|
Richard D. Lavoie
Executive Director,
Riverview School
Producer, How
Difficult Can This Be?
The F.A.T. City Workshop
|
"Sue Thompson has quickly become the nationally recognized educational
expert on Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD). Until this book was
published, much of the available written material on NLD was authored by
professionals in the field of neurology or neuropsychology, technical in
nature, and difficult for the lay person to absorb. From page one of this
wonderful book, you’re hooked - the quickest 182 pages on the topic of NLD
that you’ll ever read! Not only will you likely read it in one sitting,
but once you’ve turned the last page, you’ll immediately place an order
for additional copies - for family members, teachers, and professionals!
On page one you meet Damon, a little boy that any NLD family member will
immediately recognize. Traumatized by his four-year-old surprise birthday
party, little Damon escapes to his bedroom, where no one is able to coax him
out. Why was he so derailed by the rearranged furniture, colorful
decorations, guests, and attention? On the following pages, you learn more
about Damon and his parents, but more importantly, you will understand what
is going on inside of the little boy’s head. The author defines NLD, and
explains, in clear terms, the three categories of dysfunction which
constitute the disorder - the motoric, visual/spatial/organizational, and
social deficits, and what these deficits may look like to someone observing
the NLD individual.
The book covers early adjustment problems, the actual diagnosis of the
disorder, and provides the reader with a solid understanding of how NLD
affects the diagnosed individual, and what to expect. Parents will gain an
excellent understanding of how pivotal their role is in both early
intervention and on-going support. The author’s knowledge of both the
disorder and the school environment becomes even more apparent when she
addresses academic issues. She explains why NLD is a learning disability,
how the deficits will likely affect academic performance, as well as what
should be done to accommodate the child’s needs. The reader is introduced
to CAMS - compensations, accommodations, modifications, and strategies, an
acronym you will immediately begin to use in school meetings regarding your
child. For the first time, there is meaningful NLD information for school
administrators and teachers to read, understand, and implement.
The author also covers the acquisition of social skills, the transition
to adulthood, independence, and related disorders. Every chapter is written
with an excellent understanding of the issues, and packed with helpful
information.
There are so many positives about this book that it is hard to speculate
on what you will find most useful - the chapters on parenting and education,
the numerous checklists, the clear definitions of words like agnosia and
anosognosia (terms that we’ve read, but rarely really understood). If you’re
going to invest in one book on the subject of NLD, this is the one! As the
parent of an NLD child who has purchased six copies of the book, and whose
own copy is dog-eared from constant use, it comes as no surprise that
professionals throughout the country are recommending it to parents and
teachers as 'the source for nonverbal learning disorders.' Well
done Sue!"
First published in the Fall 1998 issue of The Source, a
publication of ASC-U.S.
(formerly ASPEN
of America, Inc.)
| Pamela B.
Tanguay - parent of a teen with NLD, co-developer of NLD On
The Web!, Advisory Board member of ASC-U.S., and Senior Editor of The Source. |
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