Specific Disabilities Books

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Ladders To Literacy" is the collaborative work of Angela Notari-Syverson (Senior Researcher, Washington Research Institute, Washington), Rollanda E. O'Conner Professor of Education, School of Education, University of California, Riverside), and Patricia F. Vadasy Senior Research, Washington Research Institute, Seattle). "Ladders To Literacy" is spiral bound, single volume, early childhood oriented language and arts literacy program that provides classroom teachers with more than sixty culturally sensitive, developmentally appropriate student activities which have been successfully tested for a decade under research and practical conditions alike. Organized into three major sections (Print/Book Awareness Skills; Metalinguistic Awareness Skills; Oral Language Skills), "Ladders To Literacy" provides the foundation for children to master key elements of the reading process successfully. Enhanced with field-tested games, crafts, role plays, etc., this newly revised edition also incorporates links between the activities and Head Start Recommended Outcomes; a scope-and-sequence chart for teachers to utilize in selecting which activities to employ each month; eleven new and creative activities; 'Tips for Teachers' reflecting advances in classroom education practices; activities strengthening the home-school link (including photocopiable handouts for parents enabling them to assist their children at home); and modifications for children with various disabilities. Of special note are the informal observation guidelines, structured performance samples, and literacy checklist. "Ladders To Literacy" is an especially recommended, 'user friendly', and core curriculum supplement for preschool, Headstart, elementary school, and homes-schooling language and arts literacy instructional programs.

This is a wonderful resource for teachers. A variety of activities are given for each goal. Ladders to Literacy provides activities that parents can do with their children at home, including parents who are on the go.

As a beginner learning about this alternative communication modality, I would have to say this book best explains what I need to understand in order to actually work with an autisic individual. Very helpful and resourceful tool. Thank you M. Collette Brandt

As the parent of a 17 year old son who relies on AAC, I know first-hand, the importance of communication. Interacting with others is critical to our quality of life. Severe communication challenges are an endlessly tall wall, a barrier to social and academic inclusion and success.

Cafiero breaks down the wall, brick by brick, with
an easy to understand text full of common sense strategies, based on relevant research described through real-life vignettes that include individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Cafiero transcends the complexities of AAC and presents the myriad facets with a balance often missed in AAC literature.
Her sincere respect and enjoyment of people with ASD is evident throughout the text.

A must-have for parents, educators and everyone who loves or interacts with individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

If you have a child with any range of learning disabilities this book is a must. We were at a frustration level with our child at home and at school, until we read this book that explained our child completely. It has taught us how to deal with the LS and how to help our child achieve now and in the future. If you have a child in Learning Support please do yourself a favour early and read this book. I only wish we would have read this book 4 years ago when our child was placed in a Learning Support classroom.

As the parent of two bright children, who could never quite pass in school, I found this book to be enlightening and have given many copies to other parents and school teachers. It is full of useful information on various forms of verbal and non-verbal disabilities, as well as testing, school procedures, legalities and useful tips!

This book has helped me a great deal as a guidance counselor working with multiply disabled students. It is logical and provides guidelines that I can implement with students on an individual and group basis. I am always happy when I find resources that can help my students and can add to my professional arsenal.

"Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities" by Professor of Special Education Michael L. Wehmeyer (who is also the Associate Director of the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas, and the Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities) is based on the finding that self-determination is a significant factor in improving educational performance and transition outcomes in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Professor Wehmeyer surveys and assesses various methods for teaching components of self-determination (including making choices, problem solving, decision making, goal setting, self-advocacy, and self-regulated learning) and makes practical recommendations that classroom teachers can immediately apply within their classrooms and within their curriculums regardless of the subject matter. A work of seminal scholarship which is enhanced with reproducible worksheets and forms, extensive references, and a comprehensive index, "Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities" is a the latest title in the impressive 'What Works for Special-Needs Learners' series from Guilford Publications. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781593854614, $48.00), "Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities is strongly recommended reading for the teachers and counselors of special needs students.

This is a fantastic book for school professionals to read. It's easy reading and puts it in a format to help the teacher and others at the school know what your child needs and how to attain it.

This is by far the most helpful book we have read so far on FASD. If you are raising a child with featl alcohol syndrome disorder, then this is the book for you! Very helpful and great ideas you can use.

I've seen this program in action. The reading scores for the district went from dismal to above average, and ALL readers were on grade level...there was NO difference between the races, new-to-English learners, or sexes.

In other words, NCLB happened. You owe it to yourself to get this book and implement it in EVERY school in EVERY instance.

This is the best book I've ever seen to buy if you are a K-5 teacher (general ed or special ed) concerned with teaching children to read well and to enjoy reading. It is presented in a straightforward, very user-friendly format that lends itself to immediate application in the classroom. There are chapters on specific aspects of reading instruction -- familiar ones, like phonemic awareness, vocabulary and comprehension, but also ones on advanced word reading skills (sometimes a big hurdle for children in 4th and 5th grades) and fluency. There are no long-winded, turgid pages of text to plow through: every chapter is beautifully laid out, in a Q and A format (also included in the table of contents)). There are repeated sections in various chapters focusing on Differentiating Instruction, Reflective Practice, Using Technology, Research to Practice, Bridging the Gap, Effective Teacher at Work, Seizing the Teachable moment, etc. Each of these highlights an effective and PRACTICAL approach to the matter at hand.

The authors include numerous examples, teaching formats that illustrate how to introduce and structure a lesson, how to give students effective feedback and assess progress, and many more of the small details that go into effective teacher-student interaction. Illustrative examples and case studies, applications, examples of how to use a variety of strategies and resources, from Word Walls to advance organizers, even more effectively. There are links to valuable web-based resources and informative articles, and an excellent DVD enclosed with the book that briefly illustrates a number of different teacher-led activities.

For those who are not that tech-savvy, there's a very clear and easy-to-follow guide that shows you how to make graphs of student progress with Excel. It's quick and rewarding! Model lessons and many examples of strategies, resources and teaching techniques and how to use them make this a must-have book. It's nicely printed with varying typefaces and text boxes, easy to read, and lies flat if you are wanting to use it in class and refer back to it.

While it is an excellent book for newer teachers, it has plenty of useful and informative content for experienced ones, and references at the end of each chapter for those wanting to further their knowledge. The lucidity of the writing, and the clear layout and comprehensive, grounded-in-reality coverage of all the essential components of reading (including motivating readers and application to writing) are what make this book stand out head and shoulders above many others in the field.

I think I own nearly all the major books on teaching reading, and many of them are also excellent, but this is one that I feel every committed classroom practitioner should have. I keep coming back to it over and over.

The author is right on target to assume that kids are interested in making learning easier and more fun. This book includes many specific strategies for building confidence in reading, writing, spelling, math, etc. There is help in organizing time, setting goals, standing up for themselves, coping with testing, etc. This book has reproducible masters to help reinforce learning.

Kids with learning disabilities often feel like failures in school. Their past experiences tell them that they are helpless to find ways to compete and succeed in the classroom. This book gives many practical, helpful suggestions that can turn a student who feels like a loser into a winner! The best thing an LD student can do is become his or her own best advocate. The ideas in this book make that possible. It is easy to read (about a third grade reading level) and organized clearly. Some of the chapters are titled: You CAN Get Organized, You CAN Learn in Different Ways, You CAN Handle Testing, You CAN Get Along with Others, etc. This emphasis on "you CAN" is just what people with learning disabilities need! The authors also include lists of suggestions for becoming a better reader, speller, more organized, etc. If you know someone with a learning disability, do that person and yourself a favor and get this book. Read it together, if possible. Rhoda Cummings and Gary Fisher have written several books about what they call Learning Differences (LD), and this is one of the best!

Seeing Through New Eyes is an introduction to the treatment of visual conditions that go beyond 20/20 eyesight. Developmental or behavioral vision care can have a significant impact on behavioral, social and learning problems associated with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Poor eye contact and other behaviors are often the result of difficulty with "ambient vision" that drives spatial awareness, visual organization and balance/coordination. Dr. Kaplan gives guidance on how to identify the visual deficits of nonverbal children, select performance lenses that will alter ambient vision and how to create individual vision management programs in order to assist each individual in achieving maximum success in life. This book is essential reading for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and professionals in the fields of autism, optometry, ophthalmology, psychology and education.

One of the most interesting book in the field of vision, behavior, posture and
much more.
Thousand thanks to Dr M.KAPLAN.

I can't believe it. He saw my worst nightmare five times over every day.

I believe this book is a very inspiring book that tells you how one lives its life. It gives me a very vivid picture of what the author is writing about, It is like a book come alive, and it's like a movie in some way. I am very proud of this man who sees an opporunity and takes it and achieves it. I can see a deaf man who can do anything, Not even blood stops this man. Death overflows this book, I can see the smoke of the dark cloud come out of this book and it feels scary but is also a very inspirating book which is full of true scenes that happened to him. I recommend anyone to read this book. It may encourage young kids to achieve their dreams and not to let anything stop them. Who can be an Emt like this man and face alot of discrimation? I wonder who can stand this much?
Read this book!

The people behind this book worked hard to expand on their topics in a realistic way. I can easily use the majority of their topics as I work with with teen-age students. The information that is presented is not too simple for students who are in regular education classes, even though it was designed for special education students. The age-appropriate activities and topics bring on discussion that is neccesary for students as they work towards better interactions with others.

I stumbled upon this book while looking for resources on NLD (nonverbal learning disorder), which has caused my bright, 12-year-old son to flounder both academically and socially since fourth grade. It is FULL of excellent activities for children who have difficulty picking up social cues and interacting appropriately with their peers. Because my son works so hard during the regular school year, and typical summer programs and camps only cause him anxiety, we now opt to let him just take time off from organized activity during his summer breaks. But he will be assisting in the family home business, and now we plan to incorporate the exercises in this book into his daily schedule. They are interesting and fun, and even I look forward to working on them.

Brian's Mom