Best Back-to-School Reads

Do we ever outgrow that back-to-school feeling? Somehow, regardless of how old we are or how long it’s been since we actually went to school, once Labor Day weekend is over, the time for lounging at the pool, barbeques in the back yard and indulging in guilty pleasures such as ice cream and trashy beach reads are over. But it’s not all bad. Even for those of us who aren’t students any more, fall can be motivating. We’re feeling rested, restored and ready to focus on more serious pursuits—exciting personal projects, renewed interest in our careers, and catching up on challenging and intellectually rewarding reading.  Since back-to-school season tends to be busy, we’ve saved you some time, by compiling a list of some (relatively) new and noteworthy books in the disabilities field. Whether you’re a teacher, therapist, parent or child, this list offers good reads for everyone.

For teachers and therapists

“Assistive Technology for Young Children” by Kathleen Curry Sadao Ed.D., Nancy B. Robinson Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Today’s teachers and therapists know that assistive technology can do wonders for helping children with disabilities to communicate, learn and play. Many of those assistive technology devices are developed and available through Enabling Devices. But not everyone receives the training necessary to make the best use of the technology that exists. “Assistive Technology for Young Children” will provide professionals with all the information they need to help their students and clients, and to create fully inclusive classrooms.

“Communication Interventions for Individuals with Severe Disabilities,” edited by Rose A. Sevcik, Ph.D., and MaryAnn Romski Ph.D.

This 2016 text includes the latest research and clinical and educational recommendations for helping students and clients with severe disabilities to communicate more effectively. With the contributions of 30 scholars, the book offers evidence-based interventions for populations including young children with intellectual disabilities, deafblind children, children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.  Check out Enabling Devices’ communication devices!

For anyone who loves, teaches or treats a person with autism

“The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a 13 Year Old Boy with Autism” by Naoki Higashida gives readers rare insight into the mind of its young author. As bestselling author, David Mitchell writes in his introduction to the English translation of this Japanese autobiographical memoir,

“[Naoki’s] explanations about why children with autism do what they do that were, literally, the answers that we had been waiting for. Composed by a writer still with one foot in childhood, and whose autism was at least as challenging and life altering as our son’s, “The Reason I Jump” was a revelatory godsend. Reading it felt as if, for the first time, our own son was talking to us about what was happening inside his head, through Naoki’s words.”

“Life Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes and Autism,” by Ron Suskind

As you may know, “Life Animated,” a documentary that opened in limited release this summer, was a book before it was a movie. The true story of how a father got through to his autistic son by joining his boy’s obsession with Disney movie characters is a fascinating and inspiring read.

For parents of children with Down Syndrome

“The Parent’s Guide to Down Syndrome: Advice, Information, Inspiration, and Support for Raising Your Child from Diagnosis through Adulthood,” by Jen Jacob, and Mardra Sikora, offers the latest information on virtually anything parents need to know about the special needs of a child with Down syndrome. Co-authors Jacob and Sikora are uniquely qualified to write “The Parents Guide to Down Syndrome.” Jacob is an educator, professional development expert, cofounder and Vice President for the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network, and parent of Owen, a child with Down syndrome. Sikora is an author, speaker and advocate, and mother of Marcus a 26-year-old man with Down syndrome.

For teens and young adults

“A Time to Dance” by Padma Venkatraman tells the story of a young Indian Bharatanatyam dancer who loses her leg after being struck by a car. Reviewer, Jessica Walter, herself an amputee, calls “A Time to Dance … easily the best representation of an amputee’s experience that I’ve ever come across in fiction.” This young adult novel, which takes place in India and is told in verse, is also appealing from a cultural and literary standpoint. In the end, Venkatraman’s teenage protagonist finds a way to dance despite her disability. She learns that dancing is not only a physical pursuit, but also, and even more importantly, a spiritual one.

For elementary school aged children

“My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy,” by Shaila Abdullah and Aanyah Abdullah is a 2016 winner of the Dolly Gray Literature Award, which “recognizes authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities.” Written by a mother-daughter team, “My Friend Suhana” tells the true story of a friendship between Suhana, a little girl with severe cerebral palsy, and Aanyah, a typically developing 7-year-old girl who meets Suhana at the community center where she and her mother volunteer. Based on a true story.

Happy Reading and Happy Fall To All!