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Author Rondalyn Varney Whitney, a pediatric occupational therapist, is the mother of Zac, a child who suffers from nonverbal learning disorder, or NLD. By definition, NLD is a neurological defect in children who are unable to recognize the nonverbal clues that make up 50 percent of communication. In Bridging the Gap, Whitney seamlessly weaves practical professional advice throughout the accou... More

Author Rondalyn Varney Whitney, a pediatric occupational therapist, is the mother of Zac, a child who suffers from nonverbal learning disorder, or NLD. By definition, NLD is a neurological defect in children who are unable to recognize the nonverbal clues that make up 50 percent of communication. In Bridging the Gap, Whitney seamlessly weaves practical professional advice throughout the account of her passionate involvement with her son. She writes, "I believe that NLD, now thought to be as prevalent as dyslexia, is a difference and not a flaw." She also warns parents and teachers that kids with NLD are likely to be misdiagnosed as lazy or defiant, so she urges readers to consider both the strengths (high intelligence and advanced verbal skills and memory) and weaknesses (low visual, spatial, and motor skills and deficits in social communication) of these kids.

Whitney focuses on NLD as a unique learning style, rather than a disability, offering a brilliantly realized account of a day in the life of a child with NLD. Other chapters address specific problems, including finding the right school, telling your child about the diagnosis, teaching social skills, negotiating the maze of interventions, and caring for self and spouse. Each chapter balances vivid case examples with thoughtful strategies. This is an exceptional book--moving, hopeful, and grounded in the wisdom of a seasoned professional and the love of a mother for her unique child. --Barbara Mackoff

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