Customer Reviews

Making ADHD a Gift: Teaching Superman How to Fly

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Cimera, Robert E. (2002) Making ADHD a Gift: Teaching Superman How to Fly. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Education.

How you teach children about ADHD could set the tone for the rest of their lives. You'll have to paint an honest picture of the condition but also be very positive .... Talk to them about their favorite superhero.... Bring up the fact that each superhero has different abilities.... Then explain that people in real life are a lot like superheroes-everybody has different abilities.... The super abilities of kids with ADHD include having a lot of energy and being able to run around a lot without getting tired. They can also be very creative and intelligent. The purpose of school and IEPs is to get children with ADHD to control and utilize their super abilities for "The Good"... You are teaching Superman how to fly (p. 97).

This is the gift of this book. Robert E. Cimera is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh who was diagnosed with ADHD-C as an adult. He views ADHD as a positive ability. Each chapter begins with a chapter outline; a case study, illustrating elements that will be addressed in the chapter; questions for consideration, for understanding the case study; and a discussion of underlying elements, concerns and strategies. The information is conveyed in a conversational style suitable for the layperson or student educator.

In the first chapter he gives an overview of definitions and diagnoses of the four types of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): ADHD-I (Inattentive), ADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive), ADHD-C (Combined), ADHD-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). This information serves as a basis for understanding the case studies and discussions that follow. Each chapter gently carries the reader through a critical thinking process of application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

In the chapters that follow, the author covers the topics of: inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, social skills, educational programs, and strategies for ADHD children, adolescents and adults. Cimera also has the reader consider the possibility of other conditions or situations that could mistakenly be diagnosed as ADHD. The last chapter contains resources for individuals with ADHD and resources for their teachers and parents. It includes booklists, periodicals, videotapes, contact information for organizations and support groups and an annotated list of Internet sites. Most of the materials had imprints from the early nineties and late eighties. Only one of the websites mentioned was not currently accessible. The website annotations were quite pertinent to their content with the exception of the U.S. Department of Education site, which has been drastically revised since the publication of this book. Although there is a very detailed table of contents, there is no index. The addition of an index would have been useful.

Overall, Cimera provides a positive, supportive and informative voice on the subject of ADHD. I found the examples of students and their goals (pp.130-131) especially illuminating in exploding my own preconceived attitudes toward ADHD. Special education students, classroom teachers, parents and adult individuals with ADHD could find valuable information and insights in this book. It provides an accessible introduction to the condition and provides the reader with the educational, environmental and behavioral accommodations and strategies that can help ADHD students, their parents, teachers and classmates create supportive scaffolding for success...

This is an incredible book! At last a book that talks about hos children with ADD aren't monsters. It is written by a Ph.D. who teaches, researches, and HAS ADHD. He actually knows what it is like. The book has six or seven chapters on nothing but strategies and ways of helping kids use their God given abilities. The last chapter has a list of more resources like books and websites. This is the only book that has talked about medication in a neutral way. The author points out that drugs have some good points and some bad points and leaves it up to the readers to decide what is best for their kids. But the focus of the book is to help kids with ADHD utilize their energy in productive ways-- NOT how to make kids slow down and be NORMAL! WONDERFUL WONDERFUL book! Buy it! You wont be sorry!

Somebody at a CHADD meeting suggested that I read this book. I am happy that I did! It is so well written that I couldn't put it down. I read it in one evening. It gives many practical strategies. But the best feature is that it views ADHD as a gift that should "be utilized, not repressed!" I can't recommend this book more highly. Get it. You'll be happy that you did!

Written for parents, teachers, and individuals with ADHD. This book explains what ADHD is, but also has several chapters of strategies for dealing with inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and social skills. It also has chapters on how to teach young children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD, how to develop educational programs for students with ADHD, and additional resources. The sections on ADHD and depression was particularly informative.

I am pleased with this book. It is written in a non-technical, professional manner and provides practical, useful strategies that I can do with my child. I would encourage anybody with add kids to read it.

This is the only book that I have come across that presents ADHD in a positive light. Additionally, it provides many helpful strategies for both teachers and parents. The only knock that I can say about this book is that it doesn't talk much about medications. All else is great.

This book is a handy tool for parents and educators. The author details the different types of ADHD making sure to challenge readers that ADHD is complex and symptoms could be the cause of other factors. Information on drugs, behavior modification suggestions and a detailed listing of organizations, websites and additional resources are included in the publication.

Making ADHD A Gift: Teaching Superman How To Fly is the only book that I have found that says that having attention deficit is okay. The author gives many valuable suggestions on how to make hyperactivity a period of "super" productivity.

If you have read the top text on helping yourself, your child, your spouse with his/her AD&D/ADHD, then you probably don't need this book. But if you have a teacher or coach or someone interacting with your child who needs a quick hit to understand what he/she can do to help your child fly, then this is an excellent book. As I read it, I thought, "I need to provide this book to the teacher....". It is a good case study approach with a lot of good recommendations, but if you have already read "Driven to Distraction" and other related books, you are probably already doing most/all of these recommendations. But the author is a respected authority in AD&D research and "treatment", so from the perspective of giving it to the others in your child's life, it is an excellent choice.

Positive and informative. I big help for teachers or parents of children with ADD. Loads of strategies and resources.