Bridging the Gap: Raising A Child With Nonverbal Learning Disorder
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. InBridging 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