Disability-and-Health Books

This is one of a kind book, it sheds insight into autistic mind, which can be to some extent a bit disturbing too. But also the efforts of a mother , that are nothing short of a miracle.

This third edition of The Biology of the Autistic Syndromes finally puts fully in place the new paradigm of autism which knocks down the two major myths about autism. 1)Autism is NOT caused by poor parenting - the parents are, if anything, the victims of this psychoneurological disease -- and 2)autism is NOT one disease -- it is many different diseases. The symptoms of autism are due to neurodevelopmental errors in the fetal brain. Modern neuroimaging techniques have shown that virtually every brain region is affected in autism.

Approximately three-quarters of the children diagnosed as autistic have one of the disease entities of autism, discussed in Chapter 10. Another quarter of the children have a double syndrome, that is an autistic syndrome in addition to a second, well-established medical syndrome, discussed in Chapter 11. Correct diagnosis of each individual child, as outlined in Chapter 16, is the essential first step toward accurate medical therapy.

There are chapters on Asperger syndrome, epidemiology, neuropsychology, epilepsy, biochemistry, neuropathology and molecular genetics.

The new paradigm of autism is changing the future for children with autism.

Joe appeared perfectly normal at birth...or so the Apgar scores indicated. But within two hours of his birth, Joe is whisked away to the newborn intensive care unit in grave danger. He is thoroughly tested and found to have severe cerebral palsy. The specialist gives Nia and Alex, Joe's parents, little if any encouragement. The experts all seem to agree that Joe will be blind and unable to speak, move or even recognize his mom and dad.

Nia and Alex are devastated but unwilling to accept the life sentence the doctors have given their infant son. Their lives are filled with a seemingly endless round of visits to specialists, therapists and healers. Nia is even more adamant than Alex; she simply refuses to accept the prognosis so often repeated to her. The doctors suggest she is in denial, but there is absolutely no denying that Nia will do whatever she possibly can to see that Joe has a life worth living.

Light therapy, oxygen therapy, patterning, tapping, music therapy, sensory therapy, Reiki, crystals, Chinese herbs --- Nia tries them all. In fact, it seems there is nothing she won't try. The baby book, purchased in happier, more hopeful times, remains empty the first year. There are no milestones to record.

Nia reduces Joe's drugs for epilepsy, against the advice and orders of the neurologist. Later, when the neurologist mentions that there are no traces of epilepsy on Joe's latest examinations, he still won't admit there is no need for those drugs at all.

A milestone, so long hoped for, finally occurs. Movement! Joe reaches out, actually moving the muscles in his left arm for the first time. Nia and Alex, however, are drifting apart. Though their goals are similar --- giving Joe as normal a life as possible --- their lives are going in opposite directions. Alex has a job to occupy much of his time, and Nia is so focused on Joe that there is practically no time or energy for anything else.

One day, when Joe is two years old, he raises his arms --- both stiffly and not at the same time, but he does reach them around Nia's neck to hug her. This is major progress. Not only is he beginning to move his limbs, he can now express emotion. Joe learns to tap --- once for yes, twice for no. At last, some real communication. Alex feels that Nia has no time for him, and he moves out, but continues to visit three times a day to assist with Joe's patterning exercises and to play with him.

Joe's progress is agonizingly slow, but Nia has wonderful support from family and friends. And now she has a helper --- a respite worker named Sian, who brings joy and hope each time she visits.

Shortly after his third birthday Joe rolls over for the first time. With every painstakingly slow bit of progress that he makes, Nia is more hopeful and determined than ever that her son will continue to improve. Another eye specialist diagnoses cataracts, so Joe has surgery and is fitted with glasses. Now there is real hope for his sight. His first word is "more," and he is happy when he hears music. The little victories and milestones begin to accumulate; Nia's hopes are not in vain.

BLUE SKY JULY is a testament to the unconditional love, hopes and dreams that every mother has for her child. Nia has courage, patience, determination and the ability to continue moving forward even when the experts are telling her it is hopeless. Beautifully written, the book is by turns heartbreaking and hopeful. It is the amazing true story of a young mother who will do anything within her ability to give her son the full and happy life that is every child's birthright.

--- Reviewed by Carole Turner

Must one's dreams die when the use of one's legs is taken away? "Boy in Motion: Rick Hansen's Story" is the story of a child who adapted to being paraplegic and did everything he could to continue his love of baseball and fishing. Illustrated with a great watercolor based style, "Boy in Motion" is an inspiring story to give to any wheel-chair bound child, and an excellent pick for community library children's collections.

Being one of the first students to analyze and experience the BPFT was quite amazing. Not only because it was a chance to be a part of something new but mostly because I could see that this test will revolutionize physicial fitness testing. This is a collection of tests that can be used for able and disabled students with standards for both. The brilliancy of this work is that it fully allows you to customize a physical fitness test battery for nearly any student.

As more and more focus is placed on the need for change in the U.S. health system, it is vital to understand the historical roots of health care in America. Rosenberg provides us with an exceptionally thoughtful history of our hospital system. As one reads his book some twenty years after its publication, one realizes how prescient he was, and how relevant his book remains. The book is a very important one, and should be read by anyone considering health care reform in the U.S. I might add, finally, that it is very enjoyable to read.

I am an early childhood special education teacher, who was recently transferred to a severe and profound disabled classroom full of beautiful kids with intense needs. Teaching them is as much physical and occupational therapy as it is anything else.

This book gives a great amount of useful information that any parent, caregiver, teacher, or other person responsible for helping anyone with severe disablities needs and can use. It covers proper positioning, feeding, and dozens of other practical and necessary things to know.

This book has enabled me to feel much more knowledgeable, competant, and confident that I am doing "the right things" at the right times for the right reasons. That is worth much more than the price of this book. I couldn't recommend it enough.

If you are contemplating surgery for cataract removal, this book will answer all your questions. It explains how the human eye works, the causes and symptoms of cataracts, the removal of a cataract and insertion of the implant, and the recovery after surgery. The guide also explains the differences between the multifocal lens implants currently available that can reduce your dependency on glasses after surgery. The co-author, Dr. David Chang, was my cataract surgeon so I was fortunate to have one of the best surgeons remove my cataracts (from both eyes).

One of the few books I review is in the category ofChildren's literature and after reading this book I am sorry I begin doing the reviews before. Written by 11-year-old Laura Caso this 28-page book is about getting the Chicken pox and how it affected her life.

Laura writes about what happens to her and her brother and sister when they all come down the chicken pox and the story is delightful. Laura also illustrated the book as well. I especially enjoyed the dog's footprints to help guide you through the pages.

I have read this story to both my children several times and they enjoyed, in fact it has become a real bedtime favorite. At 11 and published, that is something to proud of and so is this book...

I recommend this book to teachers, librarians and students everywhere. I first read about Sadako Sasaki in the fabulous book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr. I am a children and teen librarian and was moved by this young girl's courage and wish for world peace. I wanted to share this story with my "Teen Coffeehouse" group which meets on a regular basis. They too were touched by Sadako's story. We have gotten involved with the folding of 1,000 origami paper cranes and will be sending them to an elementary teacher in Hiroshima. He will be placing our 1,000 cranes under the Sadako Statue in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on August 6, 2000.

The book, "Children of the Paper Crane" by Masamoto Nasu has given us an in depth description on how this statue had come to be the worldwide known place where children from all over the world can visually show their want for peace all over the world.

It is a wonderful heartwarming book!