Disability-and-Health Books

This is the premier book on the topic of erisa subrogation. lawyers and benefits persons have been waiting for a book to provide a summary of the relevant principles and law in this area. the book will provide great help for practitioners in this complicated and often confusing area of law.

You probably know Susan Hampshire as a beautiful, talented, intelligent and charming British actress who has won Emmies for her rôles in such BBC productions as The Forsyte Saga, The First Churchills and Vanity Fair.

What you may not know is that she is dyslexic, and active in promoting dyslexia awareness. She's published two books on the subject: her autobiography, Susan's Story, and now this.

"Every Letter Counts" is a collection of interviews with dyslexics (including several celebrities such as Angharad Rees*, Jackie Stewart and Michael Heseltine) describing the problems they met, and how they overcame these. The book also contains appendices with advice and a list of support organisations around the World.

My principal emotion on finishing it was horror at the way these children were treated by insensitive, uncaring or just plain stupid teachers. One parent was actually told by a headmaster: 'Dyslexia is a modern fad and we are not going to tolerate it here, it is simply an excuse for laziness.'

This is not a psychology textbook, and the underlying causes of dyslexia are only briefly touched upon. Rather, it's purpose is to help and encourage dyslexics by showing them that their difficulties can be, and have been, overcome (80% of the author's royalties go to the Dyslexic Institute Bursary Fund).

Editions
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Originally, I bought the British Corgi paperback edition (ISBN 0-552-13587-9), not realising that it's abridged: 24 of the 57 interviews in the Bantam original (0-593-01886-9) are omitted! And it only says so in small print on the 4th page!

So 5 stars for the original, 4 for the Corgi edition and 1 star to Corgi for not making that information plain on the cover.

*Probably best known to US TV viewers from Poldark.

This is a great article if you need a reference to help you wade through the autism practices literature. I was glad to find it.

I have been teaching a course on Exceptional Development for a university for about 5 years now, and have used this textbook all the way through. This book is FANTASTIC. It is easy to read, easy to follow, and set up in a logical manner. It gives a nice broad overview of exceptional development, and I recommend my students keep this book to refer to in the futre as well. Highly recommended!

Despite the insurance industry's tendency to tout integrated disability and medical management plans, there remains a dearth of available information to guide the interested business manager through the process. The Executive's Guide to Controlling Health Care and Disability Costs: Strategy-Based Solutions provides an excellent overview and in-depth treatment of why companies should pursue an integrated approach toward disability and health care management, and how exactly they should do it

Margaret Edds does a superb job of telling the story of how an innocent man, Earl Washington, was put on Virginia's death row and ended up spending 18 years in prison. I know she does a superb job because some years ago, when Washington had still not been pardoned but when things were looking hopeful, I researched this case and wrote a series of articles about it in the Culpeper News, the small-town paper in the town where Washington had been tried and convicted in January 1984.

Edds is a professional reporter and writes like one, with very little commentary on the facts. As a result, the facts speak very powerfully for themselves. And what commentary Edds does offer I agree with. But I would quibble a bit. The main point she tries to make is that the errors made in this case were not unusual but a part of the system, that while a series of extremely lucky circumstances led to Washington's exoneration, there are likely many innocents who will never be freed. So far, I agree. But Edds also suggests that no one did anything really egregiously wrong, that everyone just did their job in a flawed system and the result was tragic.

I beg to differ. Earl Washington was set up by the cruel and dishonest acts of the police and prosecutors. One of the policemen responsible for what happened in 1983 and 1984 is currently Sheriff of Culpeper, and Edds goes very easy on him. Read my articles and Edds' book and see what you think.

Yes, we need to reform the system, but we also need to hold individuals responsible, and ultimately this book has that effect. A brilliant job of reporting!

Until very recently I hadn't even heard of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Typical of most parents, I refused to acknowledge that my child had any "illness" serious enough to warrant a clinical designation. Most kids generally seem over-energetic to their parents anyway, so how is a parent to know when a child crosses the line to "hyperactivity?" Only a clinical professional can offer an accurate diagnosis and I urge all parents to seek help if they suspect that their kids may need help.

Once I learned and acknowledged to myself that my child was, in fact, more than just "energetic," I was scared. However, I was also determined to learn as much as possible about ADHD and had the good fortune of attending one of Dr. Jacobs' public speaking engagements in the Boston area, where he is very well known and respected. (He is often interviewed on the local news shows, and writes a weekly column in one of the area newspapers.) Well, I bought his book that day and read it cover-to-cover in two sittings.

Dr. Jacobs presents his material in a very pragmatic and understandible fashion. His comprehensive strategy covers much more than just how to help the child, which it does extremely effectively. He also describes creative ways for parents to help one another. He focuses on both problem prevention and resolution. I discovered through other literature and journals that Dr. Jacobs is an expert on the naturally different parenting instincts of fathers vs. mothers. I think that his knowledge and experience in this differentiation are key to the success of his methods and teachings.

I recommend "Fathering the ADHD Child" to anyone with children, not just those with ADHD children. I think Dr. Jacobs' coaching techniques are universally applicable and helpful to any parent who could use some guidance on familial responsibility and relationship nurturing, which includes just about any mom or dad I have ever met.

I just finished reading this book, and found it very informative and clearly written. The book begins with the less complex and leads to the very complex in a smooth, precise manner. Recently beginning work in a facility that deals with a clientel prodominately afflicted with CP, I found this book to contain and explain the vital information that I need to do my job as a well-informed dietetic technician. I highly recommend this book to parents and caregivers of the feeding disabled child.

When I came to realize last summer that I might just have Asperger Syndrome, I was elated. I finally at least had an idea of why I was so ... peculiar. I also wanted Answers, so I embarked upon a quest to learn more about this mysterious syndrome. I've read some good books on the subject over the past several months but the only one to really capture the escence of what it actually _feels_ like to be an Aspie is Hadcroft's. If you have a loved one with Aspergers, or if you are an Aspie yourself, read this book. Hadcroft's experiences as an adolescent were painfully familiar, as were his woe's in the adult world. Then there are the fantasy worlds he retreated into. Man, I know all about those. True, we differ in many specifics, especially religion. (He's a Jehovah's Witness, I'm a staunch athiest). Big picture wise, though, we are much the same. Thanks to his Aspergers, Hadcroft has a unique outlook on life, as do I. He's had his struggles but now he seems to be finding his way in life. That gives me confort as I try to do the same for myself. This book is a window - a window into the minds of folks like Will Hadcroft, myself, and millions of Aspies the world over.

Do not pick up this book if you are not prepared to weap...and be inspired as well. One cannot help but be moved by the story of a young girl (Teddi) who faces cancer with the strength and dignity rarely seen in adults--much less children. This book is wonderfully written and I was left wondering how I could feel so sad for the plight of this girl and so inspired at the same time. A must read.