The Special Education Battlefield Review

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(More customer reviews)Andrew Cuddy is a very experienced practitioner of special education law who really knows his stuff. As I am a special education attorney myself, most of the material in the book is not news to me, but most parents of disabled children will find the ample and accurate information very helpful. Mr. Cuddy definitely has strong opinions, and he pulls no punches in displaying his contempt for many school district attorneys and administrators. Even some parents of disabled children do not escape his trenchant wit, as Cuddy coins the term "Mad Buffalo Syndrome" to describe parents who have not made Peter Wright's transition from emotions to advocacy. I highly recommend this book for parents of disabled children: Cuddy's aggressive approach to the field has helped many parents and their children, and this book should help a parent understand the remedies and procedures available on behalf of disabled children.

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Advocating for children with disabilities is a difficult and emotional process.The Special Education Battlefield: A Guide to the Due Process Hearing and Other Tools of Effective Advocacy, written by Attorney Andrew Cuddy, is a wonderful reference for parents and advocates alike, with clear, concise explanations of each step of the process of advocating for children with disabilities.The Special Education Battlefield: A Guide to the Due Process Hearing and Other Tools of Effective Advocacy takes the reader through the legal process of advocating for children with disabilities step-by-step, providing a wealth of information and resources to help make the process easier on those involved. The Special Education Battlefield: A Guide to the Due Process Hearing and Other Tools of Effective Advocacy addresses the best way for children with different disabilities to get the services and benefits they deserve by using the legal process.Drawing on his years of experience in the field of advocating for children with disabilities, the author of The Special Education Battlefield: A Guide to the Due Process Hearing and Other Tools of Effective Advocacy, Attorney Andrew Cuddy, has created a useful and timely guide for parents and advocates to use to navigate through due process hearings in addition to some of the other intricate legal processes involved with advocating for children with disabilities.Packed with resources for parents and lay advocates, The Special Education Battlefield: A Guide to the Due Process Hearing and Other Tools of Effective Advocacy will become the foremost reference book in use for parents and lay advocates who are hoping to gain the best services and benefits for children with disabilities.

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The Special Stories Series 2 (Moonbeam childrens book award winner 2009) - 4 childrens books that introduce Dyslexia, Autism, Downsyndrome and Hearing difficulties in a unique and child centred way Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good book for any teachers who are introducing a child with ASD into their classroom for the first time. It also helps siblings to understand how the world efects a child with ASD.

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This series is designed to introduce all children to the positive aspects of inclusive education with each book featuring a character with a certain special education need. The stories help children to learn the importance of accepting friends and classmates who are different to them. The topics addressed in each of the 4 books are dyslexia, autism, downsyndrome and hearing difficulties.

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The New Language of Toys: Teaching Communication Skills to Children With Special Needs, a Guide for Parents and Teachers Review

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(More customer reviews)This book has an over-reaching title and at best is a catalog that describes toys. Placing the words "special needs" in the title implies that it would provide specific pointers for helping children with all sorts and degrees of disabilities like CP, visual impairments, hearing impairments, deafblindness, mental retardation, etc. and might at least have a section on augmentative communications. It offers VERY LITTLE on these topics. As for the dialogues, I found them to be of poor quality and contrary to other stuff I have read. Some of the dialogues for a child who hasn't begun to talk have tons of words and lots of adjectives yet later the same book suggests that teaching the concepts of 'up' and 'down' in the same play session might be too confusing for the child. I don't know what the author's Ph.D. is in but I hope it isn't in speech and language pathology.

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(2004 iParenting Media Award Winner)Many young children with special needs experience language delays and need additional help to build language skills.What better way to encourage communication development than through play? The completely updated third edition of THE NEW LANGUAGE OF TOYS, a perennial favorite of parents, speech-language pathologists, and early interventionists, offers a plan for doing just that.
The new edition presents sixty-five new toys and accompanying toy dialogs to use with children with a wide range of special needs from birth through age six.These sample toy dialogs show parents how to play purposefully with their child--using store-bought and homemade toys--to provide language learning opportunities and stimulate language development.The exercises are fun and educational, too, as parents help their child build receptive language skills (understanding), expressive language skills (communicating), and speech.
THE NEW LANGUAGE OF TOYS is organized by language developmental ages and each section includes:toy dialogs; numerous photographs; a toy list; a list of suggested vocabulary and communication concepts; children's book bibliography; a checklist to track progress.
In addition, this book provides important background information about language, its sequential development, the causes of language delays, and how play can enhance language development.It also explains the use of videos, DVDs, television, and the computer as language enhancers.The resource lists are extensive, offering toy manufacturers and catalogs, support organizations, children's book information, and suggested materials for homemade toys.
With THE NEW LANGUAGE OF TOYS, parents can help their children make gains in their language development and have an enjoyable and rewarding experience while doing it.It's also a great tool for collaboration between parents and professionals.

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Your Child's Hearing Loss: A Guide for Parents Review

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(More customer reviews)My daughter, almost 3 years, has been profoundly deaf since birth. She has bilateral Cochlear Implants and we are so grateful for how far the Lord has brought technology! I just got a copy of this book when my daughter was two and a half. It would have been THE perfect book to read when we found out my daughter was deaf. The author, Debby Waldman, encompasses the emotions perfectly that a parent goes through upon diagnosis of their child's hearing loss, because she herself has a daughter with hearing loss. With her knowledge and personal experience, combined with the professional and medical experience of her co-author, Dr. Jackson Roush, this is a MUST-READ for any parent whether they have recently found out about their childs' hearing loss or have journeyed with it for 20 years.

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From a mother whose daughter has hearing loss, and an audiologist with more than thirty years experience with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families, this comprehensive volume offers parents critical information on everything from technical information to practical and emotional support. Among the subjects covered are causes of hearing loss; testing and assessment; technical advances in hearing aids, FM systems, and cochlear implants; the role of specialists including audiologists, otolaryngologists, geneticists, and speech-language pathologists; advocating for your child's welfare in educational, social, and public environments; and practical solutions to everyday problems. Although aimed primarily at parents, it will also be useful to students and to professionals who work with children who have hearing loss, as it provides a window to the world of hearing loss from a family perspective.

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Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family's Triumph over Autism Review

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(More customer reviews)When my fourth child was diagnosed with "PDD", I was happy. That was how ignorant I was--I thought it meant he wasn't autistic! Six years and one more autistic child later, I still credit this book with giving me a foothold and a way of grasping how to deal with the educational interventions that I feel continue to remain most viable for so many autistic children. I had nothing but my own gut feelings, one other book called "Children with Autism", and this book to guide me in the beginning stages of what would prove to be the longest, most incredible journey I have ever made in my life. It's still evolving, and so are we, in my family.
Because of this book, I garnered the strength to look into educational intervention for my first autistic son in the way of a "home program". I didn't know anything about what a "home program" entailed until I read this book. I didn't know that the optimal time you must devote to a program such as this has been set at 40 hours a week! I didn't know that there wouldn't be any trained therapists available--I had to be trained myself, in fact! I found babysitters, one high school girl, you name it--at one point I was so desparate I dissolved in tears and said, "I CAN'T DO THIS! " But you have to. YOU JUST HAVE TO. And you will, too, because you must.
As my supervisor said to me when she "okayed" us for the program, "Look at it this way--two years of your life will make such a difference." And it did. Not the sucess story the author had, but at least a sense of control over things and an awareness of my son's potential.
This book gave me something to hang on to. I realize now, especially after having a second autistic son, that not all things go as planned, and not all "programs" turn out as ideally as Maurice's did. On the other hand, you must have hope when you are an autistic parent. This book gave me that. And it gave me an understanding of an invaluable way of teaching young autistic children that is still the primary way they are taught most sucessfully (it is called Applied Behavioral Analysis now)that I needed, just to get started in the right direction. Buy it and read it. Use your brain when you read it and accept the fact that all these kids are different and you are not this woman. But be thankful. She wrote THE GROUNDBREAKING BOOK on this type of intervention.
best wishes, Jean

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She was a beautiful doelike child, with an intense, graceful fragility. In her first year, she picked up words, smiled and laughed, and learned to walk. But then Anne-Marie began to turn inward. And when her little girl lost some of the words she had acquired, cried inconsolably, and showed no interest in anyone around her, Catherine Maurice took her to doctors who gave her a devastating diagnosis: autism.In their desperate struggle to save their daughter, the Maurices plunged into a medical nightmare of false hopes, "miracle cures," and infuriating suggestions that Anne-Marie's autism was somehow their fault. Finally, Anne-Marie was saved by an intensive behavioral therapy.Let Me Hear Your Voice is a mother's illuminating account of how one family triumphed over autism. It is an absolutely unforgettable book, as beautifully written as it is informative."A vivid and uplifting story . . . Offers new strength to parents who refuse to give up on their autistic children." -- Kirkus Reviews"Outstanding . . . Heartfelt . . . A lifeline to families in similar circumstances." -- Library Journal

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When the Brain Can't Hear : Unraveling the Mystery of Auditory Processing Disorder Review

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(More customer reviews)It can be so easy to dismiss it as a lack of interest or a lack of attention:
** The student who doesn't follow directions in class.
** The spouse who denies all knowledge of something you specifically told them.
Even those who search for a cause are often told that hearing tests show that hearing is "normal". But sometimes your instincts still shout that something isn't right & it's for those families that When the Brain Can't Hear was written. For those struggling to understand what an auditory processing disorder is -- this book will be a God-send. As Dr. Bellis describes the many faces of APD through a series of case studies she presents clearly what it is AND what it isn't. The middle section of the book, which discusses the actual processes of hearing & language, is probably more technical than most layman will appreciate. However, Dr. Bellis more than makes up for this with her extensive sections on treating and living with APD. These sections offer a wonderful array of practical tips and suggestions. I would highly recommend this book as one offering concrete help for those desperately seeking solutions!

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Conversational Sign Language I llustrated Review

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(More customer reviews)As a professor and instructor of ASL and Deaf Culture for over 35 years, this outstanding book mirrors so much of my lecture materials -- and a whole lot more. It has things in it that never crossed my mind to explain to my students. Indeed, it's not by oversight on my part but by intellectual stimulation that Carole and Dawn opted for. I finally found a fabulous textbook for my classes.
There are so many insipid ASL books in the market that either stimulate or encourage anyone to learn because they lacked instructiveness or assimilability. This Idiot won't make a moron out of any willing reader who wants to learn ASL and Deaf culture. Carole and Dawn clearly leads the way to learn and understand how ASL and Deaf culture work. This Idiot even has that wonderful teacher-student aura as one reads and tries to sign. The flow of thought and meaning is so even and clear.
Thanks, Carole and Dawn!
Congratulations!!
Curtis Robbins, Ph.D.

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How to say it in sign. With over 500 photos and an instructional DVD. Focusing on the less formal and more popular PSE (Pidgin Sign English), this is the perfect guide to the fundamentals of communicating through sign in a variety of everyday situations. Inside, readers will discover how to sign for small talk, emotions, directions, weather, family and friends, special occasions, recreation, travel, around the house, dining out, shopping, education, at the workplace, emergencies, and more. •Includes more than 500 photos •First and only book on sign language that contains a DVD •There are approximately two million deaf people in the United States •90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, and PSE is the form of signing most often learned and taught by parents

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The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law - A Handbook for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals, Second Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law - A Handbook for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals, Second Edition
This is my favorite book for special education law! I require it for all my students in my university teacher education courses. As a special education teacher, I use it often. I have this book all tabbed out to the sections I refer to the most often. It has been great to share with parents so they understand the legal requirements in our field. This book answers most of my special ed legal questions immediately. I have also used it to help my administrator know the law. Highly recommended!

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The Second Edition of The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law features additional information from the IDEA regulations and court decisions including resolving disputes using the State Education Agency complaint process including obtaining compensatory services; timelines for dispute resolution and due process hearings; burden of proof in due process hearings; what constitutes a pattern of removal of a student in the disciplinary process triggering the need to conduct a manifestation determination; and services for children with disabilities placed by their parents in private schools.The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law is an essential tool to help parents get the best education possible for their child with disabilities. The Everyday Guide covers the IDEA's Part B (service for children aged 3 - 21), Part C (services for infants and toddlers), and Section 504. An exact Spanish/English version of this book, Gui­a de La Ley Educacion Especial, is also available through Amazon.com.

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