Disabled Books

This book is excellent for revealing what is going on in the mind of a child who has learning issues. It's not just behavior (although it is always present, but never an excuse to associate as the cause for learning problems),there are valid medical tests that prove such. We are seeing more and more of these children with learning difficulities and we best be prepared with resource materials and an instructor who knows how to work with these children. Thanks Shari for sharing your life with us.

FROM STUMBLING BLOCKS TO STEPPING STONES by Shari Rusch Furnstahl was an
excellent well written book to give hope to young people and their parents who might be suffering from dyslexia, etc....and know that
you do not need to be discouraged...With determination you can succeed
and do well in life....This is a true story (and I personally know the
author)...

This author is authentic and the REAL DEAL, I was there. But what she did not know was that I was also ,and still am a medically 'special needs' individual whose life was made more brave by being a part of hers. This is a MUST READ handbook for any family with a child with 'less visible' or learning disabilities.

My 9 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with PDD. I knew "something" was wrong but never had a name for what it was. Her diagnosis has finally told me where we are in the world of disabilities and this book is like a map. It has given me suggestions on how to manage behaviors, suggestions for IEPs and even potential therapy goals. I would recommend this book to anyone with a daughter in the spectrum.

Much of what has been written about autism applies only to boys/males, which accounts for about 80% of sufferers. This book is one of the only sources I have found which refers to girls. It gives plenty of helpful advice and is written by sufferers themselves. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.

What a refreshing perspective this book offers by focusing on girls under the autism spectrum. I found it fascinating and shocking while reading this book to discover that their may be a vast number of undiagnosed girls flying under the proverbial radar due to how society views gender differences which could affect whether or not a girl is diagnosed with autism versus being viewed as shy and/or eccentric. This book does many things including discussing that "the underdiagnosing of girls with ASD is due to our reliance on male prototype of autism, whereby diagnosis is based on behaviors that are more extreme in how they present themselves to the clinician or educator."

In addition to the interesting topic of gender difference in ASD and how it presents, this book is a "scrapbook" or journal of personal journeys from the perspective of young and young at heart ladies on the autism spectrum...the challenges they have faced, their hurdles and successes. It brings a unique insight into the world of autism from a girl's point of view.

The book is also a great resource including an appendix full of suggestions, checklists, plans, resources, etc. to help parents help their daughters navigate through the world of IEPs, advocacy and social skills. An even more important resource comes from the women who are advocating for these young ladies and are living examples to what those with autism can do with their life and suggestions on how to succeed...for example from Temple Grandin and Zosia Zaks.

I would highly suggest this book for a parent with a daughter who has been diagnosed with autism and/or a young lady who would like to further understand her autism. Also, teachers and para-professionals would learn a LOT from this book and it's a quick read full of information.

The "icing on the cake" was the wonderful painting and poem by Amanda, a fine young lady with autism.

Author and Instructional Aide, Joanna L. Keating-Velasco
A Is for Autism F Is for Friend: A Kid's Book for Making Friends with a Child Who Has Autism

I have not only read this book, but have also met Mr. Rosner the author. In fact he gave me the book because he diagnosed my daughter with a learning difficulty while she was in the second grade. We used the "dots" exorcise for several months and other suggestions. My daughter graduated high school in 2003 with college credits and a high ranking. As Mr. Rosner writes, the difficulty was corrected by informed willing parents who were willing to inform teachers. My daughter is now a junior in college majoring in English with teaching acreditation. Her current GPA is 3+. There is hope and this book is a beginning.

Having 2 very bright children with learning difficulties (or as a school might claim LD's) I was hooked on the book while reading the Introduction, and I quote:

"One of the two main goals of this book is to dispel the notion that these children have a permanent condition that will forever prevent them from achieving their learning potential and are therefore destined to a lifetime of the emotional pain that accompanies failure. This is not so...."

How wonderful to know and be given guidance that as a parent we can do something to enable our children to achieve to their learning potential. There's some explanation of what to test, why to test and what to do with the test results and why. Also there are many auditory and visual perceptual activities provided in the book that a parent can do with their child to develop the skills the child needs so that he/she can succeed at school.

Special Needs educators have tried over and over to explain to us that we did not understand that LD's are for life. Hmm, guess they haven't read this book, wish they would.

This book is more functional than some I have read. It presents practical information regarding steps that can be taken to help overcome learning problems. The approach emphasizes not labeling children as learning disabled. It includes specific things to look for as causes to the learning problems and practical steps to improve the weaker skills. The book also includes some tests that you can conduct yourself to assess strengths and weaknesses. It also does not dismiss a child if he/she is over a certain age. It acknowledges that the older your child gets, the more difficult it may be, but improvement is still possible.

Perhaps the Table of Contents may be of use to you if you are considering buying this book. (1) Learning Disability, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder and Other Such Conditions, (2) Identifying the Problem, (3) Physical, Emotional and Neuromotor Factors, (4) Visual and Auditory Perceptual (Analysis) Skills, (5) Expressive and Receptive Language Abilities, (6) Where the Problems Are: Reading, Spelling, Writing, and Arithmetic, (7) Treatment Options, (8) Improving Perceptual Skills, (9) Improving a Child's Language Skills, (10) Compensatory Instruction, (11) Compensatory Instruction Methods, (12) The Instructional Environment, (13) Prevention, (14) Conclusion, Appendix A: Visual Perceptual Skills, Appendix B: Auditory Perceptual Skills, Appendix C: Testing and Teaching Decoding Activities

I would recommend this book for all teachers and parents who have preschoolers or younger students who perform below average.

A must book for parents with Learning Disabilities Children. It has helped me to understand my daughter who is NLD even better. The guides are very useful and practical.

This book is a must for parents and professionals in the field of learning disabilities. So little is known about symptoms and remediation for right side brain learning issues. The fact that Ms. Martin has a daughter with this issue makes her insight more credible, insightful and impassioned. Very readable for anyone.

Marilyn Martin has taken much of the mystery out of NLD in this very readable, thorough book. She includes not only the latest findings and strategies for working with children with this disability, but also her own experiences with her daughter, a person with NLD who is now a successful adult. Chapters about Sara are amusing, poignant, and beautifully written. They convey the everyday struggles of children with NLD. Other chapters are very practical and clear, identifying approaches and materials that help children like Sara flourish. The book will be a boon to parents, teachers, and other professionals.

This book is full of surprises. It is a tender love story rather than a dry account of the life of one of America's great bee-keepers, as I had half expected. It turned out to be a real page-turner - I had planned two weeks for this holiday read, but instead I finished the book within four days because I just could not put it down, it was that engrossing. The author also touches upon issues of race, religion, business, relationships, but it is done without polemics. The screen story is well-crafted and told with clarity and great attention to chronological and period details. I believe the story has great potential to be turned into an interesting and uplifting film that all families will enjoy.

This screenplay is a wonderful blend of historic fact and character study. Academically the author presents bee behavior, hive construction, and the monumental, worldwide, and timeless effect that Lorenzo Langstroth made with his discoveries. Theatrically the reader is caught up in a riveting, suspense story of a brilliant man wanting to save bee lives and his wife who helps him persevere in his quest. The Civil War era setting takes us back in time, but the struggles of mental illness (in the presence of extreme intelligence), religious conviction, marital dedication, family financial obligations, and patent intrusions are current challenges. Please do read this wonderful piece and learn about Lorenzo's "bee space" and the road to discovery.

The universal theme of KING OF THE BEES is "triumph over adversity." Lorenzo Langstroth suffered all his life, both physically and mentally, from a terrifying undiagnosed ailment that nearly drove him mad from pain. His wife Anne stood resolutely by him throughout his long ordeal, refusing to let him give up until he fulfilled his destiny to save bees from destruction. Anne, in fact, is the protagonist--the driving force--in my story, with Lorenzo as antagonist. Lorenzo's discovery of the principle of "bee space," his radical new hive invention, and his enduring book on beekeeping would never have been possible without the love, devotion and fierce determination of Anne Tucker Langstroth--the woman both behind and beside the genius (and sometimes in front--pulling!). If Lorenzo, the "Father of American Beekeeping," truly was "King" of the bees, then Anne, just as surely, was their "Queen."

Learning Disabilities: There Is A Cure by educator Addie Cusimano (a specialist in the field of reading) is an instructional guide specifically written for parents, educators, and physicians concerning practiced and proven techniques to overcoming the extra challenges of dyslexia and other learning disorders that affect students across America. A first-rate consultation book drawn from an extensive field of practical experience and offering time-proven methods that work, Learning Disabilities is very highly recommended reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of educating a child with a learning barrier.

I am a parent of a 9 year old child (3rd grader) who has had trouble in school since kindergarten. We have struggled to understand why such a bright child was having so much difficulty in school. This book helped us understand that the problem was that she was deficient in specific learning skills that could be developed with proper instruction. We didn't even realize these skills were involved in learning. It also offered suggestions as to what we could do, as parents, to help her develop these skills. It has given us the information we need to knowledgably discuss our concerns with her teachers.

The title of my review really says it all. This book gives hope and guidance. It is written by a real expert but she doesn't use a bunch of technical words. The book is a joy to read because of how she presents it and because of the information in it. You will find things you can do right now to help your child. You don't need to go out and buy expensive special programs. Just read her book!

This is probably the best book I have read since reading Lonesome Dove many years ago.

LIKE OTHER BOOKS ABOUT VIETNAM I DO NOT THINK IT REFLECTS THE TRUE HORROR OF THAT TIME, BUT FEEL IT IS PROBABLY BEYOND WORDS. I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN SEE THAT THEY REALLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIS DRIVE TO EXCELL. IT REALLY HELPED SINCE BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I ARE FROM FERTILE, MN. WE REALLY ENJOY LAND O LAKES CHEESE AND PICK SOME UP WHEN WE ARE IN THE AREA. VERY INTERESTING READ. IT IS JUST LIKE YOU ARE LISTENING TO HIM TALK.

Vietnam veteran Jon Hovde teams up with Maureen Anderson to bring us a real life tale of heroes, redemption, sadness, suffering and joy! Jon's life story "Left for Dead - A Second Life After Vietnam" will inspire you and it will also make you very aware of the sacrifices that many veterans have made on the personal level. This book tells it like it was and allows you to view a part of the veteran experience that mostly remains hidden from the public view.

We find that Jon is very much a human being with all that baggage that comes from being a baby boomer growing up in the 1950's and 1960's. That includes his days spent driving fast cars and getting drunk. But his story takes us to new places of the heart and the spirit as we follow along on his personal journey through his life. We are there with him when his body is ravaged by war and his life is almost taken from him. Then we get an insider view of what it was like to recover and try to move on with his life. As a reader you will find yourself rooting for him as he begins his new life with a wife and family.

The thing that will impress you most when reading this story is the author's lack out anger or outrage at what the war did to him. He accepts life as it is and moves onward as best he can. Of course, with all that happened to him it is matter of time when he discovers that his workaholic attitude is killing him and that he needs to focus on his family and personal needs. He deals with many issues from PTSD to excessive drinking to depression but it is all just a part of the healing process for Jon as he continues to move spiritual and emotionally forward with his life.

This book is riveting--once you read the first few pages you will not put it down until you have savored the final words on the last page. I know that is what happened to me. The book will inspire you as does his life to many people. Jon is a special person and is now doing much through his public speaking and now his book, to inspire and to help others.

This book gets the MWSA TOP RATING - 5 STARS! A must read book

2005 Silver Medal Award for Military Non-Fiction!

It is for a layperson like myself - as well as the professional person - a very good and rewarding book to read. I learned a lot from what I read - and wanted to continue - because it is not too technical - well, there is some chapters of defining the terms and the framework to relate to. However it never takes over - and there is so much LOVE and CARE in her work. I like the brilliant way in which the author brings in the voices and experiences of 13 individuals.

What struck me most was that the skills used by the individuals in meeting the challenge of LD could be a guideline and a necessity of us the majority without LD to incorporate. So I shall read it again.

I reviewed this book in the Annotated Bibliograpy of Learning A Living; A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding a Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder and Dyslexia. Here is what I wrote:

Through quotations from people with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, this book describes the experience of having these disabilities and ways to cope with them. Includes information on dating, marriage, work, home, and friendship. The last chapter outlines a progressive agenda for improving the well-being of adults with learning disabilities.

As the parent of a 22 year old learning disabled daughter I can attest to the validiy of everything written in this book.

The format is easy to read and understand. I liked the paragraphs written by the author and then followed up by quotes from the interviewed adults. This book is not jargon filled and is a great resource for people with little knowledge about adults with learning disabilities as well as those who have spent many years in the field on learning disabilities.

What a great help this book will be to the general population in understanding the struggles of adults facing the difficult challenges learning disabilities impose on living a successful, joyfilled life.

Every employer should have this book as a resource.

I was required to buy this book as part of my masters study. I am extreamly lucky to have Ellen Arnold, the author of this book as my teacher for the course. The book is absolutly wonderful and gives great ideas and strategies for using the multiple intelligences in the classroom. It is also very useful in looking at how you can apply those intelligences all over the curriculum. This book is a great resource for any type of classroom.

Written especially for those responsible for teaching students who have difficulty learning, The MI Strategy Bank by Ellen Arnold (Director of Arncraft, a company dedicated to educational consulting) looks at eight different types of intelligence shared among human beings, from musical-rhythmic, to bodily-kinesthetic, to logical-mathematical intelligence. For each type of natural intelligence at which a person may excel, there are special strategies that can be utilized to apply that intelligence to learning how to solve other types of problems. For example, young people with a keenness for music can learn to create a song for number facts or tap math facts to a rhythm when learning math, among many other possible strategies. The MI Strategy Bank is recommended as being a first-rate supplementary educational resource for classroom instruction.

This quote from the back cover of the book, "The MI Strategy Bank" sums up the author's beliefs. Dr. Arnold expands on the Howard Gardner theory of multiple intelligences--the part of your brain that you use the most in learning new tasks. These include musical, visual, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, mathmatical, nature & linguistic. She begins each section by relating a real-life experience, and then proceeds to lay out characteristics & strategies for learning in reading, writing, and math; how-to's on developing your particular strengths; and also info on conflict-resolution. Her outlines can be easily adapted to lesson plans for teachers or as creative ideas for parents in home use. Emphasis is on the fact that this style of teaching is for anyone(she has worked with people from 3 to 63!)...it can be applied in any setting, such as school, or for the adult in the workplace, when encountering new demands. This book features clear, articulate language in a simple, direct style and includes a glossary of terms, basic overview, and thorough bibliography. This is fascinating to read, and thrilling to put into action. The "Bank"--this book--has the investments needed that will allow you to empower your student or yourself to tap into all your abilities.

No child left behind no longer needs to be a catchy phrase but can now become a reality in an education system that is willing to incorporate the ground breaking results of Dr. Thornton's research and Neurocognitive program.

The honest and committed efforts in school districts to improve the LD child's academic functioning has experienced only limited success. The focus of remediation programs that schools utilized was to train the dysfunctioning adacemic skill in order to imporve the child's cognitive ability. The goal was to bring about a change in the neuropsysiology of the brain by working from the outside (tutoring) to bring about change on the inside (improved cognitive ability).

The Neurocognitive program developed by Dr. Thornton, and so clearly presented in his book, requires a paradigm shift in our perception of remediation. The Neurocognitive approach directs remediation at the dysfunctioning neuropsysiology of the LD child to stimulate connections in the brain to function more effectively in the academic task, i.e. reading. Neurocognitive remediation works to change the brain functioning within the cerebral cortex in order for the child to achieve success on the outside academic task.

Neurocognitive biofeedback opens a whole new vista to our education system. The neurotherapy field itself is still in the initial stage developing and researching the vast potential of enhancing brain functioning through self-regulation training. Dr. Thornton, in his book, demonstrates the power of the Neurocognitive approach to transform the lives of learning disabled children. Educators, it will make a difference so that no child will be left behind.

Henry A. Malone, Ph.D., Psychologist.

Dr. Thornton's book is an excellent work which describes his ground breaking research for the development of a neurocognitive approach using the quantitative EEG for the treatment of brain functioning for those with learning disabilities, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury. There is convincing evidence throughout the book of an increase in cognitive effectiveness, using Dr. Thornton's neurocognitive intervention model, with a 15 point average gain in IQ, demonstrated in multiple studies. Dr. Thornton presents convincing evidence for using QEEG activated guided neurofeedback to quantify the relationship between cognitive activity and electrophysiological variables, thereby, increasing the cognitive effectiveness of the brain. One of the underlying principles in Dr. Thornton's approach to EEG biofeedback treatment is to activate the brain under relevant conditions such as listening and reading, while monitoring brain waves and adjusting current patterns of functioning using electronic guidance during trial and error learning. Brain mapping is used to guide the treatment.

Based on scientific investigation presented in Dr. Thornton's book, it seems likely that our school systems could make a dramatic difference in improving educational outcomes for those with learning difficulties, using Dr. Thornton's neurocognitive approach compared to traditional models. Dr. Thornton makes a sound argument for the efficacy of his approach compared to the current educational intervention programs, suggesting that traditional models are minimally effective and more costly and time consuming than his model. I applaud Dr. Thornton for his work and what his contributions could mean for helping a myriad of children, adolescents and their familites suffering from problems in brain functioning.

Elizabeth Shanshala Stubbs Ph.D.,Psychologist

Dr. Thornton has compiled a truely important work. Readers will become convinced that we can do much better with our educational interventions by adopting a new paradigm.

The neurocognitive approach is a special kind of biofeedback. Biofeedback means interacting with a display of your physiology. EEG biofeedback begins by monitoring brain waves and encourages adjustments to current patterns of functioning with electronic guidance during trial and error learning. Dr. Thornton convincingly advocates that a certain type of brain mapping guide this intervention.

This book deserves to be broadly read and studied. The field of neurofeedback is currently vastly under-recognized. This book makes clear the extraordinary power and effectiveness of brain wave biofeedback in general and Dr. Thornton's approach in particular. Who cannot be impressed with muliple studies showing an average gain in IQ of 15 points?

I have never seen such compelling evidence that traditional educational programs pale in comparison to neurofeedback in general and QEEG activation guided neurofeedback in particular. Dr. Thornton achieves consistently strong results with learning disabilities.

At the inception of it's release, this book already has an auspicious history. I showed an early version of this book to the federal education department. Based on the bibliography and sound research basis presented here, the Institue of Educational Sciences has decided to request applications for further study of neurefeedback in education in several categories.

"The Institute's FY 2007 RFAs have already been released. They are available on the website (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ies/programs.html). Individuals interested in the use of neurofeedback to improve reading outcomes should check the National Center for Education Research, NCER topics on (1) Reading and Writing, (2) Interventions for Struggling Adolescent and Adult Readers, and (3) Cognition and Student Learning, In addition, they should check the NCSER topic on Reading, Writing, and Language Development."

Once these large randomized controlled trials are completed, this book will continue to be seen as a guide to what is possible. The implications for transforming all of special education are vast.

Gary Ames, Psychologist, Bala Cynwyd, PA.