Product Description

The remarkable honest and inspiring story about the

struggle and triumph of raising a child with learning

disabilities will be an encouragement to any parent in this

situation, and instructional for those who seek to understand

how to better help both these children and their families.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #156948 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
This poignant, intimate portrait of the author's daughter and her constant battle with serious learning disabilities opens an often hidden world and illuminates the many ways learning disabilities shape the lives of entire families. While having the Ford family name has provided Allegra with some advantages (the author is Henry Ford's great-granddaughter), living with a learning disability can be extremely difficult for anyone so diagnosed, and often a proper diagnosis is itself very difficult to come by. As a deeply involved and caring mother and longtime chair of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Ford has seen enormous changes in public understanding and has knowledge about these problems, but there is still much to learn, she says, and every case is unique. She incorporates invaluable information for parents just beginning this lifelong struggle, including "questions parents ask" and her own perspective on some of the hardest issues that will almost certainly arise, in the early years and beyond, about persevering in the search for appropriate schooling, encouraging interpersonal relationships, helping the child establish an independent life when finances are difficult to grasp and employment is hard to maintain, and preparing the child for life when the parents are gone. But above all, this is a personal journey, depicting Allegra's triumphs (she is now 30) and the author's strength throughout years of pain and difficulty.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Anne Ford is an admirable woman. As a single mother, she negotiated herself and her disabled daughter through life. Thirty years ago there was little knowledge and even less support for children with learning disabilities, which were perceived by many as imaginary. Ford's struggles were real, and her voice communicates her frustration and tears over her family's broken dreams. Her near hysteria over her child's future in her early years comes across well in her reading. Exhaustively thorough about every aspect of parenting a child with a learning disability, this tape is highly recommended for any relative or teacher of such a child and will strongly increase empathy. A.G.H. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly
This poignant intimate portrait opens an often-hidden world and illuminates many ways learning disabilities shape the lives of entire families.

Customer Reviews

Laughing Allegra
Excellent and true story about a family dealing with their beloved daughter and a major learning disabilty.

Laughing Allegra: The Inspiring Story of a Mother's Struggle and Triump Raising a Daughter with Learning Disabilities, By Anne F
I purchased this book many times, it is one that I keep in my car. I use it to help teachers, friends and family members understand my children and others like them. It has helped me understand why I feel the frustration when my kids "don't get it" or need extra guidance in different situations or in the public school system. It is a book that I give to their teachers in hope that they will take the time to read it. As I read this book for the first time, I highlighted many sentences, example - page 17 - quote "She was so funny and effervescent and her behavior was so far frm being considered " a problem" that my mother gave up all attempts at discipline or even expressions of disapproval".... I can remember so many times my kids - acting out -- but in a way that was just "their way" they are so full of expressions and life.

most important - page 39 - There is more then enough heartace involved in coming to terms with the fact that your child is disabled. .... this is the truth, but with this book it helped me come to terms with it and I am trying to help others. Please take the time to read this book it will help you, empower you and your child. You are the voice for your child, you are their confidant. You need to read this book....another wonderful book is Legacy of the Blue Heron, Living with Learning Disabilities by Harry Sylvester.

If you have a special needs child, this is the book to read.
I have read many books out there, and this is the best one that I have found. This book is much better than Dana Buchman's book called "A Special Education" in which she constantly refers to her daughter's mild mental retardation as a "learning difference". In this book, the author is honest and tells it like it is.... she does not sugar coat it like Buchman's book. In Buckman's book, she talked too much about herself instead of her daughter. The only negative part of Anne Ford's book is that she constantly talked about the private schools refusing to let her child attend, but if she had picked a public school, it is the law that they would have to allow her child to attend. Most regular private schools would not have the resources that her child would require. For instance, speech therapist, occupation therapist, physical therapist are not necessarily found in private schools, but public schools would have these resources because they are required by law to teach all children. Anne Ford did note this in her book. Finally, here are some quotes from Anne Ford's book that might be helpful...

"a learning disability affects a person's ability to interpret what they see and hear or their ability to link information from different parts of the brain, because their brain is 'wired' a little differently. These differences can show up as specific difficulties with spoken and written language, with coordination, self-control, or with paying attention. People can have learning disabilities in reading, writing, math, and processing information."

"Most children with LD can read words, but comprehension may be another matter entirely."

"Children with LD can and do succeed in school."

"Adults with LD can and do succeed in the workplace."

"LD can be treated successfully, and children with LD can go on to live happy, normal lives."

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to all parents who have special needs children, and the teachers who teaches them.