Disabilities Books

I really enjoyed reading a story written about a young girl who is dyslexic and the heartaches she experienced at school because she could not read. I was inspired by the teachers that took interest in her and worked with her until she was able to read. I found this book enlightening and easy to read and understand.

Deborah Hodge's LILY AND THE MIXED-UP LETTERS tells of Lily, who has trouble reading and is easily mixed up. A teacher's plan to have the class read in front of their parents leads to adult discovery of her problem - and a method of resolving them. Any elementary-grade reader with problems learning will readily empathize with Lily's learning disorder.

This morning I gave a talk for my son's high school career week. I'm a psychologist in private practice as a psychotherapist. I've had a wonderful career and have achieved some (albeit minor) recognition. Other professionals come to hear me teach about my work, I've presented around the country and in several other countries, and I've co-edited a professional journal.

So this morning one of the students asked when I decided to do this work and why. When she asked I realized that it was this book, particularly the story Jordi. When I read about the work that the teacher/therapist was doing with this child a light went on for me that hasn't been extinguished. The therapeutic work described in the book is impressive even by my standards after 35 years in the field. Through her acceptance of this very disturbed little boy and the relationship she created with him, along with some inspired therapeutic interventions, she gave the boy his life back. It is the author's gift that all this comes through in his writing. Clearly the work he describes can meaningfully be the focus of one's life.

This is one of the most beautiful collection of stories I have ever read. I first read "Lisa & David" when I was 11 and I thoroughly enjoyed the poetic description of the residential treatment center these young people were in and the way they reached each other. David, a gifted boy was instrumental in reaching Lisa. He was the one who figured out why she spoke in rhymes -- she did that to suppress her alter ego, Muriel. (She was a schizophrenic girl who believed she had a second personality). David and her teacher John were the ones who were able to recognize glimpses of intelligence in the girl and David's pyschiatrist, Dr. White was an unusually kind man. He and David were good for each other.

"Jordi" was a book that completely bowled me over. I first read it at 11 and was captivated. The only real complaint I could make is that it is too short. I LOVED THIS BOOK! It gave a lyrical voice to the inner torment of Jordi's psychosis. Jordi was a very appealing boy. He was certainly very bright in that he knew all the train and bus routes in the tri-state area and he learned to read and to calculate complex mathematical equations quickly. I was so glad Jordi's parents were too smart to leave him in an institution. That would have been just too inhuman. Jordi was lucky in that he was accepted at a day program wherein he found an unusually gifted teacher, Sally. I like the way they worked together and I really loved the way Sally and Jordi demolished a garbage can together to prove to Jordi that garbage cans "did not really have ears" and that they were simply inanimate objects. I love the way they related to each other. Sally helped Jordi define his own boundaries when she explained to him that when another teacher was being kicked by an angry pupil, he, Jordi was not the one who was being hurt. She further helped Jordi recognize himself when she proved that he was still Jordi, no matter what seat he sat in or whose coat he wore. I really love this book. All I can say, is, please read it. It's great.

Calhoun tells a gripping, disturbing and ultimately empowering story. As Rose confronts her worst fears she finds much more than her personal nightmares ever conjured, yet she also discovers more resolve within herself than she had expected. Although Rose has lived a life of bondage that makes her nearly incapable of claiming "mine," her values and the incredibly difficult circumstances she faces eventually enable her to assert herself more generously than those born to privilege might do. The mystical and fantastic elements of this story balance well alongside the practical details of orchard husbandry.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it--one of the best young adult book's ever. I probably read 40-50 books a year and this is onmy favorites list along with Jane Eyre, Poisonwood Bible, Crispin, Inkheart and books by such authors as Dean Koontz and Anne Perry.

I fell in love with the main character, Rose. Her personality is well-developed and she is very likeable. There are questions which develop in your mind as you read and, one by one, they are addressed. You find yourself cheering for Rose and heartbroken right along with her. She has some tough decisions to make and you are not always so sure she's doing the right thing.

I hope you will read this book. I think you'll be glad you did.

Lives on the Boundary is a refreshing look at children lost in between schooling and curriculum where so many children still find themselves today. Mike Rose deliberately askes questions about teachers, school systems, and administrators who never truely teach but merely instruct. This is a wonderful book that provides inspiration for individuals that really want to make a difference in the lives of children.

This is such a refreshing and honest book on the underclass of America's students. Rose tells a great narrative of his own account of how he struggled and suffered through a world of education when in fact he had no idea what education was or meant. I read this and felt like" Hey I am not the only one who was once lost and confused about all this knowledge around me that I am so unprepared to learn and accept." A great read!

"Stuck" teaches people how to think about assistive technology from a holistic perspective. Although most people approach the use of any new technology with skepticism, if not outright fear, people with disabilities are expected to accept assistive technology with open arms. The approach has been: Professionals prescribe the equipment; therefore, people should accept it for "their own good." Scherer illustrates her points about matching people with technology through stories about real people, telling the success stories along with the nightmares.

As a university professor, I have used this book as a text to teach current and future professionals in fields of special education, rehabilitation, and engineering. Students have been inspired by this book time and time again, and begin to understand how assistive technology can help people become "unstuck" and begin living quality lives in their communities.

The narratives are fascinating and compelling while the analysis is lively. The book deals with the problems experienced by those with disabilities as they relate to technologies. Marcia Scherer manages to create a text containing both substantive analysis and interesting stories. This is a rare combination to find. I recommend this jewel for anyone interested in exploring issues surrounding technology, embodiment, disabilities, and society.

...for this fund of invaluable information. I highly recommend this book along with Meyer's other stellar gem, "Views From Our Shoes," which addresses the needs siblings of people with special needs have.

This book lends the voice of hope, confidence and clarity to the experiences many people whose siblings with special needs have. It not only sheds light on many questions that often crop up, it also provides a safe forum to explore any and all sibling related issues.

I like the way Meyer respects his readers' intelligence. It is so critical, in fact paramount for people to be informed about the special needs their siblings have. That is a good way to foster honest relationships and inclusion within the family. That also promotes acceptance of the members who have special needs.


Meyer's book serves as a medical, legal and educational advocate. It provides much needed information about services in these areas. I especially liked the part where people are strongly encouraged and rightfully so to make provisions for their children with special needs and to keep the other children without special needs informed of these decisions. People with special needs are vital members of their respective families and each person impacts upon the lives of others. That is still another reason why it is so crucial to have frank, open discussions with all the family members so as to keep the lines of communication open and to prevent secrets and fear. The fear of the unknown and the lack of communication causes problems and helps no one.

I wish this book had existed a generation ago! I can't recommend it highly enough and it is a book for everybody, parents; all children; educators; medical professionals and the world at large. I love this book!

I am a Japanese and I am a "sibling."

I encountered this book and Don Meyer's Sibling Support Project in October of 1997. At that time, I was struggling to persuade the staff of a (sibling) group that support for siblings was as important as support for people with special needs. In my view this book gave me confidence and shed light on my road to start a new sibling support group.

Some uncommon feelings, opportunities and concerns that siblings might have are described in Chapter 1. Medical knowledge of various disabilities are written about in Chapters 2-6. Since siblings are not often informed about their siblings' disabilities by anyone, it could cause more concern; this book's objective is very important. You can also get basic knowledge of laws, programs, and services for persons with disabilities and their families in the U.S., in Chapter 7. In Chapter 8, an uncommon concern is discussed: where will my sister (brother) live when she (he) grows up. The authors continues by stressing the fact that parents should tell their plans for their disabled children to their "normal" children, and offers suggestions for doing this.

Since this book is intended for young siblings, it is easy for me to read it as a foreigner. Reading Chapter 1, tears welled up in my eyes. I could relate to many things: friends, unselfishness, accepting differences, guilt, overinvolvement, understanding, embarrassment, loss, maturity, worry and loneliness. I wish I could have read it in Japanese when I was a child ! I strongly recommend young and adult siblings, parents and service providers to read this book all over the world, because siblings need peer support and information in a straightforward manner.

I was deeply involved in the creation of this edition, and I can say from experience that the authors have crafted a masterpiece. So much work, diligence, research, and love went into this revision. It is a great resource for family members of someone with Alzheimer's and related disorders, physician's and other practitioners, and even people who have been recently diagnosed. It can be used to educate someone who knows little about dementia or offer a new perspective to the experienced clinician. I highly recommend this book!

This is a book caregivers can hand to relatives and friends to read in order to enrich their understanding of how the disease affects both the victim and their caregiver. It is not only informative in a very practical and easy to read manner but it is sensitive and to the point about the stages of Alzheimer's Disease and the human needs of the people who face this illness. The personal stories highlighted are described in ways that aren't merely words on paper written by someone safely detached from the impact this illness has on living people. This book stands out in my mind for that reason. It also speaks to the loss of relationships as the illness progresses. I refer to over and over and its one of the first I read after I realized my husband Tom and I were facing Alzheimer's Disease.

Roland Johnson's LOST IN A DESERT WORLD, An Autobiography (as-told-to Karl Williams) captures the reader in understanding the root of leadership...in a new kind of civil rights movement: The self-advocacy movement for people with disabilities.

Each time I read Roland's story, I have a new lesson to learn about a hard life, but about a life that surfaced it's way toward "finding a voice" for all of us. Remarkably, while Roland tells his story: how his parent's decided it was necessary to place Roland at a state institution and how he was treated there, the reader can "see" Roland's insight as if he was understanding all sides to his own story and that he did not succumb to the decisions made for him by others. Roland, instead, rose to every occasion, personal event and tragedy and taught us all that the grimmer side of a life can be turned around. Through Roland's autobiography, he showed us that self-reflection and focusing on a speck of light through seemingly whole darkness can lead us in a more positive direction. Roland talked about "a shyness within himself", and I believe we all contain that, in part, as a way to develop our inner self-esteem and self-respect. That inner shyness has its rewards - as Roland showed us - that once we develop that voice, once we find it, we can make things happen for ourselves - for people with disabilities.

LOST IN A DESERT WORLD, also available on audio, provides an opportunity for listeners and readers to learn about a significant national self-advocacy leader and to reflect on our individual lives in ways that may be ordinarily difficult. Anyone who reads Roland's story should find hope and inspiration, and perhaps, a new way to take direction for him or herself. Karl Williams masterfully puts Roland's story down in a deservingly and highly respectable manner, using Roland's authentic voice - only putting order to Roland's hard but eloquent words as he spoke.

Roland's Johnson's autobiography, LOST IN A DESERT WORLD: Reading or hearing this story provides a wonderful message for people to learn about the self-advocacy movement while also allowing the reader to absorb in a powerfully concrete method for self-reflection - for who they are, where they came from and for deciding the direction in which they should lead - or - follow.

Karl Williams brings Roland Johnson to life--exactly as I knew him more than 25 years ago, but what I learned about Roland from reading the book brought me to tears and anger about what we used to do to people who were lableled "different", and yet joy at what he was able to accomplish through a positive attitude and a willingness to put himself in a leadership role to help others. I recommend as must reading to any Human Service student or worker who wants an entertaining short history of where the mental retardation field was just 2 generations ago and where we're going thanks to self-help pioneers like Roland. For all of us who have toiled in this vineyard for more than 20 or 30 years, it will remind us why we entered this field in the first place. A great read!!!!

Liz Astor's chronicle of her tenacious approach to understanding the nature of her daughter's autism educates one about the condition; its vast range, its lack of general understanding and the changing nature of care. It paints a picture of a loving girl, Olivia, living in her separate world and of a mother determined to reach in to know her daughter and accept her for who she is. After Liz's disbelief, denial, sadness and sheer hard work accompanied by transformational experiences one understands the arrival at the sentiment expressed in the title, "Loving Olivia".

This is a touching and thought provoking book written by a strong and wryly humourous mother who has had to learn to live with, and love, an autistic daughter. Both she and Olivia come over as remarkable characters and I feel everyone with any connection with autism should read this book which will move you to tears and laughter. Liz Astor narrates a difficult journey in a straight forward way and leaves you with a little more understanding of the mysterious world of autism.

Even though I am now nineteen years old, Sylvia Cassedy's novels still have the same hold on me as they did back when I was a little tike. "Behind The Attic Wall" was my ultimate favorite. There is a certain magic and spelndor within her books that just can't be beat. It is sad to think her passing will cease her wonderful, descriptive tales; but she will not be forgotten. "M.E. and Morton" is a herat-warming tale about M.E.- a young girl- her mentally retarded brother, Morton, and their mutual friend, Polly. The book teaches us that people can change for the better. That sometimes we love someone deep inside but never show our true feelings until something, (or someone), comes along and shows us about those feelings. The book is about finding true friendship, and learning from each other. Learning to accept, and appreciate. Learning how to love... I recommed anyone to this book, along with any other novel by this excellent author. She knows how to bring out the innocent child in us all. Her books are pure fantasy-like creations that will warm anyone's heart.

I've read all of Sylvia Cassedy's novels many times over, and "M.E. and Morton" is my favourite one. The characters are very well defined, and the story is original and often humourous. Luckily I found a copy at the library sale, but nevertheless I'm upset to find that it's out of print. The first time I read this book I hated Polly, the girl who befriends M.E. and Morton, but when I read it again, I began to wish I had had a friend like her when I was M.E.'s age. I highly recommend this book, as it is one of my favourite children's novels, and Sylvia Cassedy was really quite a fine writer.