Learning Disabilities 101: A Primer for Parents (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a Special Educator, Psychologist, Admi! nistrator and parent, I have a variety of experiences in working with learning disabled children. From these different vantage points, I realize the importance of a parent's role in shaping the life of a child. It is a parent's love and understanding that develops a child's self-esteem and it is the development of this self-esteem that impacts a learning disabled child's ability to meet and conquer the many challenges that he may encounter. These pages are filled with the knowledge and understanding that a parent needs to accomplish these tasks. Mary Cathryn Haller provides parents with the tools needed to guide and support our children through the challenges and obstacles of handling these disabilities. This book is a must read for parents and educators as we dedicate ourselves to the pursuance of happiness and success for our children." -- Patricia L. Knight, Director of Academic Support Phelps School, Malvern, PA

"As a professional who has so often found myself struggling for the most supportive way to "break the news" to a parent of a child with learning disabilities, I see this book as a positive breakthrough in assisting parents. Parents of children and young adults with learning problems experience stressful highs and lows in their efforts to understand the issues and advocate properly. The information in this book will help parents feel competent in the quest to help their children maximize their potentials." -- Sister M. Gilchrist Cottrill, SND

"As an evaluation specialist, I would recommend this book to parents just entering the evaluation stage of their child's educational assessment or for those trying to make sense of what they have just been through. It is written in layman's terms and easy for a noneducator to understand. Its format gives plenty of practical information without overwhelming the parent." -- Susan M. Kelly, M.A. The Educational Evaluation Center, Bradenton, FL

"As the parent of a learning disabled child and as a legislator who deals with the issue on a day to day basis, I thought I was thoroughly familiar with the subject. I was wrong. Mary Cathryn Haller has written an important book for all of us -- not just those with learning disabled children. It takes a subject that is all too often obscured with professional jargon and offers clear, concise, and wise advice for both parents and professionals." -- Florida State Senator John McKay

"As the parent of a special needs student, Mary Cathryn Haller brings a unique sensitivity to this book. With her boundless energy and the ability to look at the bright side of every situation, she organizes years of her own research into a must read book for parents of children diagnosed with learning disabilities." -- Judith Edwards, Director Oakland School, Boyd's Tavern, VA

"Mary Cathryn has given a gift to all families forced to deal with a learning disability. As Danny's uncle, I have watched him grow and prosper in a loving, caring family. Now, Mary Cathryn has shared her experience for other families to learn. She articulates everything a family must expect, but makes clear why they should never lose hope. I admire her courage and urge all parents to read this important book." -- U.S. Representative, FL, Dan Miller

"This book is an excellent resource for parents as well as for the learning disabled adolescent . . . easy to read and understand. . . . written in non-technical language and gives parents knowledge and understanding of the real life challenges of having a child with a learning disability. . . . I highly recommend this book for parents who are involved in the initial diagnosis process for learning disab! ilities, as well as parents already dealing with the life challenges of having a child with learning disabilities." -- Belinda S. Strickland, Special Education Teacher, 23 years, Alexandria, VA

Product Description

This book is a primer -- the first book that parents should read when they learn their child is diagnosed as learning disabled (LD). It helps them understand the basic language and terms, learn how to find and work with the experts and professionals, and it helps parents know their options. Written in easy-to-understand "parent" language, Learning Disabilities 101 wil help readers understand three things: how to cope with their child's disability, how to work through the maze of laws and medical terms, and how the family fits into their child's LD world. Chapters include

-- Identifying, Diagnosing and Accepting LD
-- Understanding Your Child's Self-Esteem and Social Development
-- The Law Is On Your Side
-- The Role of the Family
-- Testing, Record Keeping and Parent/Teacher Conferences
-- ADD and ADHD
-- Public Schools
-- Private Day and Boarding Schools
-- Homeschooling
-- Tips and Pointers for Parents?
-- Foreword by Paul D. Nolting, Ph.D., Learning Specialist.

Includes five appendices, a glossary, a bibliography, a suggested reading list, and an index.

Provides parents with: RESOURCE LISTS to help their child with LD (computers, organizations and associations, regional school accreditation commissions, homeschooling), SKILLS LISTS (How To Communicate With Your Child; Ten Ways to Take Charge of Your Child's IEP Meeting or Family Support Plan; How Parents Can Help Their Children and Homework), CHECKLISTS (The Most Common Characteristics of Children With LD; Records You Should Request and Keep; Diagnostic Criteria and Accomodations for Children With ADD/ADHD), SAMPLE FORMS (Individual Education Plan -- IEP; Behavior Contract; School Costs), and it offers answers to parents' FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on all chapter topics.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Rainbow Books (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568250738
• ISBN-13: 978-1568250731
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,859,235 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Little information, lots of misinformation, April 14, 2000

By	M. Thompson (Lincoln University, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Very disappointing. Perhaps I had the wrong idea of what the book would cover but I had hoped to learn types of learning disabilities and how to deal with them educationally. That is not the scope of this book, despite the title. It does not address LD in depth, test results and their meaning, educational alternatives, etc. My main concern is the misinformation about IDEA federal law and the rights of the learning disabled. Specifically, there is the sentence that states a school evaluation "can take up to six months or longer." (p.27). Federal law under IDEA states that the school has 45 days to complete their evaluation after the parent signs the consent. PLEASE don't wait months to have your child evaluated.! The earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. I would not recommend this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars one of the better books I have found yet, March 11, 2004

By	Mom of 2 kids (Port Orange, FL) - See all my reviews

this is a very simple easy to read book on learning disabilities every parent should have a copy or borrow one from the library. another great one to have on hand is from emotions to advocate by pam and peter wright

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Have Not Read This Book.....But, April 22, 2000

By	Melinda Marshall "Una" (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

I would not be so quick to assume that this book does not have some highly valuable information that would not typically be found in the typical 'disability' book. (Sorry - I was forced to give a rating - so I opted to give it a (5) to average out the above (1). Hope that's okay.)I would think that it would not attempt to cover LD's in the 'in-depth' manner the above reader expected, but rather to concentrate more on the day-to-day issues that most parents wrestle with; at home, at school, with neighbors, with friends and extended family, etc. The issues reach far and wide, and are highly complicated. In reference to the legal aspects, this is only one small part of the overall picture. And regardless of how the law is stated - it still must be carried out, before the child benefits. IDEA 97 is there, in place, ready to use. Do the schools follow it? No. The question then becomes, 'What does a parent do? How should they handle it? How can they fight the system and win - and yet benefit in time and still survive as a family? These are not issues covered under the law - and yet every bit as important in learning to cope with, while finding strategies that either can provide temporary relief, or even just hope for the future. In our experience, it is true that the evaluation process can take (6) months, and there can be many, many legitimate reasons for this. In our experience, it was to our benefit overall, as we wound up with a better evaluation that gave profoundly more accurate, definitive data. This book just may provide some rare, highly insightful information you'd never find elsewhere.