Learning Disabilities/ADHD and the Law in Higher Education and Employment

Do people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have a “Deficit” and a “Disorder”? Or are they just different in some ways from people around them? In Distant Drums and Different Drummers, the author presents a more positive perspective on ADHD — one that stresses the value of individual differences. The child with ADHD, with his penchant for novelty and exploration, his boundless energy, and his tendency to take risks, is seen as the descendant of a long line of adventures and explorers stretching far back beyond the beginnings of recorded history.

Ted Cheltoni, 12, has a good friend, a great girlfriend, and would have a pretty normal life if it weren’t for his little brother, Harry. Harry’s not bad on purpose, but Ted would sure like to fix the kid up so everybody would stop asking him to undo Harry’s hyperactive, outrageous behavior. The tension at home gets so bad that Ted’s afraid his parents will get divorced. One day, after Harry finds out he’s suspended from school and kicked off the bus for the following week, Ted finds him packing to leave home. Ted knows he has to do something, and quick, to help his little brother.

In 1994, Driven to Distraction sparked a revolution in our understanding of attention deficit disorder. Widely recognized as the classic in the field, the book has sold more than a million copies. Now a second revolution is under way in the approach to ADD, and the news is great. Drug therapies, our understanding of the role of diet and exercise, even the way we define the disorder — all are changing radically. And doctors are realizing that millions of adults suffer from this condition, though the vast majority of them remain undiagnosed and untreated. In this new book, Drs. Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey build on the breakthroughs of Driven to Distraction to offer a comprehensive and entirely up-to-date guide to living a successful life with ADD.

As any parent, teacher, coach, or caregiver of a learning disabled child knows, every learning disability has a social component. The ADD child constantly interrupts and doesn’t follow directions. The child with visual-spatial issues loses his belongings. The child with a nonverbal communication disorder fails to gesture when she talks. These children are socially out of step with their peers, and often they are ridiculed or ostracized for their differences. A successful social life is immeasurably important to a child’s happiness, health, and development.

The prevalence of learning disabilities has provoked both the growth of research into the field and the development of educational interventions to assist those with learning disabilities. This book’s aim is to present the current state of this research and intervention ideas and programs. It includes updated material on the 1997 re-authorization of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and expanded coverage of ADHD and its relationship to learning disabilities. This book presents the latest information on the characteristics of persons with learning disabilities, the causes of their problems, and educational interventions to help them succeed in school and at work. The book is research-based, user-friendly, and practical. 

*This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

This book features 169 reproducible activities which provide opportunities for active learning and student practice in the study skills and strategies most important for students with special needs. Teaching students with special needs to use study skills and strategies effectively is an important step in transforming these students into independent learners. In addition to the reproducible activities themselves, each chapter in this book contains suggestions for using the activities, mastery assessment, and an answer key.