Meeting the challenge of learning disabilities in adulthood. (In Review).

Arlyn J. Roffman Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company Baltimore, MD 2000, 322 pages, $25.95 (softcover)

According to the author, this book is designed to explore the impact of learning disabilities (LD) on adult life and to provide strategies to meet the challenges encountered by persons who have LD. The book is based upon the author's interviews with persons with LD, a review of relevant literature, and the author's own experience and observations. The intent of the book is to "provide a portrayal of the many strengths and challenges individuals with LD typically carry into the adult world" (p. 1). The author, Arlyn Roffman, is a licensed psychologist and a Professor of Special Education at Lesley College who teaches graduate level courses in special education and psychology. She has authored a book as well as numerous articles and book chapters on LD, and is the founding director of the Threshold Program for young adults with learning disabilities.

The text is well organized into ten chapters preceded by an introduction that gives a broad overview of LD, describes the data collection methods and the individuals quoted in the book (without specific identifying information), and then gives a brief overview of the chapters in the book. The author interviewed 13 individuals from diverse backgrounds utilizing a semi-structured interview with open-ended questions to learn about their experiences as persons with LD. The interviews were transcribed and then sorted into topical areas that focused upon particular life issues. Each chapter, excluding chapter one, focuses upon a particular topical area. Specific challenges faced by persons with LD in the e areas are given and quotes from the individuals interviewed are used as examples. The author provides strengths associated with the person's LD and gives explicit examples of how the individual uses these strengths in his or her everyday life.

The first chapter presents definitions of LD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) followed by characteristics of persons with the disorder(s), possible skills deficits, and common gifts/talents possessed by many persons with LD/ADHD. The author uses case examples to demonstrate how these characteristics, strengths, challenges, and skills deficits might appear in a person's every day life.

Chapters two through ten are arranged in topical chapters with easy to follow headings and subheadings. A strength of this text is the author's use of particular examples to illustrate the skill deficits and specific characteristics of persons with LD. She presents relevant examples under each of the headings and subheadings providing the reader a better understanding of the impact LD has on individuals' everyday lives at home, at work, and in their relationships with others.

Chapter two, "Mental Health" provides an overview of the daily struggles and psychological concerns encountered by persons with LD and the need to overcome the "embarrassment they feel about asking for psychological help" (p. 43). Particular attention is paid to the areas of low self-esteem and depression. The author provides a guide to seeking therapy, issues that a person with LD may present in therapy, and obstacles that the characteristics of LD may pose in therapy. The author includes a particularly helpful section on informal and alternative mental health support systems.

Chapters three through ten cover the following topical areas: family of origin (including relationships with parents and siblings), friendships and dating, partnerships, parenting, day-to-day living (issues that arise and coping strategies used on an everyday basis), learning beyond high school, work, and general quality of life. These chapters focus on the issues faced by an individual with LD in all these domains. The impact of LD is discussed and the author gives vivid examples to highlight the difficulties encountered as a result of LD. The author also discusses skills deficits or weaknesses associated with LD and then gives poignant examples of how these deficits can be turned into strengths. For example, the excess energy possessed by many persons with LD/ADHD can be channeled in such a way that the individual is able to accomplish much in a short time frame. The ability to be highly productive and seen as one who "gets the job done efficiently" can be a very positive use of one's excess energy.

The book, in general, is a matter of fact portrayal of the difficulties, challenges, and successes of individuals with LD/ADHD. The strengths of the book include its ease of reading, the presentation of the characteristics of individuals with LD, the author's ability to positively frame the challenges encountered by persons with LD, the discussion of strategies to enhance one's relationships and performance, and the carefully chosen case examples used to highlight the points presented. The text would be beneficial for individuals with LD/ADHD to read because the case examples used may allow them to identify with persons portrayed in the book and help the reader to realize "there are other people like me." Because the author gives such well chosen case examples and helpful strategies, the book may be particularly helpful to spouses, partners, siblings, and parents of persons with LD.

The book may also be useful to rehabilitation professionals, educators, and counselors in several ways. First, the book can be used as a resource for individuals to learn more about LD/ADHD and its impact on the individual's personal life, relationships, and work. Second, the book may be useful as a supplement to a class text to give students the opportunity to read case examples of the impact LD has on people's lives. Third, the text may be useful to rehabilitation professionals and counselors who want to broaden their knowledge of LD, especially the ways in which LD manifests itself in everyday life activities and relationships. Fourth, the book clearly presents positive aspects of LD and strategies for enhancing the lives of persons with LD.

Although the book is generally useful for professionals as well as individuals with LD and their family/friends, the author's aim to combine factual information and the potential impact on individuals' lives may have been too ambitious. The book provides a basic level of factual understanding of LD but does not provide enough factual and diagnostic information to be used as a stand alone text. However, the author appears to have been successful in producing a text that provides information and case examples that would be useful to persons with LD and their significant others, professionals working with individuals with LD, and students (special education, regular education, adult education, rehabilitation, and counseling) preparing to work with individuals with LD/ADHD.

Yvette Q. Getch, Ph.D., CRC
Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Counseling Program
The University of Georgia