Disabled Books

I bought this book thinking it will give me great insights on alternative ways of thinking and working but it's just another popular propaganda without any real substance.

The psychology in the book is nothing but folk theories.

I read this book slowly. Word by word. Not because I am dyslexic, but because I didn't want to miss anything that the author had to say. This book let me understand that my family isn't alone in struggling with the paradox of not hearing but seeing too well. A must have book and I am a confirmed library user.

"In the Mind's Eye" is the most interesting book I've ever read. Author Thomas G. West shows how advanced computer graphic technology is starting to provide an educational and professional home for the dyslexic visual thinker. In delightful and precise language, he illustrates why this new world of processing requires a global perspective, or the ability to see the whole of a phenomenon, as opposed to the blinkered view of an isolated part, and thereby to recognize patterns and quickly identify irregularities and problems. A three-dimensional view of each trader's performance could have saved Baron's Bank from the rogue trader who destroyed it.

The brain design that enables the visual thinker to grasp vast amounts of data by seeing it from a global perspective often comes with dyslexia or other learning difficulties. For these people, the traditional classroom and bureaucratic organization are nightmares. Schools, universities, and corporations flush out many dyslexic visual thinkers at great cost to the progress of civilization.

Nowadays computers eliminate what in earlier systems caused problems. They handle spelling and calculations easily. Another kind of student and professional is needed, an individual who is talented at manipulating images, rather than those facile with arithmetic and able to recite on demand memorized passages assigned by a teacher.

This extended essay would interest the general reader as much as it would the visual thinker. West exposes you to a careful look at gifted, dyslexic visual thinkers who made extraordinary contributions to civilization. You will read about how these giants refused to buy into the dominant clerically oriented educational and professional systems and forged ahead to devise original ways to build on their strengths.

I was particularly interested that for these profiled individuals, what they had on hand was enough for their pursuits - the expertise and material available to them through their studies, work, or personal interests. They were able to shrug off professional, family, or societal expectations, giving themselves plenty of time to think quietly. Their passions lay in engagement rather than whether their inventions or discoveries would work or would sell. Their ideas and activities will trigger pyrotechnics of thought and, possibly, a myriad of ideas for projects to pursue in your free time.

This book is a revelation for parents of a "mystery" child, who has many inexplicable difficulties in school (although not necessarily dyslexia), but also has extreme strengths in visual spacial areas, such as building and drawing. When I finally read this book, after years of struggle and searching and pain for my child, there was instant recognition. I looked at my child in a whole new way, realizing that I, and the school, were assuming that certain things were the most important (coincidentally, the things WE were good at), when this entirely untapped area was probably the key to the success of mankind. While focusing on the child's weaknesses, the extreme strengths were going unrecognized and unrewarded. I credit this book with saving my child's happiness, after years and years of criticism. Said child is now an adult engaged in a brand new field which uses those extreme strengths. Thank you, James West, for saving my child. I just wish we had found you (and you had written this book) earlier.

This author challenges the status quo about learning and creativity. His ideas challenge you think and re-visit your preconceptions.

On the other hand, his writing style is difficult and repetitive. Although interested I found it difficult to finish this book.

I read the entire book in 2 days which means it did not say much to make me think. It reads really easy because it says the same thing over and over, albeit with different words. In essence White culture is not appropriate for our Black youth and therefore our Black youth should not be subjected to being forced to learn White culture from ages 6 to 18 (1st grade - 12th grade).

One goal of the book is to empower Black people to take ownership of their heritage and responsiblity for educating their children with the appropriate lessons. It offered no suggestions to non-Black people about what they can do to include African culture in the classroom other than including a handful of African leaders and the traditional Black men in our lessons. The book shows fault with teaching the history of the US because it does not include a history of Africa simultaneously.

The last chapter, like many books designed to get people riled up to make a difference, offers suggestions on how Black people can unite their community and educate themselves. The book promotes segregation because White schools are not appropriate for our Black children. There should be Black schools run by Black people so that Black children can get an appropriate education. The author faults White people for teaching Black children with methods that exist in all power structures in the US. We are apparently oppressing our Black youth by teaching Black children skills that are used in all strata of influence.

I am interested in what the author has to say if/when Obama becomes President. What excuses will he have then for why Black children are not successful in our sterotypical White schools?

First of all, as an educator of future educators of black boys, I loved the fact that this was a quick read. We have to be so careful of the labels we allow to be placed on children because they may accept them. Michael Porter is not afraid to expose what he has witnessed and offer practical solutions.If you are not afraid of truth, you have to read this eyeopener. Porter wrote that whether our boys become productive, prosperous, non criminalized men is a litmus test for public education.His experiences as a teacher of behavior disordered children made him answer no to the preceding question.

Service was quick and it arrived before the projected date. The book was in great condition-like new.

This book, along with Jawanzaa Kunjufu's books, is a must read for all educators. If you want to make a positive change in the lives of African American males, it is important to understand the "powers" that are in place that hinders the growth of not just our African American boys, but all of our children, because without the positive influences/gifts of these young boys, everyone will suffer.

As an educator, I can whole-heartedly agree! Thank you for putting this into print. PLease seek 60 Minute & 20/20 for an audience. Give them the direction to investigate & and PLEASE follow through! I am buying this book & referring it to all of my co-workers. Ouch!

I bought this book because I am interested in the gifted program for my kid. However, I am very surprised that this book is totally irrelevant to my need. The book talks about the IQ and the gifted program, but there is not a single sample test in the book. Answer this question: what is the bird that can not fly and can be eaten by people? Am I talking about chicken, turkey or Australian orstrich? Show me the real picture!

Not just every parent of a gifted child, but every teacher and every guidance counselor of gifted children, too, should read Parent's Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education. Palmer explains all in one book, what it took me years of talking to dozens of gifted professionals to learn for myself. And Palmer makes it easy to read, with review points at the end of each chapter - if you're in a hurry, read the review points first, and pick the chapters that answer the questions you have right now. But read the whole book cover to cover when you have time - it's worth it!

What do IQ tests measure, and what don't they measure? What's the difference between group and individual tests? How about surveys? What are the different kinds of scores that result from these tests: standard scores, percentiles, and age-equivalent scores? How are gifted children identified by these tests? Which groups of children are commonly under-identified? How does identification vary from school district to school district and state to state? And besides test scores, what are the characteristics commonly found in gifted children?

But Parent's Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education is not just about tests and testing. It describes various gifted education programs, and how those programs may or may not serve your gifted child. Are there disadvantages to being gifted? Palmer describes common sensitivities of the gifted child, and the possible effects on the child's self-esteem.

Gifted children may also suffer from learning disabilities, much to the surprise of parents and teachers alike. In Part III, Palmer points out possible LDs, and identification methods for gifted children with memory, attention, vision or auditory processing problems, and more. What are the options for gifted and learning disabled, also called twice exceptional children? IEPs, resource rooms, aides and more, are discussed.

Palmer concludes with a history of the measure of intelligence, IQ tests and testing, nature and nurture, and other discussion topics.

If you are the parent of a gifted child, or you suspect you're the parent of a gifted child, you should read this book. And if you are a teacher, you should read this book to learn more about the gifted children in your classroom.

We were interested in finding ways to challenge our daughter who was working far ahead of most of the other children in her grade and was starting to complain about school being "boring." She's always had good teachers who try to find ways to modify the schoolwork for her, but much of the time she seemed to be going over things she already knew.

My husband and I read this book after having our daughter tested at the Palmer Learning Center (Dr. Palmer sent us a copy along with the assessment report). The information in this book, along with Dr. Palmer's report and recommendations, really helped us understand our options and find the programs our daughter needs. Our daughter's school doesn't offer formal gifted programs until third grade, but we were able to work with her teachers and come up with a plan where she is being accelerated in two subjects. We are also looking into enrolling her in a summer camp for gifted kids at a local university and trying out an online program in the future.

The book is written for parents who, like us, have little background in testing and programming for gifted kids. Dr. Palmer offers straightforward and objective advice and doesn't push any one type of gifted programming. He clearly explains what parents need to know about each topic in understandable language.

If you have a child who is bored in school and you need help understanding what testing and programming for the gifted is all about, this is the book you should start with. Highly recommended!

Chapters Include:

A Closer Look at IQ Tests: What they Measure and What the Scores Mean
Identifying Gifted Kids - Who Gets Tested and Why?
What is Gifted Education - And Is It Right for My Child?
IQ Testing and Gifted Education - Answers to the Questions Parents Ask Most
Signs of Giftedness - What You Should Look For and Why You Should Know
Is it Good to Be Gifted? Optimal IQ and the Flipside to Being Gifted
Bright Kids with Learning Problems - When IQ and Achievement Don't Match Up
IQ Testing in the Schools - How Did it Start?
What is Intelligence - And Can it Really be Measured?
Nature, Nurture, and Other Influences - Why We Are Who We Are

Dr. David Palmer's Parent's Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education is a very thorough look at intelligence testing in general and for gifted children in particular. Palmer covers the basics very well, and I found myself nodding vigorously in agreement with much that he had to say. Palmer discusses:

Why gifted children don't always score highly on intelligence testing
Hidden gifts
Late bloomers
Optimal IQ
Possible negative aspects of giftedness
And much, much more.

Palmer says, " IQ tests are certainly imperfect instruments and only one piece of the puzzle." He communicates clearly why kids should be evaluated for a gifted program based upon multiple criteria, and not a single group administered IQ test. While group tests are common screening tools, an individually administered IQ test is much more likely to provide reliable data. Even with a private assessment though, a gifted child may not do well, due to a variety of causes.

This book addresses types of gifted education and which students tend to benefit from them. Kids who are highly to profoundly gifted may need a more radical solution than those in the "optimally" gifted range, who tend to do well in school with only slight modifications.

The possibility of finding true peers becomes more difficult when a child is more highly gifted. Dr. Palmer talks about asynchronous development and how it can affect social interaction. A gifted child may look like other kids his age, and share a common level of emotional maturity. However, it can be awkward when this child also has the vocabulary, interests, and reasoning ability of someone several years older.

For parents who are unsure about the idea of testing, or who want to more fully understand what is being measured, this is a terrific book written in clear language with a lot of relevant information. I like the common sense attitude and the section on learning disabilities is outstanding.

If you are expecting a run-down of the particular tests in common use today, that is outside the scope of this book. Also, throughout the book, references to IQ scores seem to be based upon the old Stanford Binet LM, which provided scores up over 200. The LM is an older instrument which is rarely used these days, and it does not compare "apples to apples" with current tests which are designed to measure up to 160.

We were curious about our daughter's advanced abilities and wanted more information. Dr. Palmer's book explained the process of IQ testing and the different aspects of identifying gifted children, as well as explaining gifted education and other educational options. This book helped guide us through the process of identifying our daughter's needs and has assisted us in our ability to advocate for her. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is curious about their child's intelligence and wants some direction and help getting answers. It is a reference we refer to often.

AS was described
THanK you
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE more sellers like you :D

I bought this book based on the reviews written by previous buyers, especially the one that the buyer said they would not have survived their learning strategies class without this book--and I 100% AGREE! The way this book is arranged makes it very easy to make lesson plans and to make copies and overheads. The students understand the material and enjoy the exercises! This book is worth every penny!

I used this book as an activity book for my study skills development classes this past year and was very pleased with it. This works well for middle school and high school students who are having trouble developing study skills on their own.

These are good study strategies, whether a student has special learning needs or not. And with the ability to photocopy, this is a valuable resource that more than pays for itsself!

As a special education teacher I purchased this book because the title addressed the needs of the students I teach in a study skills class. However, the format of the book doesn't offer much in the way of copying many chapters or sections to teach to the students. Some chapters are user friendly, others are of no use the way they are formatted. Great title and table of contents but it is not very user friendly for teaching.
I also haven't been able to figure out the use of the CD that comes with it. Overall, for the price, I am disappointed.

I find this book fascinating on two accounts: First, that the age old question of whether the mind and the body are separate has been answered - dualism is not supported. And second, that there are educators so dedicated to helping those kids who typically fall through the cracks of our system of education. Bill Hubert takes the reader through his journey of exploration to help the 20% of kids who simply don't learn to read with conventional methods. What accelerates their learning? Exercise! Using old-time balance boards and juggling stimualtes the brain in rhythmical patterns which seem to provide the necessary neurological maps for their brains to begin the sojourn toward more disciplined thinking. Awesome book! Recommended for anyone in education or even coaching of younger children.

I'm just ordering this book to reinforce what Bill taught at the three-day workshop at Western State in Gunnison, Colorado. It was fast-moving and invigorating. Everyone who wants to REALLY DO Bal-A-Vis-X exercises needs to be trained by BILL to SEE and HEAR the exercises. I would recommend it to all... I foresee that I will probably buy his new DVD set in order to remember exactly how to do the exercises.

Very valuable input and helpful to us as we struggle with learning for our son. Product was received in excellent condition and we are looking forward to implementing all of the ideas in the book.

...Bill Hubert was an elemntary and middle school teacher who "Over time...concluded that all of his students who struggled academically tended to exhibit similar physical characteristics:

-an inability to control eyes
-an inability to focus attention
-an inability to sit or stand without moving
-graceless, often illegible handwriting
-stiff/locked posture while sitting, standing, walking, or running
-limp/supportless posture while sitting, standing, walking, or running
-rhythmless gait while walking or running
-rhythmless cadence while talking or reading aloud
-apparent ambidextrousness, which was often neither-handedness
-general clumsiness
-mental and /or physical apathy"

...sorry, thirty years observation in an elemntary school classroom doesn't qualify as substantial evidence for such a conclusion...and as if that weren't enough of an intellectual "leap of faith" he then claims after "two decades of trial-and-error discovery" he found a therapy: "Bal-A-Vis-X"...and while juggling balls while standing on a balance board may, in fact, enhance mental faculties in some fashion, there is not a shred of scientific evidence that it does...the concept of "educational kinesiology" falls under the category of "applied kinesiology" which itself was founded by a chiropractor named Goodheart about forty years ago...and neither "educational kinesiology" nor "applied kinesiology" have any more scientific merit than chiropractics -- i.e. none...but Mr. Huber does have something -- he's got a lot of stuff to sell to you...why, he's got books, videos, seminars, demonstrations -- all available to order from his website...heck, you can even order the beanbags and balance boards from him!...if your kid's got some learning inadequacy you would probably do just as well buying him a skateboard or a gameboy as hounding him with the activities in this book.

I was expecting something that would cover how to set up a bal-a-vis-x program, but what I ran into was the complete history and impetus for creating the program. It took longer to get to the meat of how the program works, but by having the cronicle of how it all came about, I was even more encouraged by the program. I am going to buy more of these books for my son's school's teachers.

Inside Out Girl is the story of Len and Rachel, two single parents struggling to balance work, parenting as well as managing a trauma that occurs unexpectedly. Soon after they meet, they begin dating and find their lives quickly intertwined as a couple in relation to their children, especially Len's daughter Olivia who has NLD (non-verbal learning disorder). The plot and writing were a trite at times but what I really enjoyed was the characters. They feel authentic and well drawn. I kept reading in large chunks just to find out what happened to these folks. This is what seems to be a light read at first but as it progresses, has much more depth because of the character development and subject matter.

Olivia Bean is an odd duck. She is ten years old, wears mismatched clothes sometimes inside out, never brushes her hair, and always talks about rats. She has NLV, which is Nonverbal Learning Disorder. It is a neurological condition that can prevent a person from understanding anything that is not verbal. They will comprehend your words but will not get subtext and can never understand sarcasm.

Len, her father, has been raising Olivia on his own ever since his wife died. It is a very hard life. Then in walks Rachel Berman and her two children, Jamie and Dustin. Jamie and Dustin go to the same school as Olivia and they don't openly tease her - but they wouldn't be caught dead in the same room with her.

As Rachel and Len's relationship becomes deeper, secrets held by all come apparent and empathy comes alive.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a teacher and I like trying to understand many types of learning disorders. My school is dealing with autistic children now more than ever, and since this is one form of autism it is good to understand it.

I feel that young people should read books like this to understand about those "weird" children that attend their schools and realize that they have feelings and can't help what they do. This story also spoke about bullies. Olivia is bullied and doesn't understand why. She isn't mean and wants friends but the other girls are cruel.

INSIDE OUT GIRL is a wonderful story that sends a good message about how we treat others.

Reviewed by: Marta Morrison

Rachel is an uptight single mother of Janie and Dustin, who is trying to save her family's parenting magazine from going under. Len is a widowed father, who is trying his best to raise his daughter in spite of her non-verbal learning disorder, which prevents her from finding meaning in people's body language. Due to Olivia's inability to understand social cues, she always wears her mismatched clothes inside out and is consequently deemed `inside out girl' by her schoolmates.

Throughout the novel, readers get an intimate glimpse into the thoughts and lives of Rachel, Janie, Len and Olivia. My only criticism is that Rachel's son, Dustin, and her mother, Piper, were always involved in the plot and yet never get the proper attention by the narrative that I would have liked to see. The reader does not get the chance to hear their perspectives on the events that transpire, which could have made for a more complete story.

What I really enjoyed about the book was its fresh approach to childhood disorders. Cohen was always sensitive with her description of non-verbal learning disorder and took care to inform readers, while also showing the difficulties and worries that often arise for affected children and their parents. I was incredibly moved by Cohen's portrayal of Olivia, which I believe effectively conveys her true talents as a writer and a storyteller.

While there were instances when the fine line between heartwarming and cliché was blurred, the characters were still able to evoke genuine emotion out of me. I felt most connected to Olivia and I found myself wishing she was real just so I could give her a big hug! The bullying that she endured really angered me and the touching things she said never failed to elicit a smile or a tear. It is Olivia that truly carries the storyline and it is evident that she has a profound effect on the book's characters and I'm sure an equally profound effect upon the book's readers.

"Inside Out Girl" tells the story of two families who endure hardship and tragedy, but also gain important insight and self-discovery along the way. It is a story that contains romance, love and family but can by no means be described only as such. It is a much deeper look into life and what really matters once the trappings of daily life are shaved away.

http://bookopolis.blogspot.com

Rachel Berman has inherited her parents' magazine, Perfect Parent, and tries to live up to its ideal. But even as she struggles with the idea of publishing articles about special-needs children, Olivia Bean shows up in her life. Olivia's father, Len, has done the best he could in raising his daughter alone, and still struggles with her Non-Verbal Learning Disorder.

Rachel's kids can't believe their mother is dating the father of the weirdest kid in school, the one they call Inside Out Girl. But as this makeshift family gets to know each other, everyone finally comes to realize how special Olivia really is.

When Len faces a personal crisis, he turns to Rachel to be there for his daughter, and Rachel doesn't disappoint him. And in the process she finally faces a skeleton that's been haunting her from her own past

Tish Cohen has created a real and believable cast of characters. Heartbreakingly pathetic at times, Olivia is stubborn, funny, and hard not to love. Rachel's kids, and especially Janie, show tremendous growth and maturity in accepting Olivia into the family. And Rachel learns it's okay to not always be a perfect parent.

But in the end, it's Len who will steal your heart as he does everything he can to take care of his daughter, and I couldn't stop myself from crying as the story came to a close. Tish Cohen handles this sensitive subject masterfully, and I highly recommend this powerfully moving book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews

Olivia refuses to allow Georgia Boy to be buried. The gerbil is stiff, dead that long, but little Olivia Bean can't quite register the idea of death. She has a learning disorder known as NLD (nonverbal learning disability, causing her to operate on a very literal level), but come to think of it ... most of us have trouble understanding death.

And so we are introduced, beginning with Olivia, to the cast of characters in Tish Cohen's "Inside Out Girl." They are not so very unlike the characters in our own lives, our own families or the families of our friends. The circumstances that tangle and untangle around them are a variation on many of today's typical families. Yes, there is the divorce. And the second chance. Two families patched together with two single parents at the helm, Rachel and Len, each with their own children, trying to make things work again.

Olivia, with a disability that translates into wearing her emotional "insides" on her outside - thus the title - is really the part of the iceberg that presses its tip above water level into bright exposure. She is the inside of all of us. Only Olivia isn't any good at wearing masks ... like most of us do. She is who she is, and so she is all of us in our most tender, tucked-away insides: vulnerable, open-hearted, eager to love and be loved, eager to belong. There is a wonderful innocence and naivete about this child that makes us ache to be more real. More like her. Hearts open to life again. Even as we can also identify (and wish we didn't) with the other children in this blended family who resist being associated with "the least popular girl in school," who hasn't a clue about how to be "cool."

"Inside Out Girl" is a story about two broken families taking a chance at being one family. Who says it has to be less than the original? The relationship that we see develop between the parents, Rachel and Len, is built on a learning from the past. Len, Rachel observes, is all that ex David was not. David was a bit obsessive-compulsive, too neat for comfort, a bit of a dandy. He "diddled" female colleagues while keeping the creases in his trousers straight. Len, perhaps by some influence from his daughter, Olivia, is more "inside out." He has compassion, he has heart, he is and understands imperfection. And Rachel, to him, is a new hope at making the broken places in him whole again.

The rest of the cast, a crew of lively teens and their school pals, with explorations of contemporary parenting issues (Rachel is an editor for Perfect Parenting magazine, which adds a note of irony and humor to her less than perfect parenting skills), brings the story neatly into our familiar living rooms. Those of us who are parents will have dealt with at least a handful of the issues Cohen explores in this family. Quite like home.

Which isn't to say this is an easy ride. Here we see the pain of social isolation (and not just among the children), of bullying (and not just between children), of giving in to peer pressure (and not just between children). Cohen deftly balances the common with the uncommon, plays on heartstrings without sounding a violin of melodrama. If the disability discussed here is less known, although not so very different from, autism, it serves to make the reader aware of how buried we can become in social norms, the pressures to not stand out from the crowd, or to stop taking the risks required to find a more lasting happiness. While this may not be a literary classic to withstand time, it does capture this moment in time, our contemporary everyday, and perhaps in that accomplishes a moment of warming sunlight. Yes, Olivia, we do all have hearts. Even if we tuck them safely away so much of the time. This little girl helps us see that we all struggle with some bit of disability in our life-worn hearts.

Tish Cohen was interviewed in the literary ezine, The Smoking Poet, fall issue 2008, in which she talks about this novel as well as her other work, wearing a little of her own inside out. The interview gives further insight into both author and novel.

~Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet

Parents of kids newly diagnosed as having autism are often concerned bout how to interact with their child for maximum effectiveness. Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum is more than just a book about how to play with such a child: it shows how to break down activities into manageable stages, gain a child's attention, and build on play-oriented achievements for broader impact. Any parent with an autistic child will find this a winning guide, as will educators working with special education kids.

there are a few good ideas in this book, not exactly for me, but perhaps for others. I always find that it seems that they reach to hard to try and fill these types of books with activities, just take the concepts here and apply to each individual child is what I say!

There was some good info in this book, but mostly common sense. I am a early childhood teacher with a child with autism, and most of this is common practice in early childhood. It does give you a reason for the skill difficulty in children with autism, then gives you some ideas. not bad.

I thought that this was a great book. it really focuses on younger children, most other books that I have read are geared towards older kids. There were a lot of practical ideas and simple things that you could do with your child.

I found this book to be a great resource. It's a very gentle, child-centered way to promote interactive play with children on the spectrum. The examples are creative and easy to follow and most of the materials you can make yourself. Highly recommended!

My son was recently diagnosed with NVLD and this book was very enlightening. It helped to have some "aha" moments of things going on with him and how to make life easier for us all. A very quick read and very positive over all.

This book was ok. It was the first book I have read specific to non-verbal learning disability, but the information wasn't anything that new. A lot of it I had read before in investigating sensory integration disorder and dyspraxia. A quick read and ok if you haven't already covered a lot of ground on neurological based developmental disorders. If you are a closet expert I wouldn't spend the money or time.

Excellent informative resource for parents with NLD's. Recommend this book for everyone who has children with NLD or is working with children.
LB camamo island

There is embarrassingly little available for parents of children with NLD, and this book is not great but is better than most books. (The only one better is "NLD at school" by Tanguay.) This book at least does cover some of the basic issues that come up for children with NLD, but there is too much focus on how the author solved her own child's issues rather than providing a selection of ideas.

This book is jam packed with information about NLD. It's a page turner for those of you who need this very important information about your NLD child. Marcia has delved into areas of this difficult disability with a vengence, and has come up with some wonderfully positive solutions. I learned so much about NLD, that I highly recommend it to anyone that needs to learn more about the problems and solutions for a child with this frustrating disability.

As a positive psychologistEnchanted Self: A Positive Therapy (New Directions in Therapeutic Intervention , Vol 1) I am always on the look out for inspirational writings. All the better if they are truly the story of a person's efforts to make the most of her life. That's what we find in The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine...We really get to see how day after day after day a person can struggle and succeed against what seem to be terrible odds. I actually had a chance to 'meet' Shirley in a teleclass we mutually took. I was so impressed with her actual being, not just her writings. She is very special and has a message for all of us: Don't give up! You have purpose and there is a way. I always try to give my clients that same message in some fashion or other, whether I try to infuse hope by my words, or share via my books, such as my new book,The Truth, I'm a girl, (I'm smart and I know everything)where I try to re-invest adults with the courage and fire they had as kids and at the same time help kids keep the fire.

Even though this book is long, I still highly recommend it. You may want to randomly even open a page for a new dose of 'fairy dust' giving you encouragement to make the most of your life!

As a life and personal coach, I encourage my clients to read about people who face challenges and tragedies and manage not only to survive, but to thrive. Shirley Cheng's biography, "The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine," is such a book.

Shirley's life could have turned out very differently had she and her mother been cowed by the appalling behavior of doctors, teachers, landlords, social services employees, lawyers and even friends. Instead, their courage and willingness to confront rather than accept ill treatment, led Shirley, a blind, disabled woman, to create a life filled with meaning and singularly lacking in self-pity or bitterness.

Reading of Shirley's physical pain, her increasingly weakening body, the slipshod way she was handled by school aids who were supposed to be helping her, the legal wranglings over her care, would make anyone scream in frustration. Even worse was the way Shirley was treated by an endless list of so-called professionals. Hardly anyone listened to Shirley or her mother regarding her pain, her intelligence or her thirst for education. The indictment of so many people who should have been on Shirley's side, is a sad commentary on our medical, social service and educational systems. In addition, Shirley's father evidently was a manipulator and a cruel man who refused to use his money for the benefit of his daughter. The hardships she and her mother faced feel unendurable. Yet they were endured. And despite poor medical care, despite teachers who seemed uninterested in helping this talented student, despite unfeeling "friends," in two countries, this mother and daughter fought and won many more battles than they lost.

Unlike Shirley, few of us seem to have the innate ability to face every day and everyone with a smile regardless of our own painful circumstances. Yet we can read her story with an open heart and choose to integrate her positive outlook and determination into our own lives in a way that will serve us and those around us. After all, this is the reason Shirley wrote the book. She hoped that her story would inspire others to treat everyone with respect, to stand up for what we believe in and to reach out to those less fortunate.

"She was running toward a glistening stream with fish of all colors flying out of the water. With laughter escaping her lips, she chased a white butterfly amidst the green field of wildflowers. Her black hair glowed with a halo of brightness, with sunrays dancing about her. The blue sky was accentuated by a shimmering rainbow..." ~pg. 116

Shirley Cheng is the author of Dance with Your Heart: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells. She is a highly imaginative writer who has access to beautiful inner worlds where she creates mythological tales and beautiful stories.

In "The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine" we are able to access an extremely detailed portrait of 700 pages explaining Shirley Cheng's life and how she became a writer. As if observing her life as an angelic protecting presence, she writes of her life's struggles and challenges she faces due to many people in her life seeming to show a general insensitivity to her condition.

As a child she is diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but this is only the beginning of a long journey filled with therapies and medications, not to mention medical complications due to medication side effects. As Shirley Cheng seeks to make sense of why certain medical problems keep occurring, she faces life with a refreshingly honest and hopeful approach.

"Picking up a book, Shirley began to enter into a different world, a world that she could escape to from her surroundings. After the first quarter, she had begun to increase her reading and writing volume. She read three books a day, averaging five to six hundred pages." ~pg. 375

After spending the entire morning reading Shirley's work out on my deck in the sun, I can recommend anyone to do the same. This is a world where you can not only view the outer struggles of the poet's life, the inner world is also revealed in creative flourishes I started to look forward to finding throughout the writing:

"The strong wind whirled, bringing dancing flakes in its invisible arms, equally distributing a thin layer of snow to other places of the frozen land. Small spheres of shimmering, crystalline flowers alighted upon the earth from their silvery home above, while the sun slept peacefully below the horizon..."~ pg. 6

~The Rebecca Review

Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (3/06)


This book is about the young life of Shirley Cheng, but really it is the story of two remarkable women, Shirley and her mother Juliet. It tells of the trials, tribulations and obstacles that they had to overcome. Shirley was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when she was 11 months old. Juliet then started her quest to find treatment for her daughter. Shirley's childhood was spent between America and China, looking for new
medicines and treatments. Several times Juliet had to fight for custody of her daughter when doctors wanted to do things she did not approve of.

The first goal in Shirley's life was to get an education, this did not go smoothly either. Between school administrators that would not listen to them, and aides that were very cruel, Shirley persevered and gained her GED diploma. She was also asked to speak at the graduation, an honor she embraced. Besides the arthritis, Shirley also suffers from several other diseases including heart problems, severe constipation, multiple allergies, asthma and blindness. It is through faith and sheer determination that Shirley has been successful.

What will Shirley accomplish in the rest of her life? She has proven that she can do anything she puts her mind to. The love and joy that mother and daughter derive from each other is a precious thing to behold.

This is a complex story written in an easy to read, conversational fashion that is disarming, yet sometimes astounding in its micro-details (ie., telephone conversations you get word-for-word); Shirley Cheng seems to have the memory of a titan. Nevertheless, at times you feel some information is missing--must be missing, because why else the poor treatment by one person after another, one agency after another, one doctor after another, one medical aide after another? But then it hits you--these people, these agencies, these medical "professionals" are really, in many cases, THAT awful! The truth is that American medicine, American government schools and American government agencies all too often think they are GOD. But they're not.

In fact, this book poignantly shows how the enormity of the misuse of power, such as trying to take an ill and hurting child away from its primary source of love and security--its mother--in the name of doing what's "best" for that child, is downright horrifying. And rightly so. The medical establishment is one of the biggest offenders in Shirley's life, and we can probably all relate. (No one is saying, incidentally, that there aren't good people to be found in these arenas of public service, and thankfully, Shirley and her mom find some good people, too.)

If nothing else, Shirley's story is triumphant in that her mother rejects what she knows to be wrong for her child, fights the nightmarish resistance of said "establishment" and wins in the end. But the book is also more than that; it is the tale of a sensitive, intelligent, and observant girl who happens to be painfully disabled; she suffers enormously but has the extraordinary gift of a mother who is sold out for her well-being, hook, line and sinker.

Did the mother make mistakes? Of course. She trusted the wrong people, particularly a relative who was no less than criminal, it seems to me, in her actions. But Juliet Cheng's gift of love to her daughter is something that many able-bodied people never get. She is the epitome of the selfless mother/caretaker extraordinaire, shining the light on the lives of quiet, exhausting devotion that mothers like her live daily.

Overall, the author does an amazing job of keeping the reader's interest; I think the book could be shorter, but I honestly cannot say it was ever boring. When you finish the book you will feel an affinity to this Shirley Cheng and her mother, Juliet. You will admire them both, and hopefully, thank the Lord that your "trials and tribulations" have not been as devastating. If you are interested in a story of hardship and happiness, of personal triumph against horrendous disadvantages, of the experience of being female, Chinese, disabled and blind and yet achieving your dreams in an adopted country--then read this book. The level of success that Shirley achieves is remarkable and inspiring--no less than her achievement in writing this book. Her work and courage alone get five stars in my book.

Shirley Cheng is a talented and bright-hearted young woman who is by no means finished achieving. I look forward to her next accomplishments!

Linore R. Burkard
www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com
Inspirational Romance for Today's Woman of Faith

If you want to know what your child goes through daily this is the book for you. It opens your eyes to the little things that are big problems to someone with Dyslexia. I could not put it down it should be required reading fo every parent of a Dyslexic cchild.

I am a special needs teacher, supporting children, mainly with dyslexia, from home. I am also mother to a dyslexic son, wife to a dyslexic husband and sister to a dyslexic brother... and no, I'm not dyslexic myself... just a bad typist.
I felt the book should be obligatory reading for all people who come into contact with dyslexic people, and especially for parents and teachers. It gives you great insight into the emotions of - I would guess - quite a few dyslexic people. HOWEVER!!!!! The disorganisation may not be dyslexia. It could point to yet another problem, namely Attention Deficiency Disorder (ADHD type 1, unattentive).
So, the book is brilliant as far as it goes, but I honestly feel it can lull parents into a false sense of security about why their children are so forgetful, chaotic, easily distracted etc. If your child has sooo many of these symptoms of disorganisation, have it checked for ADD! But read the book anyway, as the emotions of your child don't really change.

We had a lot of trouble getting through this book ... being a grandmother of a couple of dyslexic children and a teacher, it was very disturbing that the general assumption was that dyslexia is some horrendous condition for which there is no hope of ever overcoming - just ideas of how to live with it. If this is the only book you read about this topic, you'll leave depressed. I'm ever so grateful that we read The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis BEFORE this one. So much so, that I will not even give my copy of "The secret life of the dyslexic child" away ... not even to the thrift store.

This is a must read for all who have dyslexia or know someone who does!
It was the best book on the subject that I have read.

This book has given me an insight into the world of a dyslexic child or person.

I believe it is invaluable and the most helpful book I have read on the subject to date!!!

Very worthwhile investment for any parent or teacher!

Great tips! Recommendations are excellent and it is so easy to read and understand.

5******A+++++++