Re: I'm asking for your opinion, folks!

[Guest guest]

Hi Marie,

Special is as you said easy for youngsters to pronounce and has many positive

connotations for them. It gets my vote. Is there a french version BTW? Hubby is

in Paris so I would ask him to look for it. We read a marvelous book to

when she was young called " un frere pas comme les autres " a brother like no

other. Congrats on the multiple printings!

Thais

[Guest guest]

I don't know if there is a French edition---I found out about a Spanish edition

a few years ago when a friend of my mom's went to Central America....they just

translated it and didn't do anything else is my understanding.

If he goes to a children's bookstore and asked for it......perhaps he can find

out for us!

Marie

>

> Hi Marie,

> Special is as you said easy for youngsters to pronounce and has many positive

connotations for them. It gets my vote. Is there a french version BTW? Hubby is

in Paris so I would ask him to look for it. We read a marvelous book to

when she was young called " un frere pas comme les autres " a brother like no

other. Congrats on the multiple printings!

> Thais

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree w/ you that " special " is still a good word; it's special!- in English;

and yes, " extraordinary " is too much...

However, one has to be careful when literally translating a word, phrase, etc.

E.g. I wonder how this word was translated in Polish...was it " wyjatkowy " ? If I

used " special " in Polish, it could have negative connotations; yes, Polish is my

original language. Anyway, it really made me think about language and its

translation...thanks and congratulations! I will suggest it to friends and

family in Poland:)

Beata

's Mom

Beata Kruss

I'm asking for your opinion, folks!

 

Hello All,

A busy few weeks---Ben (my youngest, now in an artist's diploma program at

De)is moving this coming weekend and am getting furniture, etc. together so

he will be truly " outta here " . This is normal and.....I can't wait for

it.....his room is going to smell great after I get done with it as soon as it's

empty! I haven't been around as much as normal but have been checking up on

y'all.

I have some interesting news. Some of you may remember my husband's book about

our son, " is Extra-Special:A Book About Autism for Children " --the first

children's book about autism. It's in it's third printing and most of it is

relevant, other than the resources. I've been plowing away at my " sequel " and

the thought was we would have the original book's resources updated when my book

was out. Well, a new wrinkle has occurred. This summer, Chuck got word from his

publisher that there is now a POLISH edition and asked him if he wanted a

complimentary copy. Of course he did. We got it the day we got back from

vacation---and they made it better! Instead of the plain, black and white

photos, they've taken them and colorized and drawn charming drawings around

them--hard to describe but it's just adorable! 's name has been changed

to " " or " Robin " (ironic because his nursery had a

Winnie-the-Pooh theme)because didn't translate well to Polish, we guess.

So, here's where we would like your opinion---we liked the Polish edition so

much, we secured the American publishing rights, or our publisher did, I should

say. The publisher wants to update, as we did, but also change the name. They

want something like " is Extra-Ordinary: A book for Kids About

Autism " ---we were told they no longer think the word " special " is being used.

Isn't " special needs " , " special services " and " special ed " still being used? I

told Chuck that if our target kid audience is 4-8 year olds, the word

" extraordinary " is a mouthful! So, my question is---is " special " still used (I

think it is)? I have another title if they really do want to change it that we

like--we hate " extra-ordinary " !

Thanks for your input--I'll forward your thoughts to Chuck.

Marie

[Guest guest]

Hi Marie,

I still use the word 'special.'  But I serve on the IL Council on Developmental

Disabilities with a self-advocate - a young woman with a disability.  She's

quite articulate -- and sometimes justifiably angry - about the status quo. 

She lobbied, I believe successfully, for a law requiring IL schools to include

disability information in the curriculum.

She really dislikes the word 'special.'  And I'm sorry that I cannot remember

her exact reasoning - something like not having felt 'special.'

On the other hand, I think it still has value when one talks about special

needs.  That seems a gentler term for parents who are just learning about a

child's disability.  And it may help those outside the disability community

have some empathy if one talks about special needs in terms of aging, ill

parents. 

What about " exceptional? "   I recall PTA committees on the exceptional child -

usually for special ed kids.  But some parents here also lobbied for enriched

programs for gifted kids.  (As in Lake Wobegon, all kids in ton, are

" above average.') 

Dictionary definition of exceptional:  Needing special attention  or

presenting a special problem, as in education, because mentally gifted or esp.,

because mentally, physically or emotionally handicapped.  (Of course,

'handicapped' is way out-dated).

Your book sounds great.  Please let us know what you decide for a title.

Bonnie

From: teteme55 <teteme@...>

Subject: I'm asking for your opinion, folks!

IPADDUnite

Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 10:50 AM

 

Hello All,

A busy few weeks---Ben (my youngest, now in an artist's diploma program at

De)is moving this coming weekend and am getting furniture, etc. together so

he will be truly " outta here " . This is normal and.....I can't wait for

it.....his room is going to smell great after I get done with it as soon as it's

empty! I haven't been around as much as normal but have been checking up on

y'all.

I have some interesting news. Some of you may remember my husband's book about

our son, " is Extra-Special:A Book About Autism for Children " --the first

children's book about autism. It's in it's third printing and most of it is

relevant, other than the resources. I've been plowing away at my " sequel " and

the thought was we would have the original book's resources updated when my book

was out. Well, a new wrinkle has occurred. This summer, Chuck got word from

his publisher that there is now a POLISH edition and asked him if he wanted a

complimentary copy. Of course he did. We got it the day we got back from

vacation---and they made it better! Instead of the plain, black and white

photos, they've taken them and colorized and drawn charming drawings around

them--hard to describe but it's just adorable! 's name has been changed

to " " or " Robin " (ironic because his nursery had a

Winnie-the-Pooh theme)because

didn't translate well to Polish, we guess.

So, here's where we would like your opinion---we liked the Polish edition so

much, we secured the American publishing rights, or our publisher did, I should

say. The publisher wants to update, as we did, but also change the name. They

want something like " is Extra-Ordinary: A book for Kids About

Autism " ---we were told they no longer think the word " special " is being used.

Isn't " special needs " , " special services " and " special ed " still being used? I

told Chuck that if our target kid audience is 4-8 year olds, the word

" extraordinary " is a mouthful! So, my question is---is " special " still used (I

think it is)? I have another title if they really do want to change it that we

like--we hate " extra-ordinary " !

Thanks for your input--I'll forward your thoughts to Chuck.

Marie

[Guest guest]

Congrats on the book going into (yet) another language.

I'm not a fan of " special " . The way some people use it in conjunction with

disabilities seems phony. They do not use the term in a sense that means

valuable, but " unusual " , " unique " , " atypical " , or " requiring people to make

accommodations. "

However, before I let the publisher change the TITLE of an established book (and

probably a good chunk of the text where the word appears), I'd ask him for the

basis of his reasoning. You've heard his opinions and concerns, but what are

they based on? Letters of complaint? Speeches at publisher gatherings? This

one person's misplaced sense of political correctness?

If he thinks " special " is passe, then run a search on " special needs " and

" special ed " and tell him how many millions of results you get.

To change a book title is a significant thing. Unless he can prove that the

term is outdated, I'd say stick with what you have.

-Gail

From: teteme55 <teteme@...>

IPADDUnite

Sent: Tue, September 28, 2010 10:50:17 AM

Subject: I'm asking for your opinion, folks!

Hello All,

A busy few weeks---Ben (my youngest, now in an artist's diploma program at

De)is moving this coming weekend and am getting furniture, etc. together so

he will be truly " outta here " . This is normal and.....I can't wait for

it.....his room is going to smell great after I get done with it as soon as it's

empty! I haven't been around as much as normal but have been checking up on

y'all.

I have some interesting news. Some of you may remember my husband's book about

our son, " is Extra-Special:A Book About Autism for Children " --the first

children's book about autism. It's in it's third printing and most of it is

relevant, other than the resources. I've been plowing away at my " sequel " and

the thought was we would have the original book's resources updated when my book

was out. Well, a new wrinkle has occurred. This summer, Chuck got word from

his publisher that there is now a POLISH edition and asked him if he wanted a

complimentary copy. Of course he did. We got it the day we got back from

vacation---and they made it better! Instead of the plain, black and white

photos, they've taken them and colorized and drawn charming drawings around

them--hard to describe but it's just adorable! 's name has been changed

to " " or " Robin " (ironic because his nursery had a

Winnie-the-Pooh theme)because didn't translate well to Polish, we guess.

So, here's where we would like your opinion---we liked the Polish edition so

much, we secured the American publishing rights, or our publisher did, I should

say. The publisher wants to update, as we did, but also change the name. They

want something like " is Extra-Ordinary: A book for Kids About

Autism " ---we were told they no longer think the word " special " is being used.

Isn't " special needs " , " special services " and " special ed " still being used? I

told Chuck that if our target kid audience is 4-8 year olds, the word

" extraordinary " is a mouthful! So, my question is---is " special " still used (I

think it is)? I have another title if they really do want to change it that we

like--we hate " extra-ordinary " !

Thanks for your input--I'll forward your thoughts to Chuck.

Marie

[Guest guest]

Hi Marie:

I tend NOT to like 'special needs " but, that said, it is a term that is commonly

used and probably familiar and easy to explain to children.

I tend to prefer intellectual disability or just plain disability.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

[Guest guest]

Thank you to everyone who gave me their opinions, both on and off list.

Part of the problem is---this book is meant for children 4 to 8 years old. It

is difficult to explain some of this---and I think we have a great alternative

if we have to (not gonna tell you until it's official)--but, this book is in

it's third printing.

At the time this was written, 'special' was accepted and we used 'extra-special'

to show our acceptance of him and his autism. The last line of the book is

something like-- " they are happy to have in their family. They think he

is extra-special " ....it's something like that. When writing something for

children, ya can't use the $50 words!

Thanks again and will keep you informed.

Marie

[Guest guest]

try this

Council on Exceptional children - gifted & disabilities TOGETHER

CEC SmartBrief

September 29, 2010

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/yvcceyevcrdCcUfgafdnvKnqCr

>

> From: teteme55 <teteme@...>

> Subject: I'm asking for your opinion, folks!

> IPADDUnite

> Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 10:50 AM

>

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> Hello All,

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> A busy few weeks---Ben (my youngest, now in an artist's diploma program at

De)is moving this coming weekend and am getting furniture, etc. together so

he will be truly " outta here " . This is normal and.....I can't wait for

it.....his room is going to smell great after I get done with it as soon as it's

empty! I haven't been around as much as normal but have been checking up on

y'all.

>

>

>

> I have some interesting news. Some of you may remember my husband's book

about our son, " is Extra-Special:A Book About Autism for Children " --the

first children's book about autism. It's in it's third printing and most of it

is relevant, other than the resources. I've been plowing away at my " sequel " and

the thought was we would have the original book's resources updated when my book

was out. Well, a new wrinkle has occurred. This summer, Chuck got word from

his publisher that there is now a POLISH edition and asked him if he wanted a

complimentary copy. Of course he did. We got it the day we got back from

vacation---and they made it better! Instead of the plain, black and white

photos, they've taken them and colorized and drawn charming drawings around

them--hard to describe but it's just adorable! 's name has been changed

to " " or " Robin " (ironic because his nursery had a

Winnie-the-Pooh theme)because

> didn't translate well to Polish, we guess.

>

>

>

> So, here's where we would like your opinion---we liked the Polish edition so

much, we secured the American publishing rights, or our publisher did, I should

say. The publisher wants to update, as we did, but also change the name. They

want something like " is Extra-Ordinary: A book for Kids About

Autism " ---we were told they no longer think the word " special " is being used.

Isn't " special needs " , " special services " and " special ed " still being used? I

told Chuck that if our target kid audience is 4-8 year olds, the word

" extraordinary " is a mouthful! So, my question is---is " special " still used (I

think it is)? I have another title if they really do want to change it that we

like--we hate " extra-ordinary " !

>

>

>

> Thanks for your input--I'll forward your thoughts to Chuck.

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> Marie

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