common sense book for ADHD and Asperger’s

Published August 6, 2010 by Nancy

So here’s what’s been happening over the past several weeks that’s been taking up my blogging time.

I wrote a book on common sense for young people with ADHD and Asperger’s. It’s not out yet, give it a few more weeks.

The project began a year ago. I was thinking about the invisible rules of society and how hard it is for anyone with ADHD, Asperger’s, PDD, or sensory processing disorder to figure them out. Most of the books available listed social rules to memorize.

But social rules depend on the situation. They’re context-dependent. Memorizing rules won’t help unless you figure out the underlying principles that govern those rules.

Heavy talk, but that’s what common sense is.

So a year has been spent figuring out what common sense ADHD and Asperger young people don’t have.

The result is a book that defines common sense and divides it into three basic concepts and four major applications. Cartoons and comics make up most of the book.

And yes, I drew the comics myself. I took art in high school and have never used it.

If you are interested in previewing the book and sending me feedback, please email me.

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I hope to have it available for sale in the early fall.

what I’ve learned from illustrating my own book

Published November 18, 2008 by Nancy

I have written a book on sensory processing disorder for kids in middle school and young teens. It’s a book for them, rather than for us, so it had to be illustrated.

And by illustrated, I mean illustrated just right, because god forbid if the illustrations are lame.

The process of trying to get the book illustrated has been, um, illustrative. Here’s what I’ve learned.
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a sensory processing book for kids

Published September 30, 2008 by Nancy

It all began last spring.

I was at a one-day presentation by Ellen Yack on sensory integration therapy, looking for ideas and resources. Ellen gave all the attendees an exhaustive book and article list. Which I scoured. But I couldn’t find a single book for kids or young teens anywhere in the list.

So I asked her about that after the presentation. She thought for a moment, then replied that she had never seen a book on sensory integration for kids.

So the next day, I started researching and then writing the book.

Would you believe it, people raised their eyebrows?

What are your credentials for that? Who’s going to buy a book written by a parent? Aren’t there any experts to do this instead of you?

My opinion — There’s no shortage of nay-sayers out there. Parents aren’t experts? Yeah, right.

But it was hard. And it took a long time. Let’s just say the first couple of drafts were dorky. Then there was the issue of illustrations — I knew I needed them, but I had no idea how to get them.

Finally, I asked for input from specialist OT Chris Everdell. She recommended making the book a useful tool for OTs, parents, and kids, rather than a book. This changed the direction of the project.

In the winter and spring, I sent the manuscript to a few publishers. I got nibbles, a lot of run-arounds, and one publication offer, but it didn’t seem right somehow. My niece at ittybiz.com advised me that since it was a tool rather than a book, it should be published online, where it could be updated and integrated into what OTs are doing out there.

So that’s what I’m working on now. I have illustrated the book and booked a professional illustrator to polish the images. I hope to have the book up by Christmas, ho ho ho.

Stocking stuffers, anyone?