A Special Mother - by Anne Ford & John-Richard Thompson (Paperback)

About the Book

From the author of "Laughing Allegra" and "On Their Own," a reassuring and invaluable book filled with personal stories and practical guidance to help parents of a child just diagnosed with a learning disability or related disorder.
More than three million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a learning disability, and their parents, more often than not, feel at a loss as to where to turn for both practical and emotional help. Anne Ford, who raised her severely learning disabled daughter Allegra and became an advocate for LD children, understands this all too well.
In A Special Mother, Ford offers reassurance and information on getting through the early period surrounding the diagnosis:
* Guidance about coping with the emotional upheaval and confusion of a child's diagnosis
* Information on getting an accurate diagnosis and understanding what it means
* Advice on caring for your own psychological needs
* Knowing your rights
* Suggestions for striking a balance between advocacy and obsession
Filled with voices of other mothers who have struggled with the issues of raising an LD child, "A Special Mother" lets parents know they are not alone, and that they can enable their child to thrive.

Book Synopsis

"Something's Not Quite Right"

All mothers experience worries and fears about their children, but none can compare with the early days when a mother feels something's not quite right. Anne Ford knows the feeling. She's had it herself, having raised a daughter with severe learning disabilities, and has gone on to share experiences with others during her many years as a volunteer with the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

To bring comfort, support, and hard information to mothers--and fathers, too--in the early period surrounding the diagnosis, here is the book that Anne wishes she'd had years ago when she first received the news about her daughter and didn't know where to turn for the practical and emotional help she desperately needed.

Filled with essential advice and the voices of other mothers whose children have LD and related disorders such as Asperger's and ADHD, A Special Mother lets parents know they are not alone and that they can help their child to thrive. This invaluable book addresses such matters as:

• Understanding Learning Disabilities and Related Disorders
• What Should You Do First?
• Interpreting Evaluation Results
• Resolving Disputes
• Special Fathers: They Are Out There
• The Social Side of LD
• Advocacy vs. Obsession
• How Are You Doing?: Taking Care of Yourself

About the Author

Anne Ford is the author of the acclaimed memoir "Laughing Allegra" about raising her severely learning disabled daughter, and "On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD." She served as Chairman of the National Center for Learning Disabilities from 1989 to 2001, and remains a committed advocate and frequent speaker on LD issues. The great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, she lives in New York City.
John-Richard Thompson is an award-winning playwright and novelist, who has collaborated with Anne Ford at NCLD and on her two previous books. He lives in New York City.