Disabilities Books

This is one of the few stories that I have read that actually helped me to understand life with a physical disability. The authors told the story honestly, yet without undue sentimentality. I believe this book should be required reading for all high school seniors!

I have a disability, and am going to college soon, so I found this book very interesting. Both woman lived pretty active lives dispite their disability. I hope to have a good college experience as they did.

Anyone who reads Journeys will be asking themselves the question I did, 'could I handle major setbacks as well as the people profiled here?' One realizes how much good these individuals have accomplished through their splendid will power and they all send us a message, 'Don't ooh and ahh at them as we do Hollywood figures, some athletes and British Royalty rather salute them, and do good things yourself!'

Journeys takes us on an energizing expedition into the frontiers of human resiliency. The biographical vignettes allow us all to experience the fortitude and ingenuity underlying the human capacity to transform disability into productivity. The book enables all of us to nurture justifiable optimism in the presence of seeming handicap.

Angie, a social worker (case manager) for the mentally challenged, feels a restlessness with the way things are. If she could just step behond the limiting rules that govern her job, could she do it better? She puts fear behind her and takes a small step into this unknown. So begins her "Kairos", her spiritual travelogue, which puts Angie on a new path of understanding and growth. A wonderful opportunity to walk in the shoes of someone who works with the mentally challenged.

Kairos by Joanne Lehman is a wonderful tale of a social workers journey to open herself up to life's possibilities. Each character is well defined within the context of the story. The very real life issues the characters struggle with help the reader to wrestle with them as well. Angie, the main character, explores the costs and benefits of becoming vulnerable. She learns to be both a helper and the one who is helped as she gains the courage to really experience life. Social issues of our time are gently woven throughout the book which informs the reader and provides a context for issues seldom discussed.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy read with inspiring content. It is a love story, a journey home, and a timely look at issues of social justice. Time well spent!
Karen Horst Cobb

The Kaleidoscope Kid: Focusing on the Strengths of Children with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism is a unique children's picturebook celebrating the gifts possessed by individuals with Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism. Written by English-as-Second Language teacher Elaine Marie Larson to help her grandson San, who has Asperger Syndrome, The Kaleidoscope Kid reminds young readers of the positive qualities held by those with autism spectrum disorders. "I Have a Keen Mind // Just Ask Me // Did you know / There are lizards that fly, / And snakes, fish and frogs / That soar through the sky? / It's an amazing thing / How some creatures / Can fly without wings. / How can it be? / Just ask me." Some of the rhyming verses have unusual features, such as being written backwards (a mirror helps to read them) or in the form of a Japanese haiku. The brilliant, solid color mosaic illustrations complement this uplifting picturebook, highly recommended for read-aloud sharing with autism spectrum children.

The lovely and creative cover really captured my attention and I had to read this valuable book. It celebrates the uniqueness and gifts that those with autism offer to us all. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations on each page...a work of colorful art. Plus the creative poems are sure to capture the attention of the young and young at heart. It would make a terrific birthday or holiday gift. It's a complete package of fun! Joanna Keating-Velasco Author A IS FOR AUTISM, F IS FOR FRIEND

"Kellie's Book" is an inspiration! I've purchased several copies for gifts as well as show-and-tell. Kellie's art work brings each page to life, offering encouragement and wisdom to children and adults alike. Thanks Kellie!

Kellie's Book: The Art of the Possible is the children's picturebook autobiography of Kellie Greenwald, born with Down syndrome and a hole in her heart, now age twenty-nine with a successful career, friends in her group home, a cat she takes care of, and a loving family. Kellie's Book is a positive affirmation of love, hope, and the joy of life, told in Kellie's own words and illustrated with her color artwork. "I used to work at Roush's Drug Store. I helped with customer services. I would take them to the aisles to get products from A to Z." Since Kellie's Book uses a direct transcript of Kellie's printing by hand rather than a typeface, very young children might need a little help reading the words aloud. Enthusiastically recommended for personal and library children's collections.

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 mother of two children with ADD and a teacher of LD/ADD students, I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with a child diagnosed with, or undergoing tests for, learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without hyperactivity). Having read many books on the subject, I consider this one to be the best I've read. This book really helped me understand my kids' ADD problems. It addresses many topics in an easy to understand way, that I continue to refer to again and again. I keep a list of highlighted passages that I often bring to the attention of my fellow teachers, my students' parents, and friends struggling with their children's learning issues.

Over the last three years I have read through few and skimmed through many on the subject. This book is definitely one to read cover-to-cover, get out your highlighter and keep handy. I checked it out at the Library and now have bought a copy for my library. I am sure I will refer to it often, because it has very practical advice and doesn't over analyze, yet doesn't simplify either. I particularly liked the section dealing with what the schools will, might and probably won't do. The chapter on family life and LD children was a little short, but very informative.

Dr Pirnot provides a realistic view into the life of not only a child who was suddenly and tragically injured, but also his family and friends. She captures the reader's mind and heart and leaves him or her constantly wondering what will happen next. She also provides a story that is so heart felt that it will make you smile in one chapter and cry in another. This book is a must read for parents, children, siblings, or others who work with those struggling (or not) to overcome disabilities.

This novel based on the medical condition of a young therapy patient treated by Dr. Pirnot 20 years ago is both inspiring and instructive . The human spirit is equally strong in children and adults. Healing becomes available through unexpected sources.

I entered the field of Developmental Disabilities with over 20 years in nursing and a certification in continuing education and staff development. Neither my nursing education nor continuing education included enough content to make me an "expert" in this field. I joined the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) and signed up our nurses to undergo certification. This book was instrumental in refining our nursing practice. In conjunction with this book, I would recommend Batshaw (Children with Disabilities)for medical information and Beirne-Smith, Ittenbach and Patton (Mental Retardation) for an overview on special education. Carolyn E Munroe, M.Ed, RN, CDDN ceamunroe@aol.com

With over 20 years in nursing, I was suprised at how much there was to learn when I started working for the ARC (Assosciation for Retarded Citizens). This book helped me learn while also developing resources for the group home staff. I highly recommend it. It's a classic and worth waiting for.

I use this book a lot for ideas for a counseling group that I run in a youth detention facility. The only issue that I have with it is that there are not a lot of activities other than worksheets. It is really based on a classroom educational model. That being said it is better than most similar books.

I run an educational program for at-risk youth, and we rely haevily on this book for last minute ideas, time filler, information, statistics, etc. It is a tremendous asset for us to have and anyone working with at-risk youth should have it!