Learning Disabilities Books
Use these books to help you communicate to your child (or anyone's) about learning disabilities.
The following are recommended books for parents and educators on learning disabilities. This list is by no means exhaustive, but is intended to provide you with a starting point for increasing your knowledge.
1.Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed
Author: Tyler McNamer (Author), Tyler Tichelaar (Editor)
Publisher: Avia; First edition (August 5, 2013)
Part memoir, part inspirational guide, Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed is a groundbreaking book that offers readers the ability to see life through the eyes of a young man with autism. Written by Tyler McNamer at the age of 17, Tyler not only details his challenges, but he also offers hope and encouragement to others who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Whether you re an educator, a family member of someone with autism, or simply looking for inspiration, you ll appreciate the opportunity to step inside this remarkable young man s mind. As Tyler explains, I ve been called a retard, dumb, and disabled. I ve been bullied, picked on, and made fun of. They put me in special classes and told me that I should not expect to reach my goals. Yet rather than view his diagnosis negatively, Tyler considers his unique viewpoint a gift. It is with this perspective that he wrote Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed. In this memorable book, Tyler details his experiences with bullying, isolation, and others low expectations of him. But rather than allowing himself to be limited by his autism diagnosis, this courageous and insightful young man rose above his challenges to encourage others to follow their dreams and become leaders in their own lives. The result is this book, an autobiographical recounting of Tyler s journey with diverse essays containing his thoughts about leadership, courage, and adversity. Wise beyond his years, Tyler concludes that despite our differences, we can become a population of one, uniting to serve others. If you want to be uplifted or understand someone with autism better you must read Population of One. This inspirational and engaging book will transform the way you view the world.
2.All Natural Mom's Guide to the Feingold Diet
Author: Sheri Davis (Author), Cody Davis (Editor)
Publisher: Sheri Davis (November 27, 2014)
Do you have a child with ADHD or other related issues? Or do you just want to learn more about how dyes, artificial flavors, certain preservatives, and even some natural foods like fruit can have a profound and detrimental impact on your child's behavior, learning, and overall health? Sheri Davis gives you an insider, behind the scenes look at what the Feingold Diet entails and how to get started. She describes some of the abuse going on in food manufacturing and describes the various labeling loopholes. She teaches you how to avoid the most detrimental chemicals in food. She shares the specific ingredients to avoid, where to find these foods, and provides recipes to help you get started. She also describes the difference between stage one and stage two of the Feingold Diet, what salicylates are and how they can affect your child. She does all this in an easy to read writing style, sharing stories from her own family’s experiences with the diet. Sheri Davis knows firsthand the struggles of having a child with symptoms of ADHD or other learning disabilities. She offers hope and encouragement to those who are overwhelmed or looking for alternatives to medication. The Feingold Diet was an answer to prayer for Sheri's family, and she hopes it will be for yours as well.
3.Overcoming Dyslexia
Author: Sally Shaywitz M.D.
Publisher: Vintage; 1 edition (January 4, 2005)
One in five American children has trouble reading. But they are not stupid or lazy. In Overcoming Dyslexia, Dr. Sally Shaywitz, codirector of the Yale Center for the Study of Learning and Attention and a leader in the new research into how the brain works, offers the latest information about reading problems and proven, practical techniques that, along with hard work and the right help, can enable anyone to overcome them. Here are the tools that parents and teachers need to help the dyslexic child, age by age, grade by grade, step by step.
4.Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing
Author: Owen Barr (Editor), Bob Gates (Editor)
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 2 edition (January 29, 2019)
This new edition of the Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing has been fully updated, with a greater focus on older people with learning and intellectual disabilities and mental health issues, as well as bringing all recommendations in line with current guidelines.
5.What to Do About Dyslexia: 25 Essential Points for Parents
Author: Richard Selznick
Publisher: Sentient Publications; 1 edition (February 5, 2019)
When children struggle with reading, spelling, and writing, their parents often feel at a loss as to how to help and where to turn for guidance. Common questions include: Does my child have dyslexia? What is dyslexia? What is multisensory instruction? What does remediation involve? How is dyslexia assessed? Who should do the assessment? What is the school's role? What about private vs. special education assessment? What are the implications for the future? Even with information readily available on the internet, parents are overwhelmed, confused, and unclear about the appropriate direction to take.
Offering readers the same support and honest advice he gives the parents he sees in his practice, in this new book Dr. Selznick uses plain language to make dyslexia understandable and cut through the confusion. It's like sitting in a living room, chatting with a knowledgeable relative or friend who's concerned about your child. Dr. Selznick offers hope but remains grounded in reality―he doesn't sugar-coat the issues. His 25 essential points include the definition and characteristics of dyslexia, how dyslexia is assessed, how to approach remediation, and tips to help you and your child conquer the most common learning disability.
6.The ABC's of Learning Issues
Author: Dana Stahl
Publisher: Educational Alternatives Llc (January 1, 2018)
Do you know children who experience attention, anxiety, and learning issues? The ABCs of Learning Issues is a valuable resource that helps parents better understand and support their childrens learning issues and behaviors by providing concrete strategies to help children reach their full potential, according to Special Needs Book Review. Available in English and Spanish, the book helps parents and professionals work together to bridge the home-school gap, covers current educational topics, provides a glossary of terms professionals use, and identifies community resources where parents can find support. It also features an Ask Dana component where readers can ask the author confidential questions about their childs individual profile.Winner of a 2019 National Parenting Products Award, The ABCs of Learning Issues is an empowering guide thats been featured on Up Journeys Best Parenting Books to Read in 2019 list and called a great read by MDR."This magnificent contribution to understanding and embracing the diversity among people with disabilities will prove a timeless resource on the issue of multicultural and global importance." Dr. George Haggerty, President Beacon College
7.Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood
Author: M.D. Edward M. Hallowell M.D. (Author), John McDonough (Narrator), John J. Ratey (Author), Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
Publisher: November 19, 2013
Through vivid stories of the experiences of their patients (both adults and children), Drs. Hallowell and Ratey show the varied forms ADD takes - from the hyperactive search for high stimulation to the floating inattention of daydreaming - and the transforming impact of precise diagnosis and treatment.
8.The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Smartest People Can't Read...and How They Can Learn, Revised and Expanded Edition
Author: Ronald D. Davis (Author), Eldon M. Braun (Contributor)
Publisher: Perigee Books; Revised & enlarged edition (February 23, 2010)
This book outlines a unique and revolutionary program with a phenomenally high success rate in helping dyslexics learn to read and to overcome other difficulties associated with it. This new edition is expanded to include new teaching techniques and revised throughout with up-to-date information on research, studies, and contacts.
9.Homeschooling When Learning Isn't Easy
Author: Heather Laurie
Publisher: Honey Ridge Press; 1 edition (August 9, 2016)
Ready to start homeschooling your child with special needs? You know that your wonderful child is an out of the box thinker, gifted well beyond their years, dealing with autism or a learning disability? Homeschooling When Learning Isn't Easy is the book to help you from the early stages of considering homeschooling with a special needs child. Dealing with curriculum decisions, common learning issues as they grow up to graduating your special learner! Homeschooling When Learning Isn't Easy talks openly about the realities of parenting and homeschooling a medically fragile child. I don’t forget that special needs families come in many different shapes such as a parent that has a chronic health issue and show you how this path can be successful and wonderful!
10.How Autism is Reshaping Special Education
Author: Mark K. Claypool (Author), John M. McLaughlin Ph.D. founder The Education Industry Report (Author)
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (February 8, 2017)
Special education in the United State is based on the concept of access--public schools are open to all children. But access is no longer a sufficient foundation. Approaches and accommodations that lead to academic success are increasingly demanded for those with learning disabilities. Functional, independent-living, and employable skills are requisite, but rare, for those with serious handicapping conditions. Since the last reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, four events have transpired that will have a dramatic impact on the next iteration of the federal law: the increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism, the rise of applied behavior analysis, the birth of social media, and the reality of unbundling. In How Autism Is Reshaping Special Education: The Unbundling of IDEA, Claypool and McLaughlin explore the effect of these events on a special education process burdened by regulation, where advances in the behavioral sciences and neurosciences blur the lines between education and medicine, and where social media fosters aggressive advocacy for specific disabilities.
11.Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities
Author: Margo Vreeburg Izzo Ph.D. (Author), LeDerick R Horne (Author)
Publisher: Brookes Publishing; 1 edition (August 17, 2016)
How can you empower students with invisible disabilities to manage their challenges, accept and advocate for themselves, and reach their goals and dreams? This guidebook has inspiring and informative answers. Told with the authentic voices of adults with hidden disabilities, this encouraging, eye-opening book will help you guide students on the Path to Disability Pride and support their success in the classroom and community. Personal stories blend with powerful strategies as the authors share reflections on their experience with disability—and offer up practical teaching tips and interventions based on the latest research. An essential resource for educators, families, and self-advocates, this book will help students with non-visible disabilities dare to dream big and unlock their full potential.
12.Beautiful Child: The True Story of a Child Trapped in Silence and the Teacher Who Refused to Give Up on Her
Author: Torey Hayden
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (February 28, 2017)
From the bestselling author of One Child comes this amazing, true story of a mute and withdrawn seven—year—old girl and the special education teacher determined never to abandon a child in need.
Seven-year-old Venus Fox never spoke, never listened, never even acknowledged the presence of another human being in the room with her. Yet an accidental playground “bump” would release a rage frightening to behold. The school year that followed would be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey Hayden’s career, as she struggled to reach a silent child in obvious pain. It would be a strenuous journey beset by seemingly insurmountable obstacles and darkened by truly terrible revelations—yet encouraged by sometimes small, sometimes dazzling breakthroughs—as a dedicated teacher remained committed to helping a “hopeless” girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day.
13.Dyslexia and Spelling
Author: Sandman-Hurley
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers (June 21, 2019)
Written by an authority in the dyslexia field, this is the first accessible guide to the close interplay of spelling and dyslexia. Kelli Sandman-Hurley talks the teacher or parent through why kids with dyslexia find spelling so hard, and what we can learn from the spelling mistakes in their writing samples.
Introducing key terminology around morphemes (smallest unit of meaning in words) and phonemes (smallest contrastive units in language) in an accessible and clear way, Sandman-Hurley goes on to explain how we can identify, and learn from, kids' spelling miscues, and use them to further inform our teaching and instruction. Shedding much-needed light on an under-explored tool for classroom or home learning, Dyslexia and Spelling is essential reading for teachers and parents alike.
14.Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder
Author: Edward M. Hallowell M.D. (Author), John J. Ratey M.D. (Author)
Publisher: Anchor; Revised ed. edition (September 13, 2011)
Groundbreaking and comprehensive, Driven to Distraction has been a lifeline to the approximately eighteen million Americans who are thought to have ADHD. Now the bestselling book is revised and updated with current medical information for a new generation searching for answers.
Through vivid stories and case histories of patients—both adults and children—Hallowell and Ratey explore the varied forms ADHD takes, from hyperactivity to daydreaming. They dispel common myths, offer helpful coping tools, and give a thorough accounting of all treatment options as well as tips for dealing with a diagnosed child, partner, or family member. But most importantly, they focus on the positives that can come with this “disorder”—including high energy, intuitiveness, creativity, and enthusiasm.
15.Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder
Author: Edward M. Hallowell (Author), John J. Ratey (Author)
Publisher: Ballantine Books; 15191st edition (December 27, 2005)
In 1994, Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder. Widely recognized as the classic in the field, the book has sold more than a million copies. 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. In this new book, Drs. Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey build on the breakthroughs of Driven to Distraction to offer a comprehensive and entirely up-to-date guide to living a successful life with ADD.
As Hallowell and Ratey point out, “attention deficit disorder” is a highly misleading description of an intriguing kind of mind. Original, charismatic, energetic, often brilliant, people with ADD have extraordinary talents and gifts embedded in their highly charged but easily distracted minds. Tailored expressly to ADD learning styles and attention spans, Delivered from Distraction provides accessible, engaging discussions of every aspect of the condition, from diagnosis to finding the proper treatment regime. Inside you’ll discover
16.You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!
Author: Kate Kelly (Author), Peggy Ramundo (Author), Edward M. Hallowell M.D. (Foreword)
Publisher: Scribner; Updated edition (April 25, 2006)
John Ratey, M.D. coauthor of "Driven to Distraction" A much needed addition to the ADD bookshelf.
Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. Harvard Medical School, coauthor of "Driven to Distraction" Refreshing, engaging, humorous and true. The title alone makes this a book to remember...Should help anyone affected by ADD.
17.Women with Attention Deficit Disorder 2nd (second) edition Text Only
Author: Sari Solden
Publisher: Introspect Press; Revised 2005 edition (October 1, 2012)
Every year, millions of withdrawn little girls and chronically overwhelmed women go undiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder because they don't fit the stereotypical profile: they re not fast-talking, hyperactive, or inattentive, and they are not male. Sari Solden s groundbreaking study reveals that ADD affects just as many women as men, and that the resulting depression, disorganization, anxiety, and underachievement are also symptoms of ADD. Newly revised and updated to reflect the latest clinical research, the book explores treatment and counseling options, and uses real-life case histories to examine the special challenges women with ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) face, such as the shame of not fulfilling societal expectations. Included is a brand new chapter on friendship for women with ADHD. Three empowering steps restructuring one's life, renegotiating relationships, and redefining self-image help women take control of their lives and enjoy success on their own terms.
18.The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
Author: Naoki Higashida (Author), KA Yoshida (Translator), David Mitchell (Translator)
Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (August 27, 2013)
You’ve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within.
Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?” “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and “What’s the reason you jump?” (Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insights—into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory—are so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again.
19.Dyslexia Screening: Essential Concepts for Schools & Parents: Richard Selznick, Ph.D.
Author: Richard selznick
Publisher: BookBaby; Spi edition (February 1, 2015)
refers to difficulty developing accurate and or fluent word recognition, along with poor spelling and decoding abilities. These problems are believed to arise from a neurological predisposition rather than instructional shortcomings. "Dyslexia Screening: Essential Concepts for Schools & Parents" is a guidebook intended primarily for school professionals, but will be useful for many other readers. Clinicians practicing outside the school setting, such as psychologists or learning specialists, will also find many of these concepts applicable to their practice. And this guide also will help parents understand the screening process and make informed decisions. The guidebook is intended to help you develop your professional judgment – it won't try to replace it, and it isn't meant to be a strict "how-to" manual. It offers one approach for thinking about dyslexia screening, and other experts in the field may take a different approach. With that in mind, you should use this guide as a tool. Take what is useful to you, and feel free to consult with others who offer different perspectives and ideas. Dyslexia screening is a tool for identifying children who may be at risk for dyslexia and for gathering information to assist those children and this guidebook will help walk schools through the process. A dyslexia screening can be performed by a range of educational professionals. Although it might be ideal for the screening to be conducted by someone specializing in learning disabilities (such as a school psychologist, reading specialist or special education teacher), the nice thing about dyslexia screenings is that practically any teacher can perform one.
20.Goal Setting and Motivation in Therapy: Engaging Children and Parents
Author: Jenny Ziviani (Editor), Anne Poulsen (Editor), Monica Cuskelly (Editor), Richard Ryan (Foreword), Richard M. Ryan (Foreword), Rose Gilmore (Contributor), Gillian King (Contributor), Mary Law (Contributor), Nancy Pollock (Contributor), Pam Meredith (Contributor), Amanda Kirby (Contributor),
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (June 21, 2015)
Drawing together motivational theory, research-based evidence and guidance for best practice, this book presents innovative models for goal-setting and goal pursuit in therapy with children.
Setting goals not only allows children, and their families, to engage with the overall therapeutic process, but it also provides an essential motivational element throughout the entire therapeutic process. The editors and contributors give practical advice on empathically collaborating with the child and his or her family, to clearly identify achievable goals that can be wholeheartedly pursued. Key information on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is accessibly explained, which will aid professional understanding of the relationship between motivation, goal-setting, and strong therapeutic practice. The approaches in this book can be used by a wide range of professionals, including those who specialise in working with children with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and emotional and behavioural difficulties.
21.Learning Disabilities: A to Z: A Complete Guide to Learning Disabilities from Preschool to Adulthood
Author: Corinne Smith Ph.D. (Author), Lisa Strick (Author)
Publisher: Free Press; Revised edition (September 7, 2010)
Enriched throughout with personal stories and tips from parents, this updated edition of Learning Disabilities: A to Z is an essential, up-to-the-minute resource for parents and professionals who work with children and adolescents.
The world of learning disabilities is undeniably complicated and challenging. Shining a bright light into this territory, Learning Disabilities: A to Z has long been the trusted resource for parents, helping them navigate the tough issues and arming them with the knowledge necessary to advocate for their children at school.
