Parenting Special Education

In 1994, Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder. Now a second revolution is under way in the approach to ADD, and the news is great. Drug therapies, our understanding of the role of diet and exercise, even the way we define the disorder, all are changing radically. And doctors are realizing that millions of adults suffer from this condition, though the vast majority of them remain undiagnosed and untreated.

What have scientists learned about the causes of autism spectrum disorder? Why do different kids have such different symptoms, and what are the best ways to deal with them? Will there ever be a cure? From leading autism researchers, this accessible guide helps you put the latest advances to work for your unique child. Separating fact from fiction about causes, treatments, and prevention, the book guides you to make lifestyle choices that support the developing brain.

There's nothing more frustrating than watching your bright, talented son or daughter struggle with everyday tasks like finishing homework, putting away toys, or following instructions at school. Your "smart but scattered" child might also have trouble coping with disappointment or managing anger. Drs. Peg Dawson and Richard Guare have great news: There's a lot you can do to help.

Why America's sons are underachieving, and what we can do about it. Something is happening to boys today. From kindergarten to college, American boys are, on average, less resilient and less ambitious than they were a mere 20 years ago. The gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates has widened dramatically. In Boys Adrift, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than 20 years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are failing in school and disengaged at home.

More than thirty million people in the United States are dyslexic—a brain-based genetic trait, often labeled as a “learning disability” or “learning difference,” that makes interpreting text and reading difficult. Yet even though children with dyslexia may have trouble reading, they don’t have any problems learning; dyslexia has nothing to do with a lack of intellect.

A diverse collection of autistic voices that highlights how parents can avoid common mistakes and misconceptions, and make their child feel truly accepted, valued, and celebrated for who they are. Most resources available for parents come from psychologists, educators, and doctors, offering parents a narrow and technical approach to autism. Sincerely, Your Autistic Child represents an authentic resource for parents written by autistic people themselves.

Parenting ADHD with Wisdom and Grace was written to help parents. I see many parents struggling with how to manage and parent aspects of their child's ADHD. Sometimes, they do not fully realize that some of the frustrating behaviors they are dealing with are a part of ADHD. I am hoping that I can impact parent-child relationships and help parents find more effective ways to respond without as much frustration and feelings of exacerbation. It is intended to be a short and easy to read book for the busy parent. This book will bring confidence and guidance as you parent your child with ADHD. ...

What happens to autistic children when they become autistic adults? Building on the success of the Amazon best-seller Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need To Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up And Pursuing Their Dreams, which topped the charts for Special Needs Parenting, Autistics on Autism: The Next Chapter delves deeper into the lives of autistic adults, featuring more than 75 new stories from autistic individuals within our community. This edition shines a spotlight on their experiences, exploring topics, in part, including their journeys from adolescence to adulthood. Edited...

If you're the parent of a "smart but scattered" teen, trying to help him or her grow into a self-sufficient, responsible adult may feel like a never-ending battle. Now you have an alternative to micromanaging, cajoling, or ineffective punishments. This positive guide provides a science-based program for promoting teens' independence by building their executive skills - the fundamental brain-based abilities needed to get organized, stay focused, and control impulses and emotions.

With over 70 combined years in teaching, administration, and as a child psychologist, the authors (Drs. Brenner and Oster) want to share their experiences and insights to help parents become accomplished advocates for their children in the school system. This educational guide will help the reader develop an awareness of how to assist struggling children in school, and how parents can assist their children by becoming aware of their students worries and learning styles. They will show you how to advocate for your children by cooperating with their teachers and educational teams to make an ...

In the real world, people on the autism spectrum need the same kinds of day-to-day skills everyone else needs to be functional! It's true. No matter how high-functioning children with autism or Asperger's may be or may become, they function better as adults if they've had the chance to learn basic skills, from being on time to good personal hygiene. But many reach adulthood without those skills. Enter Jennifer McIlwee Myers, aspie at large.

With 101 proven tips, this book covers many topics, including communication, behavior management, sensory integration, and fostering independence. By implementing these research-backed strategies, you will unlock your child's unique abilities and provide them with the support they need to succeed. From navigating the education system to promoting social connections and building resilience, this guide is your roadmap to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where your child can thrive.

John Robison argues that Asperger's is about difference, not disability. In this book he offers stories from his own life and from the lives of other Aspergians to give the reader a window into the Aspergian mind. Equally important, he offers practical advice - to Aspergians, their parents, and educators - on how Asperians can improve the weak communication and social skills that keep them from taking full advantage of, or even recognizing, their often remarkable gifts.

A dramatic and remarkable narrative of an extraordinary teacher's determination, from the author of the Sunday Times bestsellers The Tiger's Child and One Child. Torey Hayden faced six emotionally troubled kids no other teacher could handle - three recent arrivals from battle-torn Northern Ireland, badly traumatized by the horrors of war; an eleven-year-old boy, who only knew life inside an institution; an excitable girl, aggressive and sexually precocious at the age of eight; and seven-year-old Leslie, perhaps the most hopeless of all, unresponsive and unable to speak.

Do you find yourself constantly asking your child to "pick up the pace"? Does he or she seem to take longer than others to get stuff done - whether completing homework, responding when spoken to, or getting dressed and ready in the morning? Drs. Ellen Braaten and Brian Willoughby have worked with thousands of kids and teens who struggle with an area of cognitive functioning called "processing speed" and who are often mislabeled as lazy or unmotivated.

A profound expansion of David McCullough, Jr.’s popular commencement speech - a call to arms against a prevailing, narrow, conception of success viewed by millions on YouTube - You Are Not Special is a love letter to students and parents as well as a guide to a truly fulfilling, happy life. By acknowledging that the world is indifferent to them, McCullough takes pressure off of students to be extraordinary achievers and instead exhorts them to roll up their sleeves and do something useful with their advantages.

A light in the darkness for severely troubled children, former special education teacher Torey Hayden faced three of her most extraordinary challenges after she left the classroom. Nine-year-old Cassandra, kidnapped by her father and found starving, dirty, and picking through garbage cans - a child prone to long silences and erratic, violent behavior, whose hard-won recollections of the nightmare she endured could not be fully trusted.

Jadie never spoke. She never laughed, or cried, or uttered any sound. Despite efforts to reach her, Jadie remained locked in her own troubled world - until one remarkable teacher persuaded her to break her self-imposed silence. Nothing in all of Torey Hayden's experience could have prepared her for the shock of what Jadie told her - a story too horrendous for Torey's professional colleagues to acknowledge.

Peter Dawson’s son Adam was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a hospital in Ontario when he was two years old. The medical specialist advised Adam’s parents to provide Adam with Intensive Behaviour Intervention (IBI) treatment based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). They were told that it was urgent for Adam to access the treatment as soon as possible to enable him to develop to his full potential. Adam's parents immediately applied to the Government autism treatment program. To their shock, they were told Adam was on a waiting list and were advised to seek the treatment in ...

“An everyday life is a life filled with joy and meaning; finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. It is a life filled with purpose which creates meaningful opportunities to share one’s gifts and talents with others, building and contributing to the community. It is a life filled with laughter, friends, family, and love. A good life is creating and living the life you want to live, every day. While our journey is uniquely our own, we are not alone. May we honor those that have traveled before us by continuing to pave the way and making it a little easier for those who follow in our ...