Table of Contents
Foreword Judy Woodruff vii
Introduction: Special Mothers xi
Part I Before the Diagnosis
Chapter 1 "Something's Not Quite Right": The Role of Mother's Intuition 3
Chapter 2 "Why Can't She Get It?": Understanding Learning Disabilities 13
Chapter 3 "He's Fine-He'll Grow Out of It": Delay vs. Learning Disability 21
Chapter 4 Am I Alone in This? 33
Chapter 5 "Just Let Him Be Three": Forms of Denial 36
Chapter 6 What Should You Do First? 48
Part II The Diagnosis
Chapter 7 One Last Step Before the Diagnosis: Pre-Referral Services 55
Chapter 8 "Should I Have Him Tested?": Requesting a Formal Evaluation 60
Chapter 9 Records and Rights: Organizing Knowledge 67
Chapter 10 "Does My Child Need Special Ed?": The Evaluation 75
Chapter 11 Interpreting the Hieroglyphics: Evaluation Results 85
Chapter 12 "Was It Something I Did?": Causes of Learning Disabilities 91
Part III After the Diagnosis
Chapter 13 Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings!: Eligibility Determination 99
Chapter 14 IEP: The Individualized Education Program 107
Chapter 15 A Mother's Frustrations, a Mother's Solutions 120
Chapter 16 Advocacy: Advice from an Expert 132
Chapter 17 Resolving Disputes 143
Chapter 18 Special Fathers: They Are Out There 150
Chapter 19 Friendship Is So Hard: The Social Side of LD 162
Chapter 20 "Don't Forget About Me": Brothers and Sisters 170
Chapter 21 How Are You Doing?: Taking Care of Yourself 183
Epilogue: Role of a Lifetime: Becoming Your Child's Advocate 192
Acknowledgments 196
Resources for Children with Learning Disabilities 198
Index 201
