Disability-and-Health Books

was very impressed by the service of the seller. kind, courteous and extremely helpful

As a pediatric community nurse who works with children with severe developmental delays as well as multiple medical issues, I can tell you that this program _ Yoga for the Special Child- has been a gift. The book is a beginning, or introduction of sorts to Sonia Sumars theraputic yoga program. The children whom I work with love all aspect (breathing, asanas and relaxation) of "yoga therapy" and often will initiate our yoga sessions. My clients medical specialists also have commented posatively and often times will atribute the achievement of developmental goals to the patient's regular yoga practice.
The child is only limited in his or her yoga practice by the creativity of the teacher. And if you just listen, the child will show you what they need. Yoga is a wonderful way to empower these special children.

As the mother of two boys with autism, I am always on the lookout for programs that might help reduce hyperactivity and tics. Yoga For the Special Child has helped in that quest.

This book provides clear visuals as well as written directions on how to coax your child to engage in various postures and breathing exercises, first passively, and in later stages, actively.

I actually began the yoga with my son just as he was beginning to fall asleep. As the weeks have moved on, I have introduced some of the postures that require his active participation.

Very simply, he loves the entire process---and yes, it does leave him much more relaxed.

While I found myself raising my eyebrows at some of the claims of benefit enjoyed by severely disabled participants in the writer's yoga school, I do see where consistent use of yoga can provide a child with the means to self regulate hyperactivity and tics.

I do recommend the book in that light, and I am grateful to have found it just as I feared we would have to medicate for hyperactivity.

It's also a fun bonding experience. I finally have something I can do with my son for a change!

I must admit at the beginning of my writing this review that I was inspired by an earlier reviewer of this book on this site who wrote a relatively negative one. That is too bad; as there are, probably, a bunch of parents and professionals who have chosen not to plunk down their [$$$] to buy this book based on this person's opinion.

This book is for parents and professionals who are probably trying to find something (perhaps "anything" is a more appropriate word) to help their kid/kids. The author, as she describes in the first chapter or so, has "walked the walk", which now enables her to "talk the talk". And, after reading her story, which is heart-wrenching and, ultimately, uplifting, one realizes that the author is in the business of helping "special children", not because it is a good business idea, but because it is her life's mission. (How much money does an author make on such an inexpensive book written for such a limited audience? God bless her publisher.) In short, the author is sincere, authoritative, and, seemingly, hell-bent (in the most caring, lovey-dovey way imaginable) on changing the way that special children interact with the world.

She offers no quick fixes, and specifically warns against them. She emphasizes that patience, consistency, and a long-term commitment are the keys for the best results. She clearly prefers starting children in her program as soon as possible. However, there definitely seems to be no age limit to the kids with whom she works, as one on them seems to be sporting a cheesy-beginner mustache in a photo of him doing an impossible looking pose. The previous reviewer who said that there were no tools to deal with an older child missed the obvious. The author's emphasis on positive reinforcement and "love" is obviously an attempt to build trust with the child, which is the key to dealing with children (special or not) of any age. As for the most difficult cases, the author also conducts a teachers training program and has trained many people (professionals and parents) around the world, many of whom are available to help overwhelmed parents who want to try this program with their own children. (A website address can be found in a footnote on page 61.)

As for the bulk of the book, it consists of loads of exercises (with descriptions and pictures) to help a child develop strength, muscular control, concentration, self-esteem, etc. She does not give lessons on attaining enlightenment. The goal of these exercises is to have the child integrate with other (less special?) children in a "normal" way. Not bad, if this book can deliver all this for [$$$]. Even if this book only helps 1% of the kids that participate in this program, what thinking parent would not gamble a few bucks on those odds?

As for the previous readers comment about the author saying that a child's ears moved lower relative to the rest of her face, I believe that it is unjust. First, the comment appears(on page 32) in a reprint of a letter from a child's pediatrician. Second, the pediatrician does not say that the program moved the ears; it just says that the ears moved during the time the child was participating in the program. Third, the reviewer does not claim to be medical professional, so I don't think that she (or anyone other than a medical professional who examined the child) is in a position to say anything about what happened to this child's ears or how it happened.

In short, parents/professionals must choose to spend their [$$$] or not on a book that could potentially change their kid's life. I hope that my review will help them arrive at their decision. (And, remember, if [$$$] is too much, there is always the public library.)

If you don't know anything about yoga or therapy, then this is a great book to get to use with you child who has a disability. If you do have a yoga background then a lot of it is common sense on how to stretch your child. The great thing about this book is that it has specific exercises for each stage, so it is a handy reference tool.

All About Attention Deficit Disorder should be given out in doctor's offices along with the diagnosis!
It's an excellent and easy to read resource for parents, teachers, and caregivers of any child who has ADD/ADHD characteristics. This book also includes fantastic information for adults who maybe didn't have the "label" as a child but can recognize the symptoms in themselves or a parent who can see the symptoms in themselves now that their child has a label.
I am a special education teacher, not a medical doctor, so I am not allowed to give out any medical or medication advice to parents in school based meetings.
This is the information I would share at those meetings if I could. The straightforward information in clear to understand language with a sense of humor to go with it is a must read!
I also highly recommend adding 1,2,3 Magic to your cart. It's the behavioral "instructional" manual that all children should have tied to their ankle when they come out of the womb. It's an especially helpful read with ADHD and other special needs children with a mental age of at least 2 years but it's a system that works with children of all ages.

Dr. Phelan uses real life examples to illustrate his didactic narrative. He explains concepts clearly and cuts quickly to the heart of important issues. I particularly enjoyed his discussion of the process getting an evaluation for AD/HD. He advocates a thorough, systematic approach to diagnosis. He explains how to make sure that the professionals have covered all of the bases.

He discusses how AD/HD can affect both adults and children. However, he tends to put more emphasis or child and adolescent issues.

Dr. Phelan does not pull punches or sugar-coat the issues. He makes it clear that AD/HD can make life challenging for individual and family. This directness is both the strength and weakness of this tape (and book.) The first couple of chapters tend to emphasize the difficulties. You have to wait a while before you get to the parts that give you some hope. The first couple of chapters might have you thinking about trading your child in for a non-defective model. But stick it out--by the end of the book you will have a clearer idea of the steps you can take to resolve difficulties.

I am pleased that this book is available in an audiocassette version. Many families affected by AD/HD are already spread too thin. They may not have the time or the attention span to sit down and read an entire book. This particular audiocassette was produced in a professional manner. Dr. Phelan reads didactic material and actors dramatize family anecdotes. This breaks up any monotony and makes for an enjoyable listening experience.

This book isn't meant to replace a visit to your family physician, but to educate and inform parents so they can make the right decision. If your child has been diagnosed with ADD, this book will help you get a better handle on the disorder, help you understand what your child is going through, and help you help your doctor properly treat your child. If you suspect your child has ADD, but aren't ready to take your child to the doctor, this is a good first-step. Get All About Attention Deficit Disorder, read it, and if you feel your child meets the criteria for ADD, contact your family physician for an appointment.

i think it is a very helpful book forme but i want to know how can i order this book

Now in a newly updated edition, Thomas Phelan's All About Attention Deficit Disorder continues to be one of the most "reader friendly" introductions and explanations for parents, teachers and care-givers of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Phelan covers symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for ADD children and adults. Highly recommended for personal, professional, school and community library collections, All About Attention Deficit Disorder will provide information, tools, and emotional support needed by anyone dealing with a loved one, student, or patient with this difficult, biologically based, psychologically impacting disorder.

Very down to earth, educational, comprehensive and easy to follow. .I thought I knew an awful lot about autism, but this book has become a desk top reference for me.

It's obvious these ladies know of what they speak.

wtg, Jho and Dawn!

As a health journalist, I admire the depth of research presented in this book, and the great writing that presents it all. The book addresses a very emotional, complicated topic in a forthright, even-handed manner, in a tone that's friendly and reassuring. It also covers a very broad range of issues but doesn't belabor them -- it's informative but not overwhelming.

I think this is the most wonderful book to have. I recommend this book highly, I have read several books on autism that are very hard to follow, but when I read this book it had all the information at hand and one that you can understand. For any parent starting out on the journey of autism buy this book, you will not regret it!!! I have never read a book so well written.

This is a well-written and organized book. It covers everything from the diagnosing autism and causes to treatments, interventions and discipline.

The authors helps the reader as they leave their "comfort zones" with information and practical tips about how to juggle doctor and therapists appointments.

But perhaps the strength of this book is that it addresses the emotions and worries that parents have about their child's education and future. It bravely asks and offers touching answers to the questions, "Will my child be able to hold down a regular job?" Can my child live on his own when he grows up?" "Will my child ever have a best friend?" and "Does my child know I love him?"

If you think vaccines may have any correlation to your child's autism or that autism is treatable via bio-med, don't pick up this book - you'll be sorely disappointed. It does give an overview of some therapies but it's not very thorough at all. "Autism Spectrum Disorders" by Chantal Siclile-Kira or "Autism Spectrum Disorders,Understanding the Diagnosis & Getting Help" by Mitzi Waltz are far better and more comprehensive.

Right away we are welcomed into the strange world of AD/HD and offered an experience of "A Day in the Life" of Maddy. In this clever approach, we get a real feel for the difficulties of this disorder: both for the person who has it (and how they see the world) and for the people around them. Amazing how such a conversational tone can convey so much information, while also using the complex structure of the AD/HD mindset. Excellent concept, friendly delivery, very helpful.

My daughter and I read this book together. It's a must have. It was a great way for her to learn more about her ADHD and how it works, but is written in a very funny, ADHD manner that only a true ADHD mind could appreciate. It helped her find strategies and feel better about herself. I think it's good for all family members to read!

This is one of the best books I have come across to help children, parents, teachers and friends understand the ADHD girl. I raised a son with ADHD and it was totally different than helping raise a granddaughter with ADHD. I am buying copies for my granddaughter, her mom, her LD teacher at school, and her teacher this year.

I bought this for my newly-diagnosed 9-year-old and have decided to keep it until she is a little older. Looks well written and presented in an interesting format. But it addresses issues that a little bit older girl needs to read about, not a 9-year-old.

This book was an immediate hit with our girls. It helped them understand the nature of AD/HD without making it sound like it was a dreaded disease to have.

Taylor and Epstein do an incredible job of sensitively addressing the particular issues faced by those with disabilities that are not obvious to others, and those who care for them.
Different ways to deal with emotions, spouses, children, co-workers, friends, finances and doctors are just a few of the topics.
The authors intersperse anecdotes, and keep the tone consistently friendly and empowering.
This is a book that you'll go back to for encouragement along what can be a very lonely path.

Ms. Taylor's book is as needed now as it was in 1999. Fortunately a lot of attention has been paid to making places wheelchair accessible, etc. but this book really brings the shame and doubt of hidden disability into the spotlight. A "hidden disability" and piece of shame that wasn't addressed, though, is the kind people feel who can't 'settle down and do just one thing.' ...

The book's actual cost is only $15.95, why are sellers marking up the price so high?

I have chronic fatigue syndrome and people constantly make insensitive comments, such as suggesting I'm depressed or stressed out. The author of this book validates that conditions like CFS are real even if other people question the problem. There are tons of helpful suggestions about how to deal with insensitive remarks from others, and how to still feel good about yourself even if you are ill. I also like the focus on the possible environmental causes of health problems which isn't talked about very much. I learned some good advice about reducing my exposure to chemicals, and I've already instituted some of these.

This is a terrific book for anyone with a hidden disability. The book is very well written and is coming to you straight from soneone who knows themselves how difficult it is to live with hidden disabilities. It is very thorough and deals with different personality types and situations.

As a previous writer wrote for everyone who made a silly suggestion to me regarding my sleeping problems ( not understanding its severity) I would have filled up enough pages to write a book. She talks about the many different types of responses one recieves with a hidden disability and nails it so eloquently.

She is right there with us and offers great ideas of how to get by how to deal with Drs. Friends and family, and coworkers. There is so much support that a person with a hidden disability does not recieve and this book is a gift for anyone with one as it really is helpful.

This is a great book to share with my 5-year-old granddaughter. It explains service dogs at her level - in a way she understands and learns, as well as enjoys!

"Buddy is more than my friend, he's my arms and my legs." The characters are the Little Boy and Buddy. The Little Boy has a bad body disease called Muscular Dystrophy and needs Buddy to help him most of the time. I recommend this book for people who like learning what dogs can do. Also I think that this book is for people by the age of 6-10. The theme that I think goes along with this book is Friends can come in all shapes and sizes. I think that this book has good details and good pictures. So if you want to learn who Buddy really is I suggest that you read this book. by Pari Lynn

What a lovely story about the joy and independence a dog can bring to a child's life. Every child should now the unconditional love of a "buddy", whether it's their own beloved pet, or a dog that visits them when they need a little extra doggie love.

This book demonstrates the complex dynamic of helper dogs and their owners. It is beneficial to readers of all ages. How often have you come into contact with a helper dog and wondered why you couldn't pet them? They are so well-behaved and friendly looking - why not? Well, if you read this book, you will learn why not. Buddy the golden retriever is a hard-working helper, but he is also a good friend to his owner. This would be a great addition to any school library.

This was a good book to explain to children what a service dog does. The kids I have read the book to all seemed to understand and enjoy it. There is one picture I don't like, though, because the boy looks mad and the dog looks scared. I don't want people to get the idea that you have to be mean to make a dog obey you.

I guess Kathy Hoopmann quite specifically tells you the following characteristics of Asperger syndrome(AS):
1. People with AS easily get confused when things change without notice.
2. They take everything literally, but don't understand the implications.
3. They are really into their own interests, especially net surfing and playing alone.
4. They aren't good enough to understand social cues, other people's feelings, unwritten rules, and non-verbal communication.
5. They may hurt others even unless they intend to.

This story is not only for Aspies(People with AS) but parents, teachers, friends, bosses,and colleagues who often deal with Aspies. As long as NT(=neuro-typical) people understand the 5 characteristics above, they will find it easier to interact with Aspies.
Particularly, No.5 is extremely important for educating and parenting AS kids. Ben gave Zeke what his family members needed because Ben thought Zeke wanted them. "How would you feel if we gave your computer away to a man we just met because he said he wanted one?" - I felt Sue hit the nail right on the head! This is exactly what you must keep in mind. Ben certainly didn't mean to upset their family and wanted to please Zeke, but he got into trouble after his family found it. So I bet the story tells us how to learn from mistakes and stop making the same mistakes again.
Prof. Tony Attwood said in the interview with Dr. Michelle Garnett , "When you deal with the people with Asperger's syndrome, it's a treasure." This book reminded me of the interview, which encouraged me to deepen my understanding on both the pros and cons of AS. Therefore, as an adult Aspie, please don't alienate Aspies just because they are different from other people! And I would like you to know that they have talents to improve their potentials especially like No.3.
Finally, don't label the story 'childish' just because it's for AS kids!

I didn't much care for the "way out" concept of an alien adventure, but this book wasn't written for me. It was written for an 8-year-old child whose hopes and alien dreams haven't been squashed by the aging process of time and daily drudgery. Everybody doesn't like something, but my son loved meeting his friends Ben and Andy again in Of Mice and Aliens. He is new to his condition, and he is very excited to finally "meet" a character whose thoughts he understands and who would very likely understand my son's thoughts.

Hey, Kathy, how about this: Ben and Andy go on a beach vacation and end up having a pirate adventure next! LOL! Just trying to help you get the ball rolling for your next book; we just finished Lisa and the Lacemaker today, and my son is very impatient for the next installment!

P.S.
Lisa and the Lacemaker is the first book that we have ever read that has had my son literally SQUEALING with delight and anticipation for the next chapter. It's kind of funny (in a healthy respectful fun way) to see an Aspie flailing his hands over an Aspie book!

That's what you really need to be to decide to publish books of this low caliber. I know it's a niche market so there aren't that many authors writing for AI kids. Still, they should be more interesting than this. My son thought it was boring and completely missed the AI aspect. Nice try, but too simplistic.

My 8 year old son has AS. As with the other books by Kathy Hoopmann, the family is embracing Asperger as just being a unique genius situation, that is mostly enviable, as opposed to tabood. My son attributes his smarts and intellect to AS, he does not consider the "negative" behavior important. Which is ok, because you need to build to positive self esteem in those kids.

I highly recommend these books...

This book was a really good book about a boy with Asperger's and an Asperger's adventure. I am a 10 year old boy with Asperger's and this was a great book with a great title. It was kind of an adventure and a mystery. I think parents with kids with Asperger's should read these 2 books, because they help explain how a kid with Asperger's thinks.

It is about a girl who tries to figure out life and how some things are not always perfect, she also starts to understnd why some people act the way they do. This book should be read by kids 10 and up. It is an emotional roller coaster, it also has some great advise for people's life.

A Song for Jeffrey is written by Constance M. Foland. A girl named Dodie is lonely, bored, and ignored. Her parents are divorced and they fight all the time. She feels like nobody wants her. But then a new kid moves in named Jeffery.
This author is trying to tell you that even if people are different it doesn't mean they can't be a good friend because they can be better than a lot of others. So you can't judge people if they have disabilities. This book made me feel like there was something I was missing in life like drawing that you feel like you're in the picture. When you look in it you also see the picture moving.
Will the new kid become her new best friend? Will Dodie find a new friend and not be Jeffery's friend anymore? Will Dodie ever have a new friend? If you are interested in this type of story check out A Song for Jeffery!

The book featured a special friendship between a bored girl and a boy her age with muscular distrophy. This is a great book for anyone, not just girls.

A Song for Jeffrey is a magnificent book. It talks about things that happen everyday. It was a little sad when you heard about what Jeffery went though all the time with muscular dystrophy. This book proves that all people, even with diseases, can have many talents. I'd encourage anybody, even adults, to read this great book!

I wish I had looked at this book before my 12 year old daughter read it. While the content of the story is worthy of writing and knowing about, the manner in which this one was written leaves a lot to be desired. This story could have been told much more delicately and more suited to a younger audience, for which it is targeted. The author's choice of words in describing the young boy's fear of dying was crude and much too descriptive for younger children, especially those who have not given much thought to the subject yet. Not many children have. If I could rate this book at 0 stars, I would. I am very surprised that American Girl would publish such an unsuitable and inappropriate book for children.

I bought this book to try to help a family member with AS. I have developed quite a library of these books over the past few years, and this is one of the better ones.

The book does a nice job of laying out the spectrum, and gives a good jumping off point to start thinking about a specific action plan for an individual. As some other reviewers have commented, the book is probably not going to be much use for the affected person, but is aimed at caregivers and support troops.

Someone suffering from AS once explained to me that "If you have met one Aspie, then you have met one Aspie", and it took me a while to finally realize what that meant. There is no one book or strategy that will help with a particular person, and unfortunately this book is no exception.

However, it is a useful guide in seeing some specific ideas for dealing with individual aspects of the syndrome, and how to coach around individual problems. It was certainly a great attempt to compile a helpful list of what issues others have dealt with, and how they managed those issues.

I am not a trained professional, but IMHO the problem is that AS symptoms are not independent, but rather combobulated into a total package. What works for a specific problem with one person may or may not work with someone else. Therefore, I found the book most useful as a list of techniques to try rather than a blueprint for success.

Having said that, this book as good as any book I have read on the subject, and I would recommend it as part of the toolkit for anyone dealing with the late teen AS person.

I found this book very positive and encouraging! After I read this book, I was very pleased to see that there is somebody out there who realizes that people with Asperger's Syndrome are capable of learning the skills they need to become successful members of society, if they are given all the help that they need. I wish that there were a lot more people who realized this! I hope that there will be in the not-too-distant future!

I found this book to be exceptional in that it provided me with a few new ideas for workforce strategies for individuals with Asperger as well as some individuals on the Autism Spectrum. It also contained guidelines for approaching training that are very clear and helpful to employment specialists or job developers. In the future, I would like to see some literature that addresses specific challenges for individuals with Autism who might have more significant barriers, as opposed to practices that address high-functioning individuals with Asperger.

This valuable resource provides direct service approaches for job development and placement supports. It will be useful for staff training and self-empowerment for those with high functioning autism.

This book is addressed to the person working on finding work for someone with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), assuming that is someone different than the person with AS (Aspie). Hawkins has a relatively modest definition for "work that works." She just means "a job that someone can get and keep," which would be a very nice thing indeed for a lot of Aspies. This book doesn't really address the subjects of work as mission and vocation, finding work where one's deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

What's good about this book? It addresses some issues that might predicably arise within the family of the Aspie. It talks about how a "job coach" could be use to help an Aspie at a job. It gives some good nuts-and-bolts advice on how a consultant might assess an Aspie for jobs they could do successfully. It gives some tools to help an Aspie negotiate their predictable difficulties. It gives some tips on conducting an interview.

What's not so good about this book? It gives the impression that it would be a good book for the Aspie, as opposed to being addressed to the consultant. I propose the title should be something like "Putting People with Asperger's Syndrome to Work (And Keeping Them There)" An Aspie would look at the cover and wonder "Why are those two women holding that man down? And why doesn't the woman on the right have her shirt tucked in, if they go on and on about Aspies dressing like slobs?" The book could say more about leveraging the obsessive-compulsive aspect of AS in preparing for an interview, acquiring knowledge about the employer, etc.

There is a issue brewing as to whether AS should be considered a disability under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This book doesn't address that, but I'm not expecting it to. However, the next book on this subject should.

Knowledge of AS is growing significantly, so to call anything about AS "ultimate" isn't accurate. All the material in this book is valid, and the only reason I don't give it five stars have to do with the comments above.

This book responds to the the quesions I didn''t even know I had!!!As a parent and an educational professioanal, it has helped me both with my child and how to react to respond the the "loaded" questions parents often ask.
It also proved an invaluable asset as I worked and trained graduate students how to work with these very complicated children and their families.

Based on the review in the National education Association Journal, Nov.2002, this book is everything it promises! It is about time teachers and parents got on the same side of the fence, and this book helps!

As a former resource teacher, a parent of 3 children with learning issues, and an occupational therapist, my book is about giving views from all three perspectives. It is not intended to be a treatment guide. It is intended to help everyone get on the same page. Formal IEP goals usually read"...child will read 6 out of 10 sight words with 60% within 6 months" These goals are missing the essence of the child and promotes confusion and adversarial postions. Talking to "dreams, fears, frustrations and joys" is more in keeping with what schools, parents, and the child themselves really want. They want to be "happy"; and happiness is about feeling compentent and that is what the book is about!

This book gets it right: teachers are not magic fairies, they cannot make something happen just because the parent wants it, and parents cannot just want "it" to be better; and no one person, teacher, parent, therapist can affect change alone. All must work together! Parent/teacher exchanges would be more productive if empathically each could view the situation from the others perspective. This book accomplishes this and more. Schools cannot do the job of family and home; but they can do "the job" if they know how to communicate. Publlic school teachers and administrators are running at "capacity". They are caring people, over-stretched. This book helps them work smarter not harder. This book helps parents focus on the important issues, while it gives form and language to hard to express feelings and situations. Private school teachers and administators can also benefit from this book. Understanding that enrollment in an "A" ranked school does not preclude learning issues is important. How to confront the issues empathically and intelligently is the mission of this book and it accomplishes that and more. It is not a "cookbook". It is a small well-stocked store offering many conbinations of options from which one may choose.

This book is long on introduction and orientation to school systems and short on treatment ideas. Disappointingly, some content is marginally offensive to school system professionals (i.e., "Final Note" pg. 78). The author's attempt to facilitate parent preparedness and orientation seemed to extend into fostering belligerence toward system personnel. To say that the "overworked" characteristic of a child's school team is negligible...is careless. More accurately said, parents should know that their child can not be the consistent #1 concern of any system professional. It is impossible. Most systems are full, generally understaffed, and are excruciatingly slow to expand the ranks of professionals. Expanding staff doesn't occur unless student numbers are unmanagibly high. Therefore, it is a pattern that never fully meets the need in a timely way. So, to say that this should not be a concern of the parent, or that it isn't "your problem" as a parent, is misleading. Most school systems are comprised of well intended, caring, knowledgable and dedicated professional individuals who are usually working at maximal ability, which makes for a fragile situation...and fostering such belligerence in parents will not improve such an atmosphere. A presentation which, at times, plants seeds of animosity.