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Useful Research and Books


There are numerous books available regarding Special Needs.  They can aid understanding of various conditions and how to provide support. Here are a selection of books and an explanation of their content. You can access a link to purchase the book by clicking on the title.


Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew by Ellen Notbohm

Framed with both humor and compassion, the book describes ten characteristics that help illuminate-not define-children with autism. Ellen's personal experiences as a parent of children with autism and ADHD, a celebrated autism author, and a contributor to numerous publications, classrooms, conferences, and websites around the world coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum. This updated edition delves into expanded thought and deeper discussion of communication issues, social processing skills, and the critical roles adult perspectives play in guiding the child with autism to a meaningful, self-sufficient, productive life.


My Awesome Autism by Nikki Saunders

A sweet book to help empower children and to highlight just how brilliant they are for being themselves! Eddie shows that we are all different, unique, have many strengths, talents and reminds children they are loved and valued. Eddie says, be proud of who you are, aiming for every child to feel a little ‘lift’ from this book! Eddie is autistic, he shares how he navigates his environments and teaches his readers in a cheerful way! Ages 3-7. Eddie helps all children learn about autism, what it is like for Eddie and how “we are all different and that’s wonderful!’ Whether your child receives their diagnosis at toddler age or much later, this wonderful tool suits all children, aiming for autistic children to see themselves and others to learn what it can be like for their autistic friend. This book can be used anytime, before or after diagnosis to celebrate neurodiversity. It can also be an overwhelming time for parents and carers to know when to start to explain to their child, about their autism diagnosis. During this time parents, carers and therapists look for the best way to deliver understanding along with love, supporting needs and reassurance. At the same time, this can be a huge relief for the child to understand that they are truly wonderful as they are, and do not need to adapt to anything that does not suit their needs.


Parenting ADHD by Monica Payne

This 4-books-in-1 bundle is packed full of information covering your child's mental health in all aspects of their life, from school to home and everything in between.

This practical guide will walk you through everything you need to know about organising solutions for ADHD, managing oppositional defiant disorder, raising explosive children the right way, and helping kids affected by sensory processing disorder.


How to Raise a Chatterbox by Sandy Chappell

We typically think of a ‘chatterbox’ as someone who talks a lot, but Sandy Chappell prefers ‘a person who likes to chat’. Isn’t that what we all want for our children? A love of language and talking? How to Raise a Chatterbox guides parents through the stages of speech and language development from age 0-5, providing information, strategies, and tips that will help children to learn to talk more easily and more confidently. The book discusses the reasons behind the advice and the research studies that support it so that parents can make an informed decision about which advice they choose to follow.

The book includes hundreds of suggestions for games and activities. Parents don’t need to make any more time in their day; they can simply adapt daily activities such as getting dressed, eating meals, travelling in the car etc. Sandy has also included lots of games and activities that they can do with their child to give them an extra boost, if they have the time. Parents don’t need to buy any special materials; she gives suggestions of how household objects and simple toys can be used to make great speech and language activities.



Dyslexia by Dr Valerie Muter and Dr Helen Likierman

Many children spend their entire school lives struggling with their school work. Research has shown that at least 10-15 per cent of children with apparently normal learning ability will have a significant problem with school learning. They may feel that whatever they do it is not good enough - either for their parents, their teachers or indeed themselves. This can often result in feelings of demoralisation, and even alienation from learning and school. This book aims to address these issues and to help parents understand and deal with them.

Dyslexia: A Parents' Guide starts by correcting common misconceptions of learning difficulties that are rife in the press and popular literature, and addresses the conflicting approaches and advice from 'experts'. This authoritative guide then moves through diagnosis – with information on dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, discalculia and more – to offering practical and easy tips to enable parents to help their child overcome their learning difficulty.


Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine by Diane Crossley

This book offers a structure and an outlet for the many difficult feelings which inevitably follow when someone dies. It aims to help children make sense of their experience by reflecting on the different aspects of their grief, whilst finding a balance between remembering and having fun. This book is a useful companion in the present, and will become an invaluable keepsake in the years to come.