Helping a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder or Asperger's Disorder: A Parent's Guide

If you want to know more about NLD and interventions for this disorder; this is the perfect "starter book." Although I have heard many people say this book is geared for parents/educators with older NLD kids, I feel it is important to read, no matter what the age of your NLDer.It gives all the traits on NLD (along with checklists), the thoughtful opinions of the author as to what category NLD should be under and ways to help an NLDer of any age.What I really like beside the above is how the author makes sure the reader understands the importance of trying to get our NLDers prepared for independent life. If you have a young child with NLD, reading these "insights" is sure to help you to be wary of overcompensating for your childs disability while at the same time giving your child what he/she needs. By explaining some problems "older" NLDer's have-such as hygiene; it helped me to recognize the importance of working on these issues now before they become a problem. You won't understand this concept fully until you read the book yourself.The book is an easy read, gives you a lot of information so you will understand and know how to help your NLD child.IF you have an AS child, I think this book would also be good but I felt it gave more insight into NLD than it did AS.

As the parent of a child recently diagnosed with Noverbal Learning Disorder (NLD), I was looking for information on what was NLD and what it meant for the future of our child. The clinicians at Yale Child Study Center suggested this volume as a good starting point. It just be that it matches my style of communication, but I found this book to be incredibly clear, well organized, well written, and to the point. There is no fat on this book, just what you need. There are three major sections on (1) an overview of NLD/Aspergers; (2) how these disorders effect the executive, sensory, and social parts of the kids lives; (3) and what educational and home programs are required to help people with NLD/Aspergers. There are assessment criteria, diagnostic criteria, and pointers to other resources. The curriculum that Ms. Stewart lays out is the one that she uses at the private high school for Aspergers/NLD kids (Orion Academy in Moraga, CA). The tasks she lays out are not going to be easy for anyone to accomplish, but they are worth doing. I can't think of a better place to start in trying to understand what the child with NLD/Aspergers feels, is facing, and has to do to seek some accommodation with us NT's (neurotypicals). BTW, the other book recommended by the Yale group for understanding NLD is RV Whitney's "Bridging the Gap: Raising a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder".

I've read nine books on Asperger's Syndrome since our son was "diagnosed" three weeks ago. By far, this is the single most clear, concise, helpful book of all. I had read Tony Attwood's book first, and it is very helpful, but in more of a medical feeling way.THIS book SPOKE to me (and my husband and our son's teachers and everyone else we've given a copy). Dr. Stewart has written this in a very easy to understand, just-the-facts kind of way. This book really allowed us to gain some ground in discussing our son's diagnosis with him. It allowed us to ask very specific questions that opened the door for him to share what it's like to be him (and this is after years of hearing him say "I don't know" to any question ever asked of him by us and professionals trying to help him. Thanks to this book we've even expanded our sense of humor about our son's situation (and there is little humor in his life). We are so grateful to Dr. Stewart for writing this and only with there was an Orion School here. If my husband could find work in California, we would consider moving to have our son in this school.Best of luck to all of you who have children with Asperger's.

In every color that is sold I have highlighted this whole book. This is not a 'living with' book or medical text, this is a book that finally helps you help your child. This is a well written book for teachers and parents alike. Very real advice for a child in any grade. My bookshelf is cluttered with books on Aspergers, and besides Tony's book, this one is with me all the time. I have this book with me for every IEP meeting, teachers have found Kathryn's advice easy to understand and implement. This is the only book on Aspergers that I have bought twice, and I plan to buy it for every teacher my son has.

Kathryn Stewart describes what is going on in your child's mind and helps you understand what is behind the behaviour that you know is not right, but just doesn't make sense. This explains why your advanced reader can't write a simple sentence, and how an advanced reader can score poorly in reading comprehension or "listening". It also gives you ideas about what you are going to say to your child's teachers to help them understand what is happening with your child.All this is done in layamn's terms. I am seriously considering buying a stack of them to give to teachers and relatives.