Succeeding+Against+the+Odds+Book+Review

// Succeeding Against the Odds // Sally L. Smith

Sally L. Smith will always be known in the field of Special Education as a forerunner to providing children with Learning Disabilities a unique learning atmosphere at a time when most Special Education students were forced out of schools and undervalued as members of society. Additionally, Smith opens her book with this quote, “It all began with one child, my child” (Smith, 1991 p. XII). Smith’s quest to find appropriate education for her child led her to establishing // The Lab School, // in Washington D.C. which continues to serve hundreds of students with learning disabilities. Smith’s ability to discover the best ways to educate those who were once ignored and create successful learners and members of society is demonstrated in her book.

The first part of the book explores what a learning disability is, how it is defined and how students who have a learning disability cope. In one particular chapter, Smith discusses all the various types of “Masks” that those who are learning disabled wear. These masks are worn to cover-up how the child or adolescent is different, it is there to hide the disability. For example, “The Mask of a Clown” (Smith, 1991, p. 45) shows how an LD child will make everything into a joke and use comedy to avoid drawing attention to the fact that they struggle academically.

The book also touches on what a student with a learning disability needs in order to succeed. Different chapters such as “The Need for Order”, “Learning by Doing” and “Preparing for Adulthood” (Smith, 1991, p. 86 – 144) discuss the different challenges these students face and different ways to help them succeed post education.

I have really enjoyed the book thus far and feel it is a helpful tool for educators to use when teaching children with learning disabilities. The book emphasizes that these children are worthwhile, capable and intelligent. This book targets three different groups of individuals: educators, parents and individuals with learning disabilities. The book offers guidance to all three groups on how to draw the most success out of someone with a learning disability and offers suggestions on how to best advocate, support and execute a successful future. It also mentions that much of what we do in the classroom today benefits the child with a learning disability. As an educator I would highly recommend this book to anyone in both Special Education and General Education as a way to improve instruction for, not only students with learning disabilities, but for ALL students.

Currently the book is out of print, however, used copies are easily attainable through the Amazon or Barnes and Nobel independent booksellers online. http://www.amazon.com/Succeeding-against-Odds-Sally-Smith/dp/0874777313

**__ REFERENCES __** Smith, Sally L. (1991). // Succeeding Against the Odds. //New York: The Putnam Publishing Group.