Disability-and-Health Books

Susan Stefan's book, "Unequal Rights" is published by the American Psychological Association and, as such, it bears both the benefits (high quality) and liabilities (periodically it feels elementary and on occasion, she pushes the spheres of logic) of such a publication. It is written in an excellent, scholarly yet quite readable manner. It covers germane topics. It is an invaluable resource for targeted scholars, professionals, caregivers, and ADA clients. Overall, this is an excellent book and well worth the purchase price for anyone who works with ADA or MD folks!

i guess I am slightly biased as i am Joanna Hart sister to Victoria and younger daughter to elizabeth and Alan Hart.

I was only able to bring myself to read my mum's book 4yrs ago as it was and still is a very painful subject to me.

I felt that my mother described perfectly our childhood through this traumatic time and am very proud of her achievement. I know how difficult it was for her to write about a subject that is so close to all our hearts.

My sister was a real fighter and she never gave up hope, she had a tireless spirit and such an enthusiasm for life that she made us all realise how little time we all have to live.

I certainly would recommend reading this book as it makes you appreciate life and not take anything for granted.

I miss my sister desperatley but her spirit lives on in my heart and in this book.

Thank you for your time

joanna Hart

Monahan & Steadman have provided a comprehensive, emperically based book on one of the most constroversial areas in forensic psychology: the process by which the mentally ill are determined to be "dangerous" in the future. As former critics of this area "Risk Assessment", the authors re-evlaute the reliability and validity of risk assessment methods understanding that such assessments are a fact of life and are used dozens of times every day in this country. By far, this book is the best book out there on this subject.

Ways of Living is a great textbook for the OT student. It provides descriptions of physical, cognitive, and sensory impairments. It lists appropriate tests to measure functional outcomes. Ways of Living provides great ideas for treatment techniques that facilitate independent living. A highly recommend this book. I only wish I had purchased it sooner.

It's difficult enough for parents to raise a disabled child, even with all the medical and educational help available. This book is full of insight, ideas, and a 'must read' for these families.

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"As a child, Emily was incomparable, unusual, even precocious. At age four she was writing little poems and stories, enjoying music, art, and a myriad of creative pastimes. The breadth of her imagination along with her joie de vivre was a charming combination. Then in her teens, Emily became increasingly self-conscious. Immediate post-college days marked the beginning of her deep depression...During this time she frequently slept by day and was up all night...Emily withdrew socially; personal reactions became rare. Anxiety plagued her to the point of refusing to talk on the phone...Her eating habits became bizarre..."

The above is part of a letter written by the mother of the main author of this fascinating book, Emily Ford (with professor of clinical psychology, Dr. Michael Liebowitz and freelance health & psychology writer Linda Andrews).

This book in a nutshell has Ford sharing her personal struggle with the serious yet treatable disorder called social anxiety disorder (SAD), also called social phobia. She takes the reader along on her incredible and courageous journey of successfully coping with this disorder, while providing useful information, help, and hope to others also suffering from it (about 15 million Americans suffer from SAD), as well as to family members and friends who want to help. It is also an excellent book for those like me (one of my degrees is a psychology degree) who want to understand this disorder from the perspective of a person who has been challenged by it.

What is social anxiety disorder (SAD)? It is an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is a vague, unpleasant, emotional state with qualities of apprehension, dread, distress, and uneasiness. An anxiety disorder is a cover term for a variety of maladaptive syndromes which have severe anxiety as the dominant disturbance. SAD is "an anxiety disorder characterized by marked fear in social situations that involve being around unfamiliar people or the possibility of scrutiny by others." (Note that SAD is "substantially different" from shyness.)

Ford's chronicling of coping with SAD is in a word: superb. She tells her story with insight and warmth.

A major highlight of this book is that key points from the main narrative are isolated (in handwritten script), thus allowing the reader to have important information at his/her fingertips. To give the reader a "feel" for the book, I will give one example of these key points from each section (preface and chapters) of the book:

Preface: "The bravest thing I've ever done was to reach out and actively seek the assistance I desperately wanted and knew I needed."
(1) "I believed everyone around me was exchanging subtle signs and singles, conveying to one another that for any of a number of reasons, I was out of place."
(2) "Unless I knew I was going to be very good at something, I didn't do it at all."
(3) "Allowed to grow freely, untested by real-world experiences, my fears quickly mushroomed out of control."
(4) "Some new outfits and a change of scenery didn't magically transform me into the confident, outgoing person I wanted to be."
(5) "Medication may work faster than [therapy], but therapy may have more durable effects after treatment is stopped."
(6) "It takes great courage to force yourself to face your fears."
(7) "The confidence I gained by facing smaller challenges strengthened my belief that I could succeed."
(8) "Social anxiety disorder is just one of the many characteristics that make me the unique person I am."

After the main narrative is completed, there is helpful material at the end of the book. First, there is a section called "Frequently Asked Questions." It is composed of 14 important questions regarding social anxiety disorder with complete answers given. Second, there is a glossary of terms that are defined for the reader. The definition of social anxiety disorder given above was taken from this glossary. Finally, there is a resource list provided not only for social anxiety disorder but for other disorders as well.

Finally, I only had one problem with this book. Although the author does a good job on informing the reader of the variety of medications (that is, prescribed drugs) available to aid therapy, I feel she does not convey the many problems associated with them. For example, there is a chart given that lists the prescribed drugs for social anxiety disorder. No where on this chart are the dangerous side effects given.

The fact is prescribed drugs are not candies. They have to be treated with caution. Thus, if prescribed drugs must be given, they ideally should be carefully monitored by the therapist prescribing them and given only for the short term (3 to 6 months).

In conclusion, this is a rare book written by a person trying to cope with social anxiety disorder. I leave you with the conclusion of the mother's letter that I began above:

"Remarkably, Emily has abandoned her dark despair and re-emerged into the radiance of self-delight and that of the world around her...Through...therapy and medication Emily has become a `new' person, ironically by becoming her `old' self. Once again, Emily has embraced the validity of her emotions, her uniqueness, and her interest in the lives of others."

(first published 2007; forward; preface; 8 chapters; main narrative 120 pages; frequently asked questions; glossary; resources; bibliography; index)

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This book was written by my wonderful mother. She saw first hand the devestating effects of Alzheimer's on my late Grandma Tener. We all miss her very much, but know that she is finally freed from this horrible disease, and is rejoicing in heaven with her beloved husband Ray.

My mother is an excellent writer and person. You won't be disappointed by purchasing this book. I am very proud of her.

I have read many books on spinal cord injury and this one ranks very high. The discussions of statistics on spinal cord injury are great. I have not seen a better discussion of the psychological and sociological aspects of spinal cord injury. If you are doing research on spinal cord injury, this book is a definite must in your collection.

This is a good supplement, especially when working with children and adolescents. It works well with younger children, and can be adapted for adolescents. It gives the child a different way to learn and communicate the changes they are experiencing, and as a therapist I've been able to build on that to better assist my clients. I have several of the Heegaard books and i've found all of them useful in that way.

I am the clinical director of a large group of counseling centers in Houston. We are always looking for resources for our clients in assisting them in their struggles with the greatest of living maladies -- support groups, networks, bibliotherapy.

We have found in this work by Ms. Jovaag Ansorge a most powerful and personal resource for those of our clients who have been dealt the blow of a life-threatening illness. These clients have reported to us that Ms. Ansorge's prose here has been most affirming, edifying, and empowering. I praise Ms. Ansorge for giving so generously and eloquently from her most personal peril, turning her rather upsetting experience into a faith guidebook for those faced with the news of a life-threatening illness.

I recommend this book without reservation to all those affected by a life-threatening illness, from the individual diagnosed to the family member to the helping professional (doctor, nurse, minister, and/or psychotherapist).

Kudos to Ms. Jovaag Ansorge for her insight, courage, and faith.