Developmental-disabilities Books

I have this edition and the one prior to this. Neither one is that useful. When I bought the 1st edition I thought it wasn't very helpful just because it was somewhat out of date, so went ahead and got this newer version hoping it would be more insightful. However, I am just as disappointed with this one as I was the first. I have a child who has this syndrome and had thought it would be a useful book to have on hand when my child has a new teacher, or a new baby sitter, or anyone else who is new in his life, but it really doesn't help much. It may in fact portray people with prader willi syndrome in a manner that is too negative, and provides little in the way of meaningful information re: helping or supporting the child or adult with prader willi syndrome. I am sorry I spent the money on it.

It addresses areas specific to respective disciplines/professionals/areas of concern where parents or professionals can review without having to read the entire text yet allows them to get a good handle on the spectrum of the disabilitiy if they choose to.

Basically, a slightly updated version of Margot Prior's Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome, this book includes much of the same information and even some of the same authors. The only real improvement was the inclusion of three authors with diagnoses on the autism spectrum rather than one, but I found Margaret Lawson (who was in LBPAS) to be much more positive and evocative than any of these three. One of them very much wanted to be cured, apparently not understanding that would so fundamentally change who he was to the point that he would no longer be the same person (tantamount to a suicide wish, in my view).
Much of the same information debunking the idea that AS is fundamentally different from Autism is present, though not presented as well as in the previous text. Additionally, the writer they chose for the section on autism culture never even mentioned our important groups, such as Autism Network International, or important autism-culture events, such as Autreat. Considering how many of us (Aspies and HFAs) there are on the web, why didn't they get one of us with basic training in anthropology or sociology with connections to one or more of our self-advocacy organizations to write this section? It would have had much better information, more accuracy, and less outright speculation if they had. For that matter, why not use those same organizations to find one of us who feels fundamentally positive about our differences from neurotypicals? I'm VERY TIRED of books telling us how all of our differences are deficits, rather than emphasizing the strengths that also come with our differences.
If you have one of these two books, don't bother getting the other - and I'd generally say that Prior's 2003 book was better, even if the information is a couple more years "out of date". The DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10, and the various critiques thereof, have not changed substancially in two years, nor has the educational approach.

Its basic at best, nothing new or innovative. Kinda boring, makes a horrible text book ok reference guide.

I was hoping this book would offer some ideas or inspirations on how to cope with emetophobia or at the very least how the author managed to overcome this debilitating phobia. Instead, it merely describes what us emetophobes already suffer on a daily basis.

Incredible book to show a doctor, family member, friend, or partner to help them get a better grasp of emetophobia and everything that goes along with it. I highly reccomend it to anyone who is or knows someone who is suffering from emetophobia.

Don't buy this book, it is basically a long definition of what emetophobia is. Doesn't even have one suggestion on how to fix it.

I was shocked to find that there was actually going to be a book published about emetophobia, and ordered it a month before it was released. I was hoping for a little more advice, coping mechanisms, maybe just some reassurances that it's O.K. to be afraid, and that it's O.K. to medicate something that can't just be counseled away. I was hoping for a bit more in the experiences department as well. After years of not even knowing there was a name for the fear, and only having a few select message boards to communicate with other emets on, I thought maybe this would be a breakthrough.

It is a good read, just because it's the only one dedicated only to emetophobia specifically, but it could have been done better. I would recommend that any emet buy a few copies, this is a must for any close friend or relative. I bought a few of them, I gave one to a friend that came to me after discovering I had to phobia to confide in me that he had the same fear, and I gave the other copies to my husband and my mother. It's been more helpful for the outsiders than for me, which is still a huge step in the right direction. For so long, when approaching a doctor or even a psychiatrist with this issue, we've all heard the famous line, "but nobody likes to puke". And it wasn't until I responded to my psychiatrist that he may be right about that, except he might have missed that one episode of Jerry Springer, but is everyone so afraid of it that when exposed to the situation they actually bring a loaded gun to their head? I then handed him a copy of the book. I'm not sure if it was my comment or the book that helped him comprehend that this was indeed a fear that had taken over my life, but either way, I'm thankful the book exists.

I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book thinking it would help me cope with emetophobia, since part of the title is "coping with Extreme fear of Vomiting". Unfortunately, all this book is about is the author's and a few other's personal experiences with the phobia. If what you need is to know that there are others out there suffering with the same phobia, it's great, it describes every irrational thought I've ever had about vomiting and the problems that it causes in every day life. If what you need is a book to help people in your life understand what you go through, it's also good because it really describes every aspect of the phobia. If what you're looking for is a book that will help you deal with it, look elsewhere!

No one is addressing mine and others comment as to why this is so expensive. Many families who are struggling with these issues could not afford to buy these books. Shame on you.

First, I agree the set is outrageously priced. However, the content of these books is EXCELLENT because the editors worked very hard on this project. I know them and they have dedicated their lives to helping children and families with autism--including MY family. No one was more shocked at the price of this two volume set than they were. I was also a contributor. Note: neither myself nor any other contributor was paid for their submission--we did it to HELP people. But $200 is outrageous, I agree. Save your dough! If you need suggestions for what books to buy email me!

If you want to buy the best quality books in the autism field at the most reasonable prices, stick to books from the Autism Asperger Publishing Company (AAPC) and avoid big publishers who don't care. Brenda Myles, one of the editors of this set, had written a book and the would-be publishers wanted to sell it for too much money so her husband, Keith Myles started the publishing company in order to sell it CHEAPER. The most important thing to both of them was that this information got out there in order to help these kids on the spectrum. AAPC started with that one book, Difficult Moments, and within six years became the second largest autism publishing company in the world. Buy your books from them because they really care about our families and understand our challenges, financial and otherwise. Among the many things AAPC does to help people is the free of charge online newsletter which you can download at www.asperger.net

Kristi Sakai, parent of three children on the spectrum, advocate for individuals with autism and their families. www.kristisakai.net, author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

I was so excited when I got this book. I thought it would educate me on what I needed to do for my child. It basically lays out the IEP process and doesn't give any indications on how to fight for services, which we all know is what usually happens. Find another book.

While this book doesn't tell you how to milk the system for all it's worth, it does a good job of laying out a plan that should help you and your child's teacher produce an optimal IEP. It's a helpful workbook that aids in the understanding and use of the IEP.

Save your money....does nothing in the case of a difficult school district. The idea of "compromising and understanding" the teachers position is nice in a flowery perfect kind of world way....doesn't work when you are trying to get your kid the best you can.

I wanted a book for parents and this isn't it. This is a book for researchers and clinicians. If that's your angle, than this is a very comprehensive book and I'd recommend it. If you're a parent, stay away, it's definately "out there".

Disappointingly and inexplicably biased towards methods of understanding and treatment for autism such as psychoanalysis which have been repeatedly shown to be ineffective at best. Definitely not recommended.

This book is very hard to read. It is very technical. It was a very dry book. Very boring. The only reason that I bought this book is that I needed it for my class at college. I would not recommend this book to anyone unless they need it for a class or are really into this subject.

I would recommend this book stay in the professional field for the experts looking for corriculum, data, and findings. I purchased this book because the Occupational Therapist my 2 year old visits weekly suggested I read up on "The Clumsy Child."
I found this book on Amazon. It reads more like a Master's Thesis than it does a book to help parents understand their children who suffer from clumsiness. It defined some things for me that I was not fully understanding, but I didn't find it helpful as a parent relating to a Clumsy Child.