Kids Explore the Gifts of Children With Special Needs [Paperback]

Westridge Young Writers Workshop (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1994 | Age Level: 9 and up

Children in a writing workshop describe the lives of ten young people with special needs, including a boy with fetal alcohol syndrome, a girl with cerebral palsy, and a boy with dyslexia.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-A collection of brief vignettes about young adults with disabilities, written by several third through sixth grade classes in a public elementary school as part of their writing project. Stories tell about teenagers with cerebral palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Down syndrome, hemophilia, and brittle bone disease as well as a blind boy, a hearing-impaired girl, and a dwarf. In each case, the young people are described in a way that makes them seem alive and vibrant, facing their disability with a positive attitude. Through brief comments, they explain how they are coping with their disability. The tone is upbeat, showing that the handicaps can be overcome, but it is not overly idyllic. Each chapter is illustrated with photographs of the young adults interacting with their friends. Generally, this is an interesting and positive picture of young people with handicaps, useful for those schools in which more and more children are being mainstreamed.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-7. For a student writing project, third- to sixth-graders have profiled 10 young people (fourth- to twelfth-graders) with disabilities ranging from dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and Down syndrome to hemophilia, brittle bone disease, and dwarfism. Each chapter tells what it is like to live with a particular disability--Shawn's fetal alcohol syndrome, Gena's hearing impairment, Joe's blindness, Mikelle's cerebral palsy--but the emphasis is on what each person can accomplish, enjoys doing, and dreams of for the future. Many of the stories share such common themes as the strength derived from loving family and caring friends and the benefits gained from adaptive equipment and enthusiastic teachers. The profiles are inspiring but not cloying, for they also note kids coping with divorced parents, painful and costly medical procedures, and personal frustrations. Reference to support groups, companion animals, and helpful Circles of Friends enlighten readers about the ways determined individuals can progress with more understanding, independence, and success as they move about with their peers. Sharp photos, student artwork, each young person's own words about his or her life, and questions and answers about some facet of each disability are included. Tapping kids' curiosity about others who appear different from themselves, conveying children's candor about those around them, and positively modeling inclusionary school settings for both kids and adults, this honest, accepting look at individuals with disabilities will be a useful classroom resource and a fine impetus to learn more about one's classmates. Irene Wood

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 115 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Pub; 1st edition (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562611569
• ISBN-13: 978-1562611569
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,280,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing People For Who They Really Are!, September 29, 2000

By 

Andrea - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kids Explore the Gifts of Children With Special Needs (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book for both children, adults and educators to read. Children with Special Needs is a wonderful introduction into some of the disabilities children/young adults are faced with. The book teaches some of lifes most valuable lessons. Looking at each person as a person and treating everyone the same. The book uses the best resources available, other children. They tell it like it is and what they want from others. RESPECT! A must read book.