Customer Reviews

Learning Disabilities - Understanding the Problem and Managing the Challenges

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If you suspect your child has a learning disability or if an educator has suggested your child has a learning disability you'll want to pick up a copy of "Learning Disabilities: Understanding the Problem and Managing the Challenges" by Etta K. Brown.

A certified special education teacher, school social worker, school psychologist and Licensed Education Psychologist, Brown puts her twenty years of experience to excellent use in this helpful and informative guide for parents who need to understand learning disabilities and the environmental influences that impact a child's ability to learn.

If only I had this book in my possession when I began the difficult process of having my daughter assessed, I would not only have done things differently, I would have been a better advocate for my child. I didn't know the majority of the information found in the book, which is why I believe that every parent with a child who has been recommended for an assessment needs to read it before taking any step in that direction.

In addition to the impact that diet and sleep have on brain function, the author discusses developmental readiness and how immature development may affect classroom performance. She spends time on the subject of retention and why it isn't always the best solution. This book also covers how parenting, emotional trauma and toxic metals can affect development.

After getting an understanding of learning disabilities and environmental influences that impact a child's ability to learn, Brown moves on to a history of Special Education and provides an in-depth look at the entire process of determining eligibility, tests and testing, and the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). She is a strong proponent of parents acting as advocates for their children.

The last section of the book shares signs and symptoms of learning disabilities and accomodations and modifications that can be made at home and school to provide the best enviroment for your child's learning based upon the disability she is trying to manage.

"Learning Disabilities" will empower parents to take an active role in their child's education and provide them with the tools to be the best advocates for their child.

I highly recommend "Learning Disabilities" by Etta K. Brown. Every school should have multiple copies on hand to assist parents with the process.

As I read Learning Disabilities by Etta K. Brown, I found myself wishing that this book had been available to a friend of mine many years ago. She had a daughter with learning problems and had no idea what to do or where to turn. When the school principal refused to listen, my friend had her child tested independently. By the way, this uninformed principal, said, "She doesn't look as if anything could be wrong." He changed his mind when he read the results from the independent testing; however, much time was lost and the little girl had suffered emotionally from inward feelings of frustration and lack of confidence. Knowing there is power in knowledge, I am confident that the information conveyed in this book will make a difference in the lives of many children today. Parents need to understand that their rights are numerous and far supersede those of the school district.

The author has written this book in three sections or parts and strongly emphasizes that each part be carefully read and understood before moving forward to the next. In Part I, readers are reminded that the incidence of learning disabilities is increasing at an alarming rate--10 to 20 percent every 10 years. This section deals with the environmental influences that contribute to this increase and gives readers the legal definition of a learning disability as well as how such disabilities are diagnosed. We learn that the causes are much more diverse and complex that once thought and are due to physical, emotional or psychological trauma. Among the subjects covered are the importance of diet, exercise and sleep, and the removal of environmental heavy toxins from the body of a child. She also discusses interventions, accommodations, and modifications to facilitate learning, not only at school, but also at home. Ms. Brown does not believe that retention after kindergarten will stop classroom failure. She also indicates that a less restrictive environment is better for a child who has learning problems.

Part II of the book covers four major federal laws that govern public education. It is important that parents read and understand all aspects of these laws if they truly want what is best for their children. They will learn about their rights, entitlements, and how to participate in the development of their child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) by being proactive. Parents can insist on certain assessment tests to learn their child's strengths and weakness, not simply the old Wechsler Intelligence Scale test that processes general intelligence. Every child is unique and should have his or own IEP which includes particular goals and objectives. In spite of legislation, parents must be a strong advocate for their children by being well informed and prepared. The author tells parents how and what they must do before beginning any advocacy. In rare cases, a parent might need to retain an attorney for legal counsel.

In Part III, the author explores the processing of disorders which are usually identified as learning disorders. In regard to visual processing, she shares a case study of a child with a convergence insufficiency which I found extremely interesting. Ms. Brown also discusses the symptoms and behaviors exhibited in the classroom with children who have problems in auditory processing, sensori-motor integration, attention (the ability to focus), and Attention Deficit Disorder.

The author makes it clear that her purpose in writing this book is to give parents a voice to ensure that their children get an appropriate education. She asks whether or not special education is always appropriate, even though a child is considered to be eligible. It is my recommendation that all parents, teachers, and caregivers of children should have a copy of Learning Disabilities in their library. It is an important book, perhaps somewhat controversial in places, but certainly well-researched with information vital to the well-being of our children. Purchase a copy today!

I very much disagree with the reviews printed. I found the book to be very disjointed, repetitious, and light on factual underpinnings. It seems to be written in a stream-of-consciousness manner and flips rapidly from talking about the federal laws involved to urging political advocacy (for what is not really told) and back to how to advocate for your child. All the sections are light on facts. The section on Toxic Metals was particularly egregious: it intimated a conspiracy by the American Dental Association not to inform people that dental fillings could cause learning disabilities, yet cited no factual support whatsoever for that proposition. The editing was extremely poor: there were numerous grammatical errors and lots of repetition. The most useful portion is a small collection of websites on learning disabilities.