only for those health care professionals working in schools today, but also for special education teachers who work with children with medical needs in the schools. This boook is a must as more and more students with more involved special needs are being integrated into general education settings. I use this book as one of my texts in the graduate special education class I teach at the university and my students have remarked that it is a resource they will refer to often. The forms are valuable tools that can be used to address the needs of medically fragile children. I hope that the book is being considered for revision since it was first written in 1997.

The Guidelines for Care Manual provides professional school nurses with theory and clinical data, examples, procedures, guide sheets, training for delegation and monitoring procedures performed by school personnel, diagams and much more. A MUST for working with special needs students.

As the world continues to march to information on the Internet, the issue of accessibility for Web sites has continued to grow in importance. Especially as glitz and flashy programming grow ever more popular in Web design, the chance of leaving those with special needs behind increases. What accessibility means also can be a murky area, though as lawsuits against Target and other stores over Web accessibility shows, this is still important. Sydik helps cut through the often vague standards to show the reader step-by-step things that are important for accessibility, but often are not major changes. He explains what accessibility entails, and looks at different solutions, and the pitfalls that some can produce making things worse for accessibility when it is trying to improve it. His chapters are grouped into thematic sections, but each chapter focuses on one item, keeping the information short and relevant to the topic. At the conclusion he walks through the current and proposed accessibility standards and gives practical advice and translation of what the sections mean, and what you can do about it (citing chapters that addressed the topic). This book is very readable, practical and sits on my desk for quick reference and advice. It is an excellent starting point for acquainting yourself with the issue of accessibility for Web sites and what you can do to help design them properly.

Jeremy's Design Accessible Web Sites provides practical advice alongside with the theoretical underpinnigs in upbeat style. This books covers actionable steps to take in fixing many common accessibility problems but it also does something more important. It gives the reader a theoretical framework for considering and solving accessibility issues for tricky scenarios.

Some other books are better on regulatory issues and others on multimedia items like Flash since the focus here is web site design. That said, it's a great read for web site design and web standards work. For that it's first rate, with modern techniques and consideration of the future of accessibility issues (AJAX, WCAG 2), and with a breadth and richness of subject matter.

DESIGN ACCESSIBLE WEB SITES is an excellent guide to making your web site(s) usable by anyone, regardless of their access needs. It is also not the dry and unfriendly tome that others have put out in regards to this subject...that is to say, it is very readable, even fun in some places! There are plenty of code examples as well as lists of specific tools and references that can be used to make your site accessible to everyone.
It concentrates mainly on the U.S. accessibility requirements, but it also covers what you need around the world.
Most importantly, Jeremy stresses that making your web sites accessible makes them easier for EVERYONE to navigate, not just those individuals with special access needs, and that is a bonus for everyone!

I actually have a copy of her first edition (which was published only in the UK). It is excellent. As a parent of a child with severe motor and oral dyspraxia/apraxia I know exactly how difficult it can be to find qualified info on this subject. Most of what you can find (which isn't much) deals with identifying it. I already know my son has this. I need to know what to do about it. This is one of the few books that deals with exactly how to "treat" the motor dyspraxia. If you have a child or student with dyspraxia/apraxia, get this book. When I read it I said, "finally, a book that adequately describes my child." By the way, this affliction is generally known as dyspraxia in the UK and as apraxia in the US. Also, there are 2 types - motor and oral, but most people will find that their afflicted child has some of both types. I hope this helps someone!

If you can have just one book on dyspraxia, this should be it. And if you have a child with some type of apraxia diagnosis, please read this book too. Parents of children with dysgraphia (poor handwriting) may also bennefit.

If your child with apraxia has profound speech problems and cannot communicate verbally at all, this will not be enough by itself, but will be useful to help support speech therapy, especially if your child is also learning sign language but is having some motor problems with that as well.

If you are trying to help a person with aquired apraxia (brain injury or stroke,) you will probably want something different.

In the US our children tend to get the diagnosis of "apraxia" "developmental apraxia" "speech dyspraxia" "childhood apraxia" "verbal dyspraxia" or "global apraxia" more often than they get a "developmental dyspraxia" diagnosis. These different lables are supposed to indicate subtle differences in the problems and needs these people face. However, from a practical standpoint, most of the methods designed to help someone with one of these developmental dyspraxia will help someone with one of the related diagnosises, sometimes with just slight modifications.

This book is full of strategies and specific sugestions to help people facing problems with apraxia that is present since birth or childhood (developmental dyspraxia, childhood apraxia) as opposed to people who have suffered from a brain injury or stroke. It covers a wide range of ages and the sugestions are concrete and very doable. I am a parent of both a child with autism and another child with developmental dypraxia/speech dyspraxia and this is one of the most valuable resources I own for helping my boys overcome their motor planning and coordination problems. It is also very helpful for speech problems as well. I am able to create a useful home program to suppliment the activities done at school and in therapy using this book. And the school personel have also been impressed with this book. I like this book much better than the Marshalla books which seem geared to kids whose impairment is so profound. (Don't misunderstand me, her books a very good, I do like them, just less complete.) Her books don't offer many suggestions for children whose issues include other motor functions (like handling silverware) but which many children with speech apraxia also face. (Of course she is an SLP and not an OT so it's not really the point of her work, but we parents will be concerned with both.) Also, she offers few suggestions once an apraxic child becomes verbal but is still not making sense where as this book is aimed more at those kids who have a range of issues and who can talk to some degree. Not only is word pronunciation linked to motor skills, but also word order in sentences, use of pronouns and many other skills require an internal coordination that mirrors external coordination. If we can remediate these oganizational factors in our children then their other therapies (speech, ABA, floortime, social skill building, etc.) become more effective. There is so little information on this group of disorders that is truely useful to parents and teachers, but this book is very complete. It is very well done and has information useful in both settings. Indeed, most of the examples given in the book involve school settings, so professionals should also find this book to be very valuable.

Good luck to all of you parents and teachers who work daily with these kids!

This book does not dwell greatly on ideals or hypotheses, nor on soothing chat. The reader will find practical, well-organized information on a good variety of ways to assess and train a child's abilities without highly specialized equipment.

I was impressed by the differences that generalized training in motor skills seemed to make in specific tasks such as handwriting, and also by the reports that "normal" children helping with lunchtime training programs enjoyed the experience, and felt closer to the previously isolated "clumsy" children, with their associated tendency to be irritable and easily distracted (not to mention distracting!). The scope of the book really does cover both parents and schools -- this book is grounded in solid observation and experience.

Ms. Portwood stresses that intervention helps at all ages, often bolstering self-esteem and social skills along with growing achievement in motor skills.I am looking forward to using this book with my son.

I believe that Dyspraxia is also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder in the U.S.

It is hard to find information on this still greatly under-diagnosed disorder. This book is a great find for parents or teachers! It is a fast read and well organized, covering a lot of ground with no fluff filler. I recommend this book if you are looking for an understanding of this disorder and some great "treatment" ideas that are easily implemented in both the home and school. Worth the money and your time to read!

this book can be ordered from Amazon.co.u

I have been trying to locate this book and am having a hard time. If you know anyone with a copy please write. pisikrisi@aol.com