Customer Reviews

Managing the Gift : Alternative Approaches for Attention Deficit Disorder

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book makes a very important contribution to those who would understand ADD. I believe every person who works with ADD should read this book - it truly is unique! The author deserve applause for insisting that we look at the WHOLE child - physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. He recommends many significant actions to help manage ADD. These ideas are valuable and will help many people deal with ADD issues in their lives. (No, they are not given in a one-size-fits-all cookbook type format, probably because of a strong belief that we need to look at each student as an individual.)The suggestions require reflection and acceptance of each individual before implementation. Isn't that what we want? Isn't that what we need in our schools? As a public school administrator I know of many positive efforts of school personnel to help students impacted with ADD. As a parent I have unfortunately also experienced harsh, knee-jerk reactions to ADD...from teachers refusing simple modifications to administrators misrepresenting the law. Now, if they treat a "fellow administrator" this way... Love your child, defend your child's right to be an individual and not a cog in a wheel, work with the school, but be a shepherd for your child. This is a complicated topic. We must work together for the good of the students, so forgive those who act in ignorance, even as you shepherd your loved ones on their journey. This book is a lamp lit to illuminate new possibilities.

This book contains some interesting ideas, based on Emery's private practice. However, they are offered in a vacuum. The author does not discuss current research, or other alternative practitioners widely known in this field. Can one man's intuition with individual patients carry over in a meaningful way to schools, or other psychologists? If not, where do poor parents go to help their children? Emery has made a contribution here. It will be richer if he develops useable, tested protocols with professionals for widespread application. Ths book, is a starting point. Despite its flaws, I recommend it.

This book has transformed my life. Speaking from the heart of a mother impacted with A.D.D. with three children and a husband all impacted I highly recommend this book. Dr. Emery has taken A.D.D. / A.D.H.D. and shined a whole new light upon the disorder once viewed as a disability. Dr. Emery reminds us, it's not a disability it's a diff-ability. We do things differantly, not wrong just different.The teachings of Dr. Emery on how to do things differently makes it simple to understand and motivates you to put it into practice.Not only will it change your way of thinking it also teaches you to embrace and celebrate your Gift. Dr. Emery talks about subjects related to this disorder such as anxiety, isolation, depression, relationships and alternatives to medication. This book is truly a gift in itself if you know of anyone impacted with A.D.D. please don't hesitate to buy this book. It will move you, transform you, and bring you to a higher level of understanding of this "Gift" you have been blessed with.

The author shares his spiritual insight into ADD. He looks at physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects, without mentioning the work of Hallowell or even Hartmann. He proceeds, without reference to neuro research, to classify kids into pseudo-scientific energy patterns like "pulse" and "burst". These are arbitary and amateurish. Apparently he used no checklist or even classroom observations to categorize these children, but relies on messages he receives by intuition. Even a psychic will admit that the best are only 60-90% accurate. Too bad Emery made no effort to confirm these messages with organized classroom protocols. The author expects us to accept his insight as definitive, and ask no questions. Perhaps he has impressed his (naive?) clients, and they do not ask questions or demand supporting evidence. For others to accept, or even consider, Emery's ideas he must incorporate some professional counseling methodology. Otherwise, this book is just a lot of new age hot air. It feels good, but blows by, and we are back where we started.

I have Attention Deficit Disorder. I was diagnosed way back in the 3rd grade. I am 24 years old now ans was on Ritalin all theway up to Concerta until just last year when I found out medication wasn't the answer for my Add thanks to Dr. Kevin Ross Emery and his wonderful Book Managing The Gift. It gives people wonderful insights on how Emotional Coffee Breaks, good diet, good sleeping patterns,and protocols developed by a medical intuition do really help those affected with ADD. Dr. Krvin Ross Emery also goes to schools with parents to talk to teachers about the child's IEP or Individualized Educational Plans and works with thefamily and the student to make sure the child gets the adequate and wonderful education the child deserves instead of labeling the child with a disability. ADD is a gift not a diffability.

People stop putting the book down and open your brains to a new idea and new ways of thinking instead of being so close minded. Maybe Dr. Levy needs to take a closer look at his life and take some courses in ADD or early childhood education itmight help him think better. Get a life Dr. Levy.

In this book Dr. Emery has explored new territory and techniques for managing ADD. He discusses the four levels - physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual - impacted by ADD. "Emotional coffee breaks", using checklists, learning in motion, modification of diet, and timed learning are a few of the strategies explored as alternative approaches to medication. While Dr. Emery recognizes that medication can be useful in some cases, he offers other methods for parents to explore. He offers suggestions to help children with anxiety, shame, and isolation which children with ADD often experience. Steps to help your child, your child's educational rights and additional resources are discussed. Sections of the book deal with adults with ADD too. As a parent of a teenager with ADD I highly recommend this book to parents of ADD children.

Good grief, people! Have you no standards at all, or are you willing to entertain anyone who says they are a "Dr" and their crackpot ideas?

Here is the "about us" from "Dr." Kevin's website. He never says what he's a "Dr" of. And the rest of it is such a blather of grandiose nonsense, it boggles the mind! Really - he invented the idea of training employees? His book is "award-winning"? What kind of award? Where does he speak "around the world"? Gee whiz, show some critical thinking.

from his website:
Over the last thirty years, Dr. Kevin has been an early innovator in both the business and private sectors. Throughout the late seventies and eighties, he introduced the importance of formalized training for all levels of employees and wrote then implemented formalized training systems in multiple industries. He then created communication programs and critical thinking based management development programs. Moving into the personal growth, human potential, and alternative health fields in the early nineties he was one of the first to not only introduce the concept of coaching into his practice but one of the only ones to seamlessly integrate coaching and counseling as a single process. He has studied both Eastern and Western philosophies and healing systems and assimilated them into his work. His groundbreaking award-winning book Managing The Gift: Alternatives Approaches For Attentions Deficit Disorder, introduced the idea of ADD/ADHD as an evolutionary process not a disability. Dr. Kevin has and continues to speak around the world. He is an author, Synergetic Catalyst, teacher, speaker, and radio personality.

ADD is not just a mental disorder. Those of us who are ADD or know somebody with ADD are very much aware of that. There is so much more to ADD than just a text book definiton. Dr Emery introduces us to a different concept of ADD. I bet most people who are ADD themsleves can relate to many of his ideas.

This is very well written book on the subject of ADD. Many of his ideas and suggestions can still help those people who choose to see ADD as only a negative problem. This book is also set up so that an ADD person can read though it with ease.

Take a 13 year old boy with no self-esteem, no self-confidence, a failure in school, academically and social, started taking Ridlin in hopes to a means with no end; put him with Dr. Ross-Emery, NOT RASS!!, and what do you get?? A-B student, teachers dream student, makes new friends daily, plays any sport that is available at school, even if he is not the best on the team, has become STRUCTURED in his life, does his homework, if OFF Ridlin, takes life as it is, has accepted his own worth, and now thinks he can do anything, which all equals the power one gifted person gave another. Thank you Kevin Ross Emery for your support, for giving Cody back his life, giving us a family, taking the Attention Defecit and for teaching Cody to MANAGE HIS GIFT. Jacqui and Bill