Specific Disabilities Books

As an advocate and teacher educator, I have given away more copies of this book than I can count. Mary Falvey has created a resource that is not only user-friendly but based in research and focused on best practice in K-12 schools. It covers IEPs, assessment, curricular adaptations and more. Essential!

Author Mary Falvey's advice is so cutting edge, sensitive, practical, and visionary. She fully understands inclusive education from preschool through postsecondary options and beyond, to life in inclusive communities. Mary is personally and professionally connected to those individuals with the most significant disabilities. She shares information on to promote your child's access to the general curriculum, how to get the school to use appropriate modifications and assessment strategies, how to encourage friendships, how to work collaboratively with the school, how to problem solve, and what your legal rights are. To keep current as a special education attorney, I have read over a hundred books in this field. Believe In My Child will join the ranks of the small handful of books I recommend to my clients.

Busy Body: My Life with Tourette's Syndrome by Nick van Bloss is the most powerful and touching TS autobiography I have ever read. His descriptions for this very challenging condition are quite clear, revealing and help the reader get an idea of what it may be like to go through this ordeal day after day after day. TS is such an unusual disorder. Sure there are more painful and more life threatening conditions (I don't mean to dismiss any other disorder as "not difficult"), but TS is unusual and particularly difficult because you often have no choice but to let everyone know that "something is wrong." TS "tries" to break every social convention and rule." It is astounding how many social situations require silence or general quietness - most every classroom situation, movies, waiting in line, traveling in a public setting, shopping, theatre, etc. Until you experience TS (yourself or with a family member or friend), you have no idea how much of our society requires participants to "not make a scene" and "stay reasonably quiet." This book was difficult for me to read because I have a son with a pretty strong case of TS. I noticed many connections between Nick and my son. It helped me develop a better understanding of what my son is going through. I really don't think most people understand how painful TS can be and Nick pointed this out pretty clearly. He didn't elaborate too much on this point and based on my son's experiences, I know that Nick must be dealing with pain all the time and is actually pretty heroic about it. Although it was painful, I found this to be the most uplifting book on TS I have ever read. It reinforced teh idea that a TS sufferer can live a pretty good life and that many gifts may be associated with the condition. Nick is also a VERY humble human being who is compassionate, intelligent, sensitive and perceptive, not to mention his incredible sense of dedication and perseverance. This book is worth the read just to know him as a human being, whether he had TS or not. I only hope that this book is read by a great number of people. If anyone knows how I could e-mail or write to him, please let me know.

I heard about this book on a TS webboard and decided to order it. I was not sorry I did. It is an excellent book and he really portrays what it is like to have TS in a candid, funny way. I recommend this to anyone who has TS or would like to know what it is like to have it.

I took a class on assessment methods and of all reviewed, the Carolina proved to be one of the best. However, people need to be aware that it is NOT a formal assessment tool and should be used as a guide. The great thing about the Carolina is that it is very user friendly, making it a great tool for parents to use with ease.

This book, or should I say this manual, is really important and helpful. I am a Ph.D student and I know exactly what it does mean to have a manual like this in schools. The manual gives you a chance to evaluate your students with special needs. Additionally, the manual follows the new trends in assessment and evaluation process through linking the assessment results with educational or intervention purposes. By using the Assessment Log and the Developmental Progress Chart, you, as a teacher, can link the ongoing assessment information with the IEP information for your students.
This manual will help you understand the developmental level and deviance for your students, as well as how to plan for age appropriate and functional interventions.
Thanks Amazon for the wonderful book.

This is a warm, wonderful story about a very special dog and the family who owns her. It depicts the temperament of a well-bred Belgian Sheepdog completely; Chelsea's devotion to her family and her job is 100%. A great read for dog lovers and those seeking a better understanding of the deaf community. As a bonus, the ending is a happy one!

If you love dogs and the help they give humans, you will love this book. It speaks of independence gained living with a trained canine, the dedication of the trainers of these dogs and humans, and has some humor. It speaks of the importance of recognizing these dogs as working dogs and not pets, and of allowing them the access they are legally entitled to. I couldn't put it down and wanted more.

I found this book to be instructional and very comprehensive on the subject of developing the child's perceptual skills. There were some really interesting insights on how to prepare a child for the academic learning that must take place in school.

As a retired fifth and sixth grade teacher, I regret
that this book was not available years ago. I could
have helped my children much more if I had had this
book