Disability-and-Health Books

I too suffered from crippling arthritis along with some bizarre food allergies. These problems came out of nowhere! After going from doctor to doctor I was told to take the anti inflammatory drugs and learn to live with arthritis. I found this book online and started immediatly. What a difference. After a few weeks I was free of pain and back to my old (not so old) self. I too lost weight, what a wonderful side effect! This was about 10 years ago. Buy this book and stick to it for a few weeks. No cheating! It's all great healthy food. What a difference it can make in your life.

In my late 20's I was diagnosed with severe crippling rheumatoid arthritis and told to prepare for life in a wheelchair. For five years I was in constant pain in spite of daily medication. One day I found an early edition of this book and began the diet it describes. Within three weeks I was able to discontinue medication. As long as I stick to the diet I am still pain free. There is no sign of arthritis in my body. At age 52 I am more active and youthful than many women my age. I recommend that every arthritic read this book and try the diet. It gave me back my life and it might work for you, too.

I have been following the advice in this book for the past three weeks for a sore knee. I no longer take ibiprophen to control the pain { it didn't help much anyway } I also massage my knee with peanut oil which is an old Edgar Casey remedy for non-compliant clients. One or the other or both works.
The recipes are easy to follow. You get quite enough to eat with only fish and vegetables. And you lose weight. All my skirts pass the zipper test now { French Women Don't Get Fat }
I'mll thoroughly delighted with the book. I have looked for it for years and now it is mine.

This is a wonderfully written book! I have a son with Asperger's Syndrome and, I have not found a book that compares with this one. There is so much information and real positive steps toward curing, or at the very least dramatically improving your child with Asperger's. I even believe that a lot of this information would also be very helpful to anyone with any form of autism. Must read for teachers, parents, and anyone who knows anyone with autism or Asperger's syndrome!

First, let me say that I love Dr. Lawton's style of writing. She doesn't fill up space with repetitive fluff. She clearly knows her stuff and doesn't mince words while offering an impressive amount of evidence to support her claims. Dr. Lawton expertly blends both the human and clinical aspects of AS with compassion and clarity.

If you are serious about helping yourself or someone in your life with AS, this book will change your life.

Thank you Dr. Lawton! I received your book in the mail yesterday afternoon. I opened the book and read the first five chapters without a break. What a wonderful book! I have learned so much useful information reading your book! This book is a very valuable resource for those with AS, and for friends and family of persons with AS. I'm taking a copy to my therapist - I know she will love it!!!

In this poignant memoir, Anne Barnhill explores the importance of home and family. Despite living with a sister who is considered to be "different" by society, the author reveals how she and her family grew closer through caring for and mentoring "different" Becky. As society dictated at the time (during the 1960's), at first the autistic little girl was put away in a home, as her sister watched and cried. Later, fortunately, Becky, came home again. She didn't need the aid of chicking her heels. The love of family gave her the rainbow she needed.

In the author's lyrical account, the Barnhill family learns to value Becky for herself, rejoicing in her accomplishments. The possibilities for Becky, as well as others with autism, are now limitless.

Everyone with a family member who is considered "different" should read this lyrical tale. The lesson here is that loving someone "different" touches the heart in new and extraordinary ways. Once you complete this fine book, filled with humor and pathos, you'll become a fan of author Barnhill and root for her sister Becky.

Anne Clinard Barnhill, born in 1952 relates the story of her life as sister to Becky, who was born 1/31/58. Becky displayed autistic behavior almost from infancy. She became continent at 4; was marginally verbal for the first few years of her life; communicated by phrasing her statements as questions, e.g. "Does the Becky want to eat? Why can't the Becky learn at home?" Anne, 6 years her sister's senior took Becky under her wing and was lovingly protective of her. She even spent her summers working with Becky on cognitive skills.

Sadly, precious little was known about autism in those days. Becky was erroneously labled as "emotionally disturbed" and even retarded. Sadly, this was not uncommon back then. Becky's schooling was also a problem - in 1965, she was expelled for disruptive behavior from one special needs class in West Virginia and saw a therapist. One group home refused to take her until she became fully self-sufficient in toileting. Although continent and reliable, Becky still needed help cleaning up. Once she mastered that skill, Pressley House, a group home/school was willing to accept her after placing her on a waiting list.

On October 1, 1966 the Clinards took Becky to Amos Cottage, which was an interim placement. Becky served 9 months in Amos Cottage which sounded like a genuine hellhole. Nurses ran the place and the lowest functioning children were kept in crib-cages with bars across the top. Becky talked of the "water babies in the basement," which sounded like she meant children with hydrocephalus. She was able to describe Amos Cottage, which sounded horrible. The Clinards were horrified by the place as anyone would be, but sadly there was no other place forthcoming for Becky.

In June of 1967 after a nearly 9-month sentence in Amos House, Becky enjoyed the annual family camping trip; had fun dodging her sister and sneaking off to the pool which was verboten and in general loving the outdoors. Despite many of her unexplainable behaviors, Anne remains loving and tolerant of Becky. I like that.

Becky's behavior remains severely autistic. She pulls dolls apart until they are limbless and headless; she flips any object in her path and she gives her sister the nickname "Jet," explaining that she thinks Anne's face is jet-plane shaped. (Kind of makes you think of Paul McCartney & Wings' song, "Jet.")

Anne talks about her own milestones; her love of the Beatles whom she discovered in late 1963; her boyfriends; her schools; her crushes; her peers and how they all related to Becky. I like the way she describes her response to the events of the day, e.g. Viet Nam War (she had classmates and friends who were drafted); hippies and the music and the family Ford Galaxie, a singularly cool car. One funny story involves how Anne and her friends got stuck in that Ford and rescued it, with great music from 1968 as the soundtrack.

Anne introduces readers to her family. Readers are treated to both sets of grandparents, aunts and cousins as well. One of my favorite parts was when the girls' mother would sing Beatle songs and emphasize the "yeah, yeah, yeah" chorus in the 1963 classic, "She Loves You." It just goes to show you that nobody could dodge that Beatle influence! Becky's classmates wanted her to choose Beatle songs for her ballet recital. The Beatles remain a comforting presence throughout the book.

Despite their vastly different needs and personalities, the sisters really do, as the Beatles said, "Come Together." Readers get to follow Anne down her growing up years and experience into adulthood; at the same time readers follow Becky's progress as well. Becky weathers some major storms, including abuse at a group home when she was 9-11.

Becky's sentence at Pressley House ended in 1971. Then 13, she went onto a special program at the local high school and secured a diploma in 1979 for merely attending. She worked at area sheltered workshops before she entered a group home in 1990 at age 32.

Readers get to cheer Anne's successes as well; a successful second marriage; a blessing of 3 sons; her degrees and her courage and candor in sharing her life and that of her immediate family. Readers are encouraged by Becky's progress as well. Their story has helped lift the Dark Curtain of the Dark Ages that acted as a barrier towards appropriate placement and diagnosis for people with autism. Sadly, few options existed in those days.

In addition to the Beatle parts which I readily identified with and understood, I like the way Anne Clinard Hill opens each chapter with a passage from "The Wizard of Oz." This classic is one she and Becky have loved over the decades and do to this day.

This book makes me think of the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz." Readers cannot help but think that in time the Path to Acceptance and recognition of autism is closer than over that rainbow and is tangible, not illusive. I am one of the people who thinks that. I like the way Becky accepts herself as well and I think this is one of the best books I have ever read about a sibling who has autism.

This book explores the often unnoticed side of being a so-called 'normal' (or 'neurotypical') person who loves someone with a mental disorder, namely autism. I found this memoir refreshing in the way that it unapologetically gives voice to those of us on the other side of the coin--those of us who have done our best to stretch our love outside of the box by often putting our own needs on hold to be good family. This book will especially appeal to baby boomers who have grown up with autistic siblings during a time when the disorder was still unnamed, as it addresses the historically inaccurate 'parental blame' theory of the disorder's etiology. I would recommend this book to anyone who has been touched by someone with a mental disorder, and anyone who considers themselves an advocate for the mentally ill.

Donna Williams is not only Autistic but a qualified teacher and this is her first text book written in a very easy style for parents, professionals and people who themselves are on the Autistic Spectrum. It became a bestselling Autism text book in the UK and one of the current teaching texts currently used in courses on developmental disabilities.

This book looks at Autism not as one condition but as something with three different faces; problems of connection, problems of tolerance and problems of control. Within each of those categories she describes in detail the way different combinations of challenges can come together to appear to be one thing and gives very simple, easy to read, often home made solutions to tackling Autism related challenges on every different front. She covers issues like 'meaning deafness' and 'meaning blindness' but also tells us what we can do about them. She covers difficulties with processing a simultaneous sense of self and other and what that means for interaction and communication but also gives very specific clear outlines of strategies and approaches that can be used to help people compensate. She covers things like anxiety disorders and sensory perceptual problems as well as impulse control disorders. But more than just describing, this book is almost like the Autism equivalent of a car owner's manual. It doesn't just describe and make vague references. it goes further to give clear instructions on strategies people can easily begin to use at home. It also compares some of the more commercial and mainstream approaches but what's refreshing about the ideas in this book is so many of them cost little or nothing to try.

Well worth having on call for troubleshooting moments or to help the novice or student get to grips with Autism not from the outside, but from the inside, and, more importantly, what can be done to help.

Kudos to Donna Williams for criticizing the popular methods of treatment for people with autism. Kudos to Donna Williams for debunking the tired stereotypes about peopel with autism. I like the way she insists the "experts" be held accountable and gives in-depth, analytical reasons for problems that exist with many existing forms of treatment. Williams' suggestion of having different methods of treatment converge under one umbrella to serve the individual needs of the autistic population sounded very logical indeed.

This scholarly work is detailed but not tedious; factual and direct. Each chapter is broken into subsections that focus on a particular issue, e.g. education, physiological "firings" in the brain; vitamins; medicines; sensory responses; information processing and developing langugage. The book also has an Appendix which includes good practical advice about working with people with autism. Her inclusion of national as well as international organizations is invaluable.

Williams raises some excellent points in her book, e.g. exposing the myth of "hug/holding therapy" as being a panacea for neurological conditions. Many people with autism find hugs restrictive. The onslaught of sensory input during enforced hugs makes an unpleasant activity even more so. Insisting that people "hug on cue" is unnatural and does not engender love. People forced to suffer through this treatment will, as she rightfully points out, outwardly go along with it until they are released. It does not change the neurology or the feelings of the autistic person; this method is just a stop-gap approach that meets the hugger's need and not that of the person with autism. It also appears to be a very self serving form of treatment and one that should be called into question. It is also a form of manipulative control. Very little attention has been given to "unpleasant" hugs and the rights of people who don't want to be hugged in the first place. There are many people, autistic and neurotypical who are not overly fond of hugs and find them intrusive.

I felt the book did an excellent job of providing a wide array of information about autism in a "reader friendly" format. A person with autism is by far and away the best authority on the subject. This book is like a magnet; readers will continue to be drawn to it and will continue "dipping into it" for information and guidance. This, as with any work cannot be all inclusive and cover every single item. Still, I feel it is exceptionally well done and one every educator, parent, person with autism should not be without. We need this book!

Autism: An Inside-Out Approach, has succeeded in telling experts on autism things they didn't know.

Donna is intelligently critical of the popular and professional stereotypes of autism. She demands an end to the professional exclusivism and arrogance of so many proponents of therapies for autism. Donna proposes a "supermarket" approach, where the different therapies work together under the one roof to meet the unique set of problems of each autistic individual they serve.

Autism: An Inside-Out Approach answers the problem of Carol and Willie, Donna's "characters" Oliver Sacks discusses a similar personality phenomenon to Donna's "characters" during his description of Dr Temple Grandin in An Anthropologist From Mars.

The appendix to Autism: An Inside-Out Approach, is full of helpful advice on issues and problems involved in dealing with autism. There is also an international list of organisations and resource people Donna has found useful in her own struggle with autism.

Two quibbles with Donna's brilliant, very readable exposition of autism: The word "refraction" is repeatedly used to refer to "shining", reflected light. Secondly, her useful coverage of nutrition and immunology problems in autistic people does not fully reflect the full raft of problems and issues in this area of autism research.

Autism: An Inside-Out Approach is "extremely recommended" reading.

We bought this book because we thought it was a great teaching tool to introduce the subject of disabilities into our child's learning. Because the author kept the storyline simple and the illustrations perfectly fit the story, young children can comprehend this book with ease. Even though the book is simple, Beau's cute story and the wonderful illustrations not only kept our child's interest, but also raised her curiosity. We know because she asks a ton of questions. Because of this book, our child now has a positive understanding about people with disabilities. This type of book should be in every child's collection.

This book is great. It's well written and beautifully illustrated. Many of my friends have this book and their kids love it. It's simple enough and the illustration are so vibrant it keeps a small child's attention and the read itself is simple enough that a young child learning to read will be able to get through it with little difficulty and feel great about it.

The book is unique in it's subject matter. I've seen very few books out there that deal with children with mild disabilities and how live with them.

Your kids will love this book.

I wrote this book as a tribute to my beautiful son. Beau. He was born very early with mild cerebral palsy on his right side. He wears a brace to help with balance and strength. Many times children will ask Beau about his "boot" and if his leg hurts wearing it, which it does not. :) So, I thought writing a simple rhyming story about all the things Beau does for fun in and out of his boot would be a fun way to explain acceptance and understanding to any child.

As the parent of a child with a Traumatic Brain Injury, I have found this book to be invaluable. It has answered so many questions that were very difficult to find the answers to elsewhere. Dr. Schoenbrodt has done a magnificent job of pulling together information written by different professionals such as a medical doctor, a psychologist, special educators, etc. In this extremely informative book, Dr. Schoenbrodt presents ten different chapters: 1)What is Traumatic Brain Injury?; 2)Rehabilitation and Medical Concerns; 3)Coping as a Family; 4)Helping Your Child Adjust; 5)How TBI Affects Learning and Thinking; 6)How TBI Affects Speech and Language; 7)How TBI Affects Behavior; 8)Strategies for Managing Your Child's Behavior; 9)The Educational Needs of Children with TBI; 10) Legal Issues for Families of Children with TBI. There is also a wonderful resource guide which includes a state-by-state listing of organizations for families that have experienced TBI and a list of informative websites. The material provided is given in a clear, concise, and well-written manner. There are many medical terms used but there is also a glossary explaining them. It is not too difficult for the lay person to read, and yet has much to offer the professional. This book has been more help to me than I can ever express. I live in a very rural area and no one seemed to have much information on TBI. As I read the book, every so often I would come across something and say to myself, "Aha! So that's why my son does this or acts this way." There are also many suggestions to help parents and the child recover emotionally and to manage everyday living. I would highly recommend this book to any member of a family that has suffered TBI, and I would also recommend it to any professional seeking more information on the subject. Thank you, Dr. Schoenbrodt!

Wonderful book .Probably the most useful book specifically about TBI in children that I have read.Well Done.If you are looking for a book specifically dealing with TBI in children then look no further

As a parent of a son with TBI, I have battled schools to find a teacher, administrator, specialist... anyone who understands the confusion and disorganisation in my son's brain. This book, among other things, clearly states the stages of brain rehabilitation, lists possible symptoms, explains in layman's terms how things can appear one way one day, and differently the next. I can speak intelligently to untrained educators using quotes from this book to explain abberrant and unexpected behavior as exhibited by my son. And believe me, the teachers are UNTRAINED in TBI. Ask me, I am a teacher! Everything I have learned about TBI, I taught myself after my son fell and damaged his brain - and this book is the best place to start that I can recommend.

I bought the audiobook after getting the paperback. I found it's not just the perfect complement, but even better for covering many topics because I could listen while driving, on my way to class, or in the background at home while doing other things. Since I'm easily distracted myself, the chimes helped keep my focus on the book, and though I love the paperback and the layout (super-easy to read) the audiobook made it even easier to follow...and I think there's even a little info in the audiobook (particularly around meds and alternative solutions...at least that's what I've seen so far, that's not even in the paperback...and yeah, at 13 hours, thankfully broken up into searchable, bite-sized sections, it's definitely UNABRIDGED...but with great info!)

It's rare that a book (or audiobook) comes along that touches your heart while helping you relate to specific problems.

College Confidence with ADD is one such book. Written from the heart, Michael Sandler doesn't preach, but instead shares with you the hurdles involved in succeeding with ADHD, or any learning disability for that matter, how he personally overcame his challenges, and ways you too can succeed.

It's really two books in one...the first, a personal account of overcoming challenges, succeeding with a 'disability', and as Michael puts it, and shares through his own story, turning 'challenges into opportunities'. It's a beautiful book written from the heart sharing his touching stories.

The second book is a how-to guide on overcoming almost every challenge imaginable, and succeeding in school or in life today. Others I've shown this book would say it's a how-to guide for anyone in this modern, hectic, crazy-world. But it's definitely a how-to guide for anyone that think's outside the box, doesn't go from point A to point B in a straight line, or is labeled with AD/HD, Asbergers, Dyslexia, or any other 'learning disability'.

Michael helps readers quickly find the information they, or I am looking for, so that you can get back on track quickly. If you're struggling for a test, the info's in there...need to get organized, it's in there, struggling with relationships in school or beyond, it's in there too.

If you struggle to read, don't have the attention to read, have a reading disability or just prefer audiobooks, then I'd get the audiobook first...or get both, and keep the paperback as a great quick-reference guide, always at the ready. (Or let the parents keep the paperback, and put the audio-version on your iPod or other Mp3 player).

If you're looking for one book or audiobook to overcome challenges, see how others have done it, and figure out how to succeed, this book is worth a try!!!

Useful and informative! Love how things are broken up into sections...No matter what information I was looking for, I could find it fast!

Way more information than I ever thought would be in an ADD book, audiobook or otherwise.

I can't say enough about how terrific and unique this audio book is not only for teens going off to college, in college, post grads... but for ANYONE with ADD or ADHD!! This book is explained in a format where the author shares his stories and then details what he has learned from his experiences, in order to help others. He has ADHD himself and is even a life coach for other ADDers now. This audio book is like having an ADD coach by your side all the time. You can use it as a guide and listen to various sections when necessary or you can listen to it fully over and over again. The author's writing is captivating, lighthearted and even humorous at times. He even laughs at his own mistakes sometimes, which truly helps readers see life as a bigger picture than just a current struggle they may be going through at the time. He explains the many creative gifts of having ADD and broaches just about every life topic with great knowledge. His sections range from the best foods for an ADDer to eat to stay focused, to sections on how college students with ADD can keep a great schedule for eating, laundry, and cleaning. He also broaches much deeper sections on depression and impulse behaviors of ADDers. This audio book is a captivating and highly educational resourse!! FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book should be manditory reading for all high shool students. These true stories inspire, inform and motivate as well as teach endurance and how to overcome all odds.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...I have been a fan of Jack for years and this is really his best work.

I am anxiously awaiting his next work, which I heard he has been working on for the past 70 years.

My review is short and sweet. I think this book is all that and a bag of chips. Particularly the chapter about Jonathan Slifka, which was exceptionally wonderful. Of course, I am biased, because I AM Jonathan Slifka! :) I really wish this book were easier to find! (HINT HINT)

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.