Defending and Parenting Children Who Learn Differently: Lessons from Edison's Mother

We all know Thomas Edison was a genius of seemingly limitless imagination. Yet few know that he was a failure in elementary school. Teel shows us how Edison's mother, Nancy, guided the boy who was deemed a dunce by officials-even assumed mentally retarded by his father-to become one of the greatest inventors of all time. Edison's progressive and imaginative teaching methods hold lessons for all children who learn differently from conventional methods and for the parents and teachers who care about them. Teel also explains how parents can negotiate the educational maze created by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). An Individualized Education Program is explained in detail, and options such as enlisting the assistance of a professional advocate are also discussed.

The latest research about current medication therapies and the origins/potential benefits of ADHD are reviewed. A leading professional advocate explains what every parent needs to know about the public school system. Other topics addressed include the effectiveness of homeschooling and parental and student rights. Teel also offers an extensive list of local and national resources.

Scott Teel is a freelance writer based in Texas. He holds a degree in nuclear technology and is also a certified employee benefits specialist. Teel is an adult who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. As a child he was a tangential thinker who despite a high I.Q. struggled in the conventional school system.