Disabilities Books

As an English teacher of over eight years, I found this to be one of the most useful resources for explaining phonics, roots, prefixes, suffixes and foreign word origins. I would highly recommend this book to teachers, tutors and parents. Wonderful!!

This is an excellent book for english teachers, tutors, or simply those interested in the mechanics of the english language. I found the last pages of the book--which contain cutout flashcards of the various vowels, consonants, and other common word segments (e.g. ble, tial, gle)--invaluable. Using these cards, I was able to help a student with reading difficulties dramatically increase his reading efficiency. The book also contains important exceptions to phonetic rules that pop up in the english language and which stem from greek, latin, and other languages. This is one of those books that when you've studied a while, you say "hey this english language is screwy, but now I understand why, and I know where all the exceptions to the rules lay, and know how to make well-educated stabs at pronouncations and spellings. The layout of the text could be, perhaps, better arranged. I think it would be better to have placed the flashcards in the front, and have an explaination of how to use them. Other than that, this book is awesome!

This is an excellent book for english teachers, tutors, or simply those interested in the mechanics of the english language. I found the last pages of the book--which contain cutout flashcards of the various vowels, consonants, and other common word segments (e.g. ble, tial, gle)--invaluable. Using these cards, I was able to help a student with reading difficulties dramatically increase his reading efficiency. The book also contains important exceptions to phonetic rules that pop up in the english language and which stem from greek, latin, and other languages. This is one of those books that when you've studied a while, you say "hey this english language is screwy, but now I understand why, and I know where all the exceptions to the rules lay, and know how to make well-educated stabs at pronouncations and spellings. The layout of the text could be, perhaps, better arranged. I think it would be better to have placed the flashcards in the front, and have an explaination of how to use them. Other than that, this book is awesome!

As the world continues to march to information on the Internet, the issue of accessibility for Web sites has continued to grow in importance. Especially as glitz and flashy programming grow ever more popular in Web design, the chance of leaving those with special needs behind increases. What accessibility means also can be a murky area, though as lawsuits against Target and other stores over Web accessibility shows, this is still important. Sydik helps cut through the often vague standards to show the reader step-by-step things that are important for accessibility, but often are not major changes. He explains what accessibility entails, and looks at different solutions, and the pitfalls that some can produce making things worse for accessibility when it is trying to improve it. His chapters are grouped into thematic sections, but each chapter focuses on one item, keeping the information short and relevant to the topic. At the conclusion he walks through the current and proposed accessibility standards and gives practical advice and translation of what the sections mean, and what you can do about it (citing chapters that addressed the topic). This book is very readable, practical and sits on my desk for quick reference and advice. It is an excellent starting point for acquainting yourself with the issue of accessibility for Web sites and what you can do to help design them properly.

Jeremy's Design Accessible Web Sites provides practical advice alongside with the theoretical underpinnigs in upbeat style. This books covers actionable steps to take in fixing many common accessibility problems but it also does something more important. It gives the reader a theoretical framework for considering and solving accessibility issues for tricky scenarios.

Some other books are better on regulatory issues and others on multimedia items like Flash since the focus here is web site design. That said, it's a great read for web site design and web standards work. For that it's first rate, with modern techniques and consideration of the future of accessibility issues (AJAX, WCAG 2), and with a breadth and richness of subject matter.

DESIGN ACCESSIBLE WEB SITES is an excellent guide to making your web site(s) usable by anyone, regardless of their access needs. It is also not the dry and unfriendly tome that others have put out in regards to this subject...that is to say, it is very readable, even fun in some places! There are plenty of code examples as well as lists of specific tools and references that can be used to make your site accessible to everyone.
It concentrates mainly on the U.S. accessibility requirements, but it also covers what you need around the world.
Most importantly, Jeremy stresses that making your web sites accessible makes them easier for EVERYONE to navigate, not just those individuals with special access needs, and that is a bonus for everyone!

My son was in the hospital when I read this book, the Child Life Specialist asked if I would "look" at it. I read it in five hours (and I am not much of a reader)! It took off like a rocket and never stopped. Jean's story is not only an inspiring one, but it helps a parent of a child with Spina Bifida see from the child's point of view. That alone makes this book priceless. Thank you Jean, for laying it all out in the open. You have a graceful courage that any mother would be proud of.

Determined to win is an absolute winner. This book flowed like an exciting best selling novel. I feel I've not only been into Jean Driscoll's head, but also in her heart.

Determined to Win was an excellent book. It sounded so much like what has happened in my life. Hopefully some day I'll be as sucessful as Jean in wheelchair racing but this book surely inspires me to push myself to ultimite limit in everything. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

I actually have a copy of her first edition (which was published only in the UK). It is excellent. As a parent of a child with severe motor and oral dyspraxia/apraxia I know exactly how difficult it can be to find qualified info on this subject. Most of what you can find (which isn't much) deals with identifying it. I already know my son has this. I need to know what to do about it. This is one of the few books that deals with exactly how to "treat" the motor dyspraxia. If you have a child or student with dyspraxia/apraxia, get this book. When I read it I said, "finally, a book that adequately describes my child." By the way, this affliction is generally known as dyspraxia in the UK and as apraxia in the US. Also, there are 2 types - motor and oral, but most people will find that their afflicted child has some of both types. I hope this helps someone!

If you can have just one book on dyspraxia, this should be it. And if you have a child with some type of apraxia diagnosis, please read this book too. Parents of children with dysgraphia (poor handwriting) may also bennefit.

If your child with apraxia has profound speech problems and cannot communicate verbally at all, this will not be enough by itself, but will be useful to help support speech therapy, especially if your child is also learning sign language but is having some motor problems with that as well.

If you are trying to help a person with aquired apraxia (brain injury or stroke,) you will probably want something different.

In the US our children tend to get the diagnosis of "apraxia" "developmental apraxia" "speech dyspraxia" "childhood apraxia" "verbal dyspraxia" or "global apraxia" more often than they get a "developmental dyspraxia" diagnosis. These different lables are supposed to indicate subtle differences in the problems and needs these people face. However, from a practical standpoint, most of the methods designed to help someone with one of these developmental dyspraxia will help someone with one of the related diagnosises, sometimes with just slight modifications.

This book is full of strategies and specific sugestions to help people facing problems with apraxia that is present since birth or childhood (developmental dyspraxia, childhood apraxia) as opposed to people who have suffered from a brain injury or stroke. It covers a wide range of ages and the sugestions are concrete and very doable. I am a parent of both a child with autism and another child with developmental dypraxia/speech dyspraxia and this is one of the most valuable resources I own for helping my boys overcome their motor planning and coordination problems. It is also very helpful for speech problems as well. I am able to create a useful home program to suppliment the activities done at school and in therapy using this book. And the school personel have also been impressed with this book. I like this book much better than the Marshalla books which seem geared to kids whose impairment is so profound. (Don't misunderstand me, her books a very good, I do like them, just less complete.) Her books don't offer many suggestions for children whose issues include other motor functions (like handling silverware) but which many children with speech apraxia also face. (Of course she is an SLP and not an OT so it's not really the point of her work, but we parents will be concerned with both.) Also, she offers few suggestions once an apraxic child becomes verbal but is still not making sense where as this book is aimed more at those kids who have a range of issues and who can talk to some degree. Not only is word pronunciation linked to motor skills, but also word order in sentences, use of pronouns and many other skills require an internal coordination that mirrors external coordination. If we can remediate these oganizational factors in our children then their other therapies (speech, ABA, floortime, social skill building, etc.) become more effective. There is so little information on this group of disorders that is truely useful to parents and teachers, but this book is very complete. It is very well done and has information useful in both settings. Indeed, most of the examples given in the book involve school settings, so professionals should also find this book to be very valuable.

Good luck to all of you parents and teachers who work daily with these kids!

This book does not dwell greatly on ideals or hypotheses, nor on soothing chat. The reader will find practical, well-organized information on a good variety of ways to assess and train a child's abilities without highly specialized equipment.

I was impressed by the differences that generalized training in motor skills seemed to make in specific tasks such as handwriting, and also by the reports that "normal" children helping with lunchtime training programs enjoyed the experience, and felt closer to the previously isolated "clumsy" children, with their associated tendency to be irritable and easily distracted (not to mention distracting!). The scope of the book really does cover both parents and schools -- this book is grounded in solid observation and experience.

Ms. Portwood stresses that intervention helps at all ages, often bolstering self-esteem and social skills along with growing achievement in motor skills.I am looking forward to using this book with my son.

I believe that Dyspraxia is also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder in the U.S.

Diagnosis Autism: Now What? 10 Steps to Improve Treatment Outcomes is a guide written particularly for parents confronted with the unique challenges of raising an autistic child. Each of the ten steps is discussed and supported with the latest research and understanding of the nature of autism and successful means of treating it with the aid of a physician. Diagnosis Autism focuses above all on cultivating a strong family-physician bond in the best interests of an autistic child; thus the steps range from "Monitor and Chart Your Child's Development" and "Organize Information for Physician Interview" to "Formulate Questions for Physician Appointment", "Initiate Treatment and Program Approaches", "Listen and Be Open Minded", and "Review, Negotiate & Follow Through". Diagnosis Autism is not a complete instructional manual on autism and how to treat it, but rather focuses upon the most difficult and challenging issues that parents and physicians have to deal with, and the common situations and misunderstandings that can crop up over sensitive issues Highly recommended for families with an autistic child or adolescent member.

This book is the single best resource I have found yet for clearly and concisely answering all my (millions) of questions about what to know and what to do for my son who has autism. I can't tell you the hundreds of hours of time it would have saved me if I had found this book several years ago when my son was first diagnosed. To me, it feels like a chaotic deluge of information is out there about autism, all scattered in different places. Until now - Diagnosis Autism brings it all together in simple and practical language. With it, I am a much better educated and empowered parent. Thank you for bringing this invaluable resource to me and all the other overwhelmed parents of spectrum children.

This book simplified my life. I have four children and the youngest started showing signs of autism at a young age. I had an extremely hard time getting a pediatrician to listen and my concerns were put aside. I was told that "he is a boy and he will catch up" instead of taking the initiative and listening to the instincts of a four time mom. Step 7 helped me learn how to choose another pediatrician, and Step 10 taught me how to negotiate an integrated partnership with my physician who listens to my needs. I liked the charts throughout the book especially the daily log chart in Step 1. Now I monitor and chart my son's behaviors daily and I am prepared to discuss his development when I meet with the doctor. I found Step 6, Interventions and Therapies, fascinating because it covers all types of programs including educational, medical and biomedical. I could have used this book when my son first received his diagnosis. Now I use it daily.

Trainer is an excellent writter who cuts right to the heart of the matter. She deals frankly with some difficult topics and doesn't have much use for platitudes like "little angles", etc.

While the cover is clearly aimed at women, this is a book for us guys too. You'll enjoy the writing and be affected by the content.

I picked this up at a DS conference and just finished reading, at times it made me happy and at times I cried. But it helped me put my life with my 18 mo old DS girl in perspective and also gave me hope for her future. This is an excellent book that is both inspirational and eye opening. A must read.

I truly feel this book is a must read for anyone with a child with Down syndrome. Marilyn Trainer was able to put into words many of the same feelings that I have had about my child with Down syndrome. She is very frank and doesn't hold back on how she feels about many issues concerning her son. I highly recommend Differences in Common!

It was suggested to me by someone very dear, to read this book. I can not tell you how it has changed my life. This young brave man, must be one of great determination and conviction to have met his challanges . I would imagine if one were to meet Paul Jockimo, you would be blessed beyond belief. Maybe someday, who knows, he will sign my copy of this book.
I thank the man who suggested my finding this book.His friendship has made a difference to me by sharing this book.
You see, we have choices in life to make, and Paul Jockimo made his, and that was to be the great person he would become. We have a chance in life to make a differnce, and he has.

this is an exciting but sad book that is a good way to show little kids that there are not all but perfect people in this world. But please Don't Feel Sorry For Paul

This is a great book. Having met Paul Jockimo, I can say that he is just as inspiring as they portray him in the book. Will, hopes and dreams can overcome anything perceived as a disability by the world at large. Paul Jockimo went on to become a firefighter and emergency services provider. He has trained many people in critical incident stress management, and he is a devoted father and husband. This book showed the spirit of the young man. That spirit has not diminished with time.

The book " Dr. Hoffer's ABC of Natural Nutrition for Children: With Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders and Mental State Dysfunctions" by Abram Hoffer is a source of information on children's health and nutrition. Nutrition-based therapies have been used successfully to treat a wide range of health problems. The author has done research. The book contain varieties of topics, such as diagnosis and treatment with easy to find children's illnesses diagnosed. Also, contain a tables of the nutrient content of common foods which can be follow in developing an optimum diet. Furthermore, a complete guide to vitamins and mineral supplements for kids with recommended dosage.

how much difficult for a child is to function in school if he have learning disability?, wether it is fogy- brain, or hyperactivity, or any other mental/neurological-disability, is one question. but finding a good help is even more difficult, but no more!.this book is the natural choice for every child that realy is working, and with the best resoults. many case histories as well are showed in that book. you have got to give your child a natural fair chance.you have my warm recommandation.

The book " Dr. Hoffer's ABC of Natural Nutrition for Children: With Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders and Mental State Dysfunctions" by Abram Hoffer is a source of information on children's health and nutrition. Nutrition-based therapies have been used successfully to treat a wide range of health problems. The author has done research. The book contain varieties of topics, such as diagnosis and treatment with easy to find children's illnesses diagnosed. Also, contain a tables of the nutrient content of common foods which can be follow in developing an optimum diet. Furthermore, a complete guide to vitamins and mineral supplements for kids with recommended dosage.

This book is a fabulous adjunct to EMDR protocols for those practitioners using EMDR. With the book divided into specific chapters dealing with very early childhood trauma to those with addictions and everything in between--provides back ground as to why the standard EMDR doesn't work in all situations. These chapters provide ways of dealing with various situations in alternative EMDR techniques that allows for healing for those with difficult situations and difficult presentation/coping.

I found this book to be a very clear and comprehensive guide to treating a variety of diagnoses with EMDR. It should only be utilized by therapists that have completed formal EMDR training, however, as it is not a substitute for the standard protocol and all variations are based on the assumption that clinicians are already trained in basic EMDR techniques.

I bought this book as a recommendation from another collegue for specific needs with one client and was primarily interested in one particular chapter related to addictions. When I began reading I had a difficult time stopping. Each chapter was a jewel. I could think of numerous clients that I could assist using these expanded or adapted protocols and strategies. The best resource I have ever spent money on! If you are an EMDR trained clinician, this book is a must have!

I have to say there are not many books out there that tells it like it is. This book is by far the best of them all. I hope Ken Kroll and his wife Erica Levy Klien write another one soon as possible with other stories. There were other issues I wanted them to hit on. Great Read.

This is an excellent book. I have Cerebral Palsy. As I read through the various situations described by the authors along with the interviews from other disabled people, these are exactly the type of situation I have dealt with throughout my life. Most important are issues dealing with human sexuality. For a "normal" person who has concerns about these issues, his or her concerns are treated as not only normal, but healthy. However, when the disabled person has the same concerns, he or she is not only treated as abnormal and even perverted, but so often he or she is ignored. Moreover, there is the acknowledgment that these situations, or attitudes, are prevalent in not only the general public, but people of the medical profession who should be trusted to know better. It is so empowering for these issues to be acknowledged in such a mature manner as this book acknowledges them.

My ONLY problem with this book is that it does not discuss GLBT issues. Nonetheless, this is the BEST book on sex/sexuality I have ever read, and the ONLY one I have read for people with disabilities. The drawings are AMAZING - VERY erotic but done tastefully. I could get turned on on just the pictures alone. Add the stories, and, in the words of my husband (we read this book together), "VA VA VOOM!"