Disabilities Books

I met Nathan while visiting one of the authors in Alabama. I was lucky enough to accompany him to several DMB shows and found him to be inspirational in many aspects. His perspectives are those of genius. Despite the many and various challenges he has experienced in life, he puts most of us to shame by maintaining a positive and persistant puruit of personal acheivement. He taught me most of all, that life is not for spectators and how we manage our challanges define our lives.

Many a year ago, when Nathan approached me on the University of Alabama campus to read a book he had spent 20 years writing, I did not think much of it. After spending that weekend reading what then were mere pages in a box, my life has forever been changed. My perspective on life and my attitude toward life has been irrevocably altered. Nathan's brutal honestly and total willingness to sacrifice his all to make a differnce resonates on each page as Nathan's story is brought to life. I wish everyone could read this book. Is it a literary masterpice, probably not. Will it change your life, I bet it will. If you are looking for a book that will inspire you and lift you up, this is the one. And, as one that has been blessed to have gotten to know the man behind the book, yes Nathan is the real deal!

"Nathan," the autobiographical story of Nathan Ballard, is the moving narrative of a man who has lived with cerebral palsy much longer than the usual life span allows someone in his condition. The reader is given a world-wind look at the trials and accomplishments of Ballard's life. The book immediately engages the reader and teaches him or her not to feel sorry for the disabled. Ballard has accomplished much more in his life than many people who are in perfect health. He is multi-lingual and has participated in many national activities regarding the well being of disabled persons, including the panel which helped create the Americans with Disabilities Act. Overall, "Nathan" is very easy to read and gives great detail of each period in Ballard's life. However, the book does tend to skip from one point in time to another. This can be discouraging to the reader in several instances, where it jumps quickly from childhood to the present. The character development in "Nathan" is exceptional. Readers quickly feel as though they know Ballard, his family and his friends. "Nathan" will truly open your eyes to the life of a disabled person. It is amazing to hear a first hand account of how people in wheelchairs are actually treated by their peers. Ballard is a fixture on the University of Alabama campus and is very friendly and positive to the students. As a student at Alabama, I know the author and his determination to succeed in his writing career. A screenplay is currently being written on Nathan, and he is now working on a book of poetry.

This guy is something else. I heard about him from a friend who read a story of his friendship with Dave Matthews online somewhere. When I bought the book, I thought there would be something about DMB in it. They are mentioned at the end, but this book is what it claims to be. It's about Nathan Ballard. What an interesting life. The book reads well, it is full of surprises and keeps you guessing.

I had no idea what life for a badly disabled person was like. The writers do a fantastic job of spelling out what the experience "feels" like, inside and outside. Nathan is honest about himself. He doesn't spare self-criticism. To me, that makes him more human. He's funny, too. I can see why Dave must like him so much. The dude has been through a lot.

The middle is a little lengthy about some lady who tried to rip him off and steal the book, but it doesn't detract from the story too much. If you are reading this, then by all means buy it. It's a great story. When I finished it I gave it to my mom.

Nathan is the compelling autobiography of Nathan Ballard, a man born with Cerebral Palsy, who worked with numerous committees on independent living for the disabled, provided input for the writing of the "Americans With Disabilities Act", learned to speak several languages, took a trip to Japan, was 22 years old when he learned to read, and went on to attend the University of Alabama. Assisted by freelance writer Michael Rogers, Nathan Ballard takes the reader on a remarkable journey that reveals what life for a person with a debilitating disease is really like. How there are times when life doesn't feel worth living. How some people take unfair advantage of the disabled. But the reader also discovers that no matter what the obstacles, Nathan loves people, life, and discovering what tomorrow will bring while enjoying the pleasures and overcoming the hardships of today. Nathan is a unique, engaging, and highly recommended addition to biography collections and reading lists.

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (12/08)

Patricia McGuire, a single parent, mother of three, and a developmental pediatrician, has written an excellent resource for parents to help them learn to get to know their child(ren), their temperaments and how to develop skills that make parent and child living together easier.

Through essays and personal stories, the author gives everyday examples of when meltdowns come for both the child and parent. She gives good advice on how to handle various situations and advice on when to not get into a battle.

One of the most important sections of information, I thought, was very beneficial, was the section on learning your child's temperament. Temperament is the way your child handles the world around them. Some of these traits include approachability, adaptability, and intensity of reactions. By providing examples of her daughter Megan, these areas are easy to read and understand. Even being a Psychologist for over 25 years, I had not even thought of this area as one we need to know. I certainly changed my mind after reading this section. I still believe, as does the author, the best way to communicate with a child is to get down to their eye level, use a low and calm voice, say their name and keep the words simple.

The author also provides a good section on special needs children and the impact that labeling has on them. Many in the education world believe that children with learning disabilities are "just plain lazy." It is important that educators learn to teach children at a level and type that are comfortable to the children.

The last section of the book talks about modeling for our children and often we as parents say things like "because I'm the parent and I said so." Children often think we don't have the time to answer their questions of "why"- and we often believe we don't have to answer those questions. This often leads to a battle of wills- with no one winning.

I found "Never Assume" by Patricia McGuire to be very informative, set in a tone that was neither demeaning nor controlling. I can see the author's passion in working with children and trying to help parents become the best parents they can. It is such a simple thing- know your child.

Will have to buy another book because I gave mine away before I had really absorbed it. Visited an old friend recently who (as it turns out) has a daughter with diagnosis of a mental illness. My friend read 3/4 of the book the first night she had it and finds it helpful and relevant. My friend couldn't thank me enough for Dr McGuire's book. It is great that Dr. McGuire is empowering parents with the helpful knowledge in her book. Dr. McGuire is positive and encouraging to parents in a very touchy area of their lives--their children. Will probably buy a couple books with my next order. As a nurse I work for an agency that provides services to families with mentally ill children and/or children w/behavioral disorders. The book is a valuable resource for me. I highly recommend this book to health care professionals who work with children.

What a winning combination! A very caring Mom of such special children and a concerned professional expert in the filed of pediatrics caring for the children of others provides readers with a vast amount of practical experience and information to assist them in their own challenges. Readers will,find a vast amount of useful hints and suggestions in their pursuit to raise and assist children as they strive to lead happy and productive lives while making their own lives happier and less stressful.

This is the closest I've seen to the owners manual all parents should be given at
the birth of their first child. Karen Vavra, Educational Strategies and Partnerships (Iowa)

First impressions are something so many make the error of going off of when evaluating others. "Never Assume: Getting to Know Children Before Labeling Them" is a book focusing on the demeanor of children and how to understand them. With educated writing from a behavior pediatrician, she discusses the temperament of children and how to deal with it to better understand the children for whatever one is trying to do. "Never Assume" is a solid child psychology manual, highly recommended.

The collection of stories here runs the gamut from terribly sad to uplifting. But, all in all, it is a really tough road for those aging out of the system. If you are involved in foster care, or advocacy for children in need of assistance, this is an eye-opening book, particularly for those not schooled in social services, or working in that field.

We need to know what happens to the foster kids of America, and how they are being left behind. Ms. Shirk does a tremendous service by documenting this crisis. For a story about a foster teen and her journey to adoption which is uplifting, but realistic, you might want to check out Returnable Girl [...]

The interworkings of social services and esp. that of foster care are complex and take much to understand. On Their Own is written at a basic level so the general public can understand what is going on. I have been a mentor and advocate for foster children for a year now and found the book helpful and inspiring. The back part of the book has detailed information on what can be done to help this problem. Some of the kids I mentor will soon be turning 18 and this has allowed me some insight on what to do.

The book is amazing for someone who doesn't understand the foster care system. Even though I work with foster kids and understand some of the interworkings, it allowed me better understanding. I had my mom read the book as well. The forward by Jimmy Carter is amazing as well. Good read if you enjoy learning about social issues.

I hope that you take time out to read this book. It focuses on the lives of youth who are in foster care and the challenges that we face when we emancipate from the foster care system. This book is great for people who work in the social services field, who work directly with foster youth, as well as the foster youth themselves. I am in it as well, please read my story... pg. 109

What happens when Social Services fail you? And even though you've turned eighteen, or so it says on your birth certificate, you're still not ready for adulthood? Children in foster care face this dilemma daily, for as soon as they're 18, they're dumped from wherever it is that was paying for them to stay. The Williams brothers, three small boys, grew up tough, and in their different ways, Jermaine, Lamar and Jeffrey all tried to cope with a foster system that alternately coddled them and abused them. I was moved to tears by reading the account of Jermaine's last days on earth, simply written by ace reporter Martha Shirk. Happily, the other members of Jermaine's family are living still. Then there's Giselle, a promising young girl who unfortunately becomes prey to anorexia. All too soon, adulthood is upon her, while she's still struggling with a common problem of teenage girls. Liberals worry about these issues, while those of a more conservative bent argue that 18 is certainly old enough to expect a young man or woman to get out on his own and stop depending on charity or handouts. But Shirk and her co-author Stabgler admit there are no easy answers.

Anyone can read this book and identify with the ideas behind it, for in one way or another we are all affected by the problems of aging and by being forced by old Father Time into a realm we are really not prepared for. For these young people, it was turning 18. For some of us, it might be turning thirty. And for baby boomers, it will be the call of the retirement trumpet when, once so active, people born in the 1940s and 1950s will be put on the shelf in today's changing world, without sufficient preparation on how to live in that place of old age. Jimmy Carter contirbutes an elegant foreword that shows he has really thought about the problems of youth. That's the saddest story of all.

This is an easy to read book from the child's perspective, which makes it easier to relate for kids.

My daughter is undergoing chemo. She was told she would lose her hair, so before she lost all of her hair I ordered this book for my grandson. It helped tremendously for him to understand why Mama was bald. I recommend this book highly to anyone who has a child whose parent is going through chemo.

When Abigail and Adrienne's mom told them she had cancer, they were afraid. But when the girls couldn't find any books that explained what might happen to their mother and what they might expect, they wrote one themselves.

They tell readers when their mother was tired during treatment, friends and family pitched in to help cook and to push her in her wheelchair. When chemotherapy made their mom's hair fall out, friends and family threw a hat party for her and honored her with an original song.

Their mom's hair has grown back, and Abigail and Adrienne have found that their family is closer than ever. The girls' story will show other youngsters that they are not alone in their experience with a loved one's cancer.

Many children's books about cancer in a parent treat it as movie disease: a convenient way to introduce mortality. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I needed a way to let my children know what they could expect as far as my therapy, and let them know what might happen emotionally.

This is by far the best of several children's picture books written about a parent with cancer. Because it is written and illustrated by two sisters, it conveys what kids want to know. It showed the passage of time during treatment, and it showed that people were loving and kind and hopeful in the midst of a rotten time.

This book is excellent, and I would recommend it to any parent who has been diagnosed with cancer as a way to open discussions with elementary-aged and younger children.

I go to school at Village Elementry in Coronado. Adrienne and Abigail are the cusins of a kid in my class named Paul. They got to come to our school and read the book to us. I think it was very good. It really is based on a true story! The book was about there mom who had breast cancer. They even wrote a hat song in the story! I give the book two thumbs up!

i am Happy to see the site, i cannat spellwords,

sorry

nithyanandan

I found this book to be a great way to become familiar with the range of issues that come to bear on incorporating graphics into a web page. Despite the exclusive use of Photoshop in the examples, the concepts are explained in such a way that makes it easy to identify the same graphic-editing techniques needed to be used with other software such as Paint Shop Pro, my graphic editor of choice. Good clear explanations and excellent examples do a great job of illustrating how "tweaking" things like the color depth and color pallete affect file sizes, download times, and picture quality. Originally, I kept renewing this book from my local library until I finally just bought my own copy. A great book!

Although the book is oriented around Photoshop on the Mac (which is even better if you use a Mac), the concepts are universal. The book is visually pleasing, very informative (especially on graphic formats), and an inexpensive way to get started

The book is deceptive. The author makes it seem simple. In fact she packs in a lot of very cogent points whilst retaining a friendly style. Great for anyone starting out in graphics for the Web (though it does more or less assume you will be using Photoshop).

I found this book by accident in the library when I was starting the process of designing our office's web site. Because I was a rank beginner to the world of web design (although I knew the PC, Windows 98, Microsoft Office, FrameMaker, PageMaker and a little Photoshop), I needed some hand-holding to get my feet wet. This book was better than anything else I found for that task.

There are other web design books I like (like Roger Black's book on Adobe Press) but this is the best one I have seen for the person who literally knows nothing about the topic.Yes, it was written in 1996 and is somewhat dated for the person who wants to be cutting edge, but you have to crawl before you can run, and this book got me through the crawling stage so I could start to feel comfortable with the concepts I would need to work with my Adobe (and now Macromedia) software.

The writing style is crisp and clean and right to the point. I read it in three hours.

Try this book if you don't know anything about web design, then take a look at Roger Black for one designer's viewpoint on design issues. Once you have those two books under your belt, the author's latest book, Web Design in a Nutshell, would be a great next step.

Barbara Quinn and Anthony Malone really wrote a book for the average parent to understand. The book is not bogged down with medical terms that are difficult to comprehend but rather uses terms an average parent can understand. Thank you so much for helping parents help their special needs child.

Full disclosure: my nephew's "story" is in this book, as told by my brother-in-law. When my sister gave me this book I was moved to tears as I read it, because she wants all of us who know and love her son "Robby" to understand his Asperger's Syndrome, and its treatments.

AS is a perplexing syndrome, and the spectrum of PDDs is confusing and multi-focal. For parents, families and friends, this book is a wonderful starting point. The book lays it out in easy-to-digest chunks, most useful for anyone seeking to understand the PDD continuum and its manifestations in children and young adults.

It is clear, concise and (except for the parents' stories) unemotional. It will help anyone affected by a PDD to understand the background, the symptoms, the diagnosis and possible intervention techniques. I am delighted that Ms. Malone and Dr. Quinn are part of my nephew's diagnostic team, and that they have produced this excellent book. And I'm glad my sister & brother-in-law have shared it with our family. Without communication, there can be no understanding.

Excellent book!!! I read this book in one night! It was so easy to read and understand pervasive developmental disorder. I would recommend this book to those who have a loved one recently diagnosed. The autism spectrum is wide. It gave great detail on both ends of the spectrum. Lots of information. Had a hard time putting this book down. If you need a book about PDD, this is the one to get first.

As the parent of a child recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS, this book is fantastic and explains a lot in terms for the everyday person. It's also great for educators and people that are do not have very much experience working with chilren within this spectrum. Our son is also very lucky to be a patient of one of the Doctor's that is in Dr. Malone's practice and he will meet Barbara Quinn this fall.

This book explains PDD-NOS and the other autism spectrum disorders in clear, concise language. I recommend it to anyone going down this road, particularly PDD-NOS parents or those whose toddlers aren't hitting their dev. milestones.

This book is about a girl named Megan, who's about 13 years old, having to bounce back from a motorcycle accident she has a lot of problems along the way. One involves her having to learn every thing over again because she is in a wheelchair, and paralyzed from the waste down. Another is that she hasn't heard from the boy who was driving the motorcycle when they crashed.

This book brought a realization to me. It touched my Heart to see how megan coped with her disability. It teaches a great life's lesson, about accepting who you are. It shows you just how hard a diability is. Unlike movies, where everything is perfect in a disabled person's life. That's just not how it is. Harris shows that it doesn't matter that a person is disabled they're still people. All the people in this heart warming story will teach you things you never thought of before, or have and have forgotten. This book will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

This book brought a realization to me. It touched my Heart to see how megan coped with her disability. It teaches a great life's lesson, about accepting who you are. It shows you just how hard a diability is. Unlike movies, where everything is perfect in a disabled person's life. That's just not how it is. Harris shows that it doesn't matter that a person is disabled they're still people. All the people in this heart warming story will teach you things you never thought of before, or have and have forgotten. This book will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

Megan was a normal girl. Happy, and carefree. Until the terrible accident that left her in the wheelchair, and shaped the rest of her life with a spinal cord injury. Determined to help her get on with her life. Megans family plans a trip to the lake cottage where they have vacationed every summer. Megan is reluctant to go, believing that nothing will ever be the same again. The trip starts out just as Megan had planned, bringing back painful memories of what had been. That's is until she meets Harris. Him and his Aunt Julia, a bitter actress, and her husband have rented the cottege next door. Megan is determined not to like Harris, but unknowingly, she begins to fall for him. Together they get throughout their problems, and figure out that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. This, by far is the best book I've read as far as tragedy goes. The Book, "Out of the blue." by Sarah Ellis, was similar yet different to this story. In this book, a young girl, also named Megan, finds out that her mother has another daughter. This is also about a life changing experience, and both characters are very stubborn to accept the change. I think that Megan is a powerful character, and strong role model for young girls everywhere. She is lost in deep depression but with the help of Harris, they pull each other out. I think the budding romance going on between the two is adorable. This book is for people who like to sit down by the fire and cozy up to a good book. There isn't much action, and it is definitely a female book. Even so I think that any audience of young readers would appreciate it.

Realistic, it gives you an insight to the thoughts and feelings of a physically handicapped person. It does not glorify paralysis unlike some movies. Brings up the problems that a physically handicapped person faces.

My brother's book has 6 stories about me. I drew illustrations. This stories is true. I stole a french fry are McDonald's and cut my own haircut. Other stories about Cheez Puffs, our dog Duke, my bicycle and flying beetle. The people where I work like my book. There is a poem about Mrs. Post, my aide at my old school. I drew illustration of her. I drew a dogs, my family, animals and my own cartoon characters. I like how the book is turn out. It's nice when the people read about me and see my illustrations.

Hats off to Richard and Kevin Carlson! This book is a must read for families who have loved ones on the autism/Asperger's spectrum, educators, all professionals. In short, this book is for everybody. This book serves as a bridge linking people and knocks down walls that were once said to enclose people on the spectrum. Like Joshua with the ram's horn, the walls are knocked down by the brothers Carlson.

This collaborative effort features several anecdotes involving Richard and Kevin. Kevin's illustrations bring the world as he knows it and the sensory issues he confronts on a daily basis into sharper focus. Richard provides an equally clear and strong voice. The bond between this pair is very heartwarming.

Please read this book. You will be so glad that you did.

Suggested for young readers age 6 to 10, yet involving and highly recommended reading for all ages, Poems And Short Stories About My Brother Kevin Who Has Autism by Richard W. Carlson Jr. is a unique and compelling collection of six true stories and six poems about the author's autistic younger brother, Kevin. Fifty simple black-and-white line drawing illustrations by Kevin illustrate and enhance this straightforward, heartwarming account which offers young readers a unique perspective into what it's like growing up with an autistic sibling, and the special challenges and responses therein. "Most boys would like bugs a lot./Because he has autism he does not." Also strongly recommended for school and community library collections is Richard Carlson's previous book: My Brother Kevin Has Autism.

Richard Carlson is to be commended, along with his brother Kevin. The drawings throughout this book are delightful, as are the stories told with such direct simplicity. This book, along with others in the Richard Carlson collection, should be required reading in schools. Children will love it. Every one of the stories will grab their interest. It will make a terrific present.

Carol Kluz is a coauthor of Carol Randy suspense and solo author of fantasy.

This book was great! It has some poems and short stories from MY
BROTHER KEVIN HAS AUTISM and there are new ones. I
felt lots of emotions reading this book like when Kevin fell in the icy
cold water and he couldn't swim. I felt really bad for him.
There were funny stories too. There was a lot of information about what
Autism is and now I understand it a little better. I would
like to meet Kevin to tell him what a great job he did with the
illustrations. I think this is a wonderful book for kids of all ages. I really enjoyed it, you will too!

Ron Breazeale has created a story that taps the concerns and fears of today...then he show us how to reach deep down inside ourselves and find "Home" that internal reserve where we can face and meet any challenge. Strongly recommend this book. - Rita Schiano, author of "Painting the Invisible Man. Painting the Invisible Man

This book evokes your thoughts on ones personal fears of terrorism and how we all personally and emotionally deal with this prospect. Why are we so attached to this fear? Take a breath and let it go....it exists and except the fear for what it is - fear. What encompasses the power of fear and why and how do we cling onto this notion? "Reaching Home" is a marvelous story, that induces your dearest fear of what would you do and how would you feel in midst of a terrorist plot? Jillianblaze

Born without a left hand, main character Dr. Lee Brazil has never made peace with this fact--nor with the nuclear industry, which he blames for his disability. While conducting research for a book, he attends a meeting held by a group of activists working to shut down a lab incinerator for nuclear waste. When an explosion occurs at the lab, Brazil finds himeself implicated in what is mistakenly seen as a terrorist plot.

Brazil manages to escape local authorities, but he finds himself forced to seek refuge in several unlikely places--and from unlikely allies, including a past lost love. He must use his intelligence and wit to work his way through challenges he faces while solving a mystery and mastering his own psychological quandaries.

This insightful and compelling adventure takes on concerns about terrorism and human rights with sensitivity and humor.

This is a thought-provoking first novel that pulls the reader into its fast-paced narrative. The protagonist, Dr. Lee Brazil, is a fascinating mixture of very human strengths and fears. The author must have dug deeply into his own intimate journey to create the character. It has the unmistakable ring of truth.

The magic of this book is that it conveys its important ideas in such an entertaining way. It looks at the dark side of our nation's response to terrorism and the uplifting story of a man's battle against his own fears. Reaching Home offers keen insights into our current predicament, told through a gripping story written straight from the heart.

What do terrorists hold over us? Is it their weapons, their knowledge, or is it our own fear? They elicit terror, and when we allow ourselves to be afraid, we give them power. Our fears can control our lives in many ways. In Ron Breazeale's novel, "Reaching Home," we are brought face to face with the fears that many of us cling to.

Dr. Lee Brazil left the south for the open arms of Maine. He's raised a daughter, and lived life, despite his own demons of fears. While back in the south, doing research for a book in Pine Grove, Tennessee, and a meeting of SOMAP - Save Our Mountain and Our People, Lee falls victim to an accident at the Pine Grove Lab incinerator for nuclear waste. This accident is mistakenly believed to be a terrorist plot and Dr. Brazil is taken into protective custody. The fallout sickness not being enough to deter him, Dr. Brazil escapes and hitches a ride in the back of a truck hauling port-a-johns. Thus the journey begins, and develops into a discovery of how people will help a stranger, and how they either live by or face their fears.

Things get quite heated when a second incident occurs at Pine Grove. The FBI is looking for Brazil, and a terrorist cell is being tracked in Boston. Emotionally, Lee is dealing with old feelings of lost love, nightmares of terrors, and an unquenchable thirst to return to Maine. Will he make it home? Will the real terrorists realize their terrible quest?

Breazeale's novel is an enticing, captivating read. Set in the very near future, the book rings true with many current public fears. This work of suspense also holds deeper messages of love, life, and understanding our demons. The plot is tight and well planned, and the characters are undeniably human. Easy to read and impossible to put down, "Reaching Home" is bound to be a great hit!
Review by Heather Froeschl.

This is an incredible book, I am an Occupational Therapy student and I found this book to be powerful and insightful. Newborn captures her emotions, thoughts and experiences in such a way that you feel as though you experienced them with her. For those working in rehab settings, knowing someone who had a stroke or stroke survivors, this is a must read. It is pretty short and I was unable to put it down, happy reading!

This book says it all. My sisiter suffered a stroke at 46 and this book helped me and her husband to understand what exactly she was going through and what to expect.

Although there are several first person accounts of the stroke experience, most have been written from the perspective of the older victim. When stroke hits a young person there a special twists to the knife. All those who have to deal with young people with stroke should read this wonderful book.

I've not only had the pleasure of reading this book, but I've met it's author. She's the real thing. She absolutely shines. She walks a couple of feet off the ground. Ms. Newborn is not only a survivor, but a person who has happiness to share with others. Her book offers incredible insight to those who have either experienced a stroke or know someone who has. She gave me a clear understanding of aphasia and how strokes effect people.

I read quite a few books about strokes following my own, but only wanted to own two. This book, which was a gift from a dear friend, provided such inspiration during my recovery. I still read it from time to time because it continues to be a touchstone for me. I've always loved the poem "Ithaca" which is referenced in the title but it's taken on a special meaning since reading this book. Thank you for writing it, Barbara.