L.I. authors collaborate on children's book

East Meadow resident Loraine Alderman was advocating for her son Andrew Alderman, now 22, when she noticed he was exhibiting learning disability symptoms at a young age. He was diagnosed with auditory processing disorder by 6 years old and received classroom and testing accommodations from third-grade on.

“I had to advocate for him in the school system and the only way to advocate is to become knowledgeable about something,” said Loraine. It was through research and a trip to Andrew’s speech therapist that she realized he was not alone. Loraine was diagnosed with APD in her 40s.

Loraine wanted to share her acquired knowledge on APD with others and co-wrote “Don’t You Get It? Living with Auditory Learning Disabilities.” She also became a member of the Long Island Authors Group where she was introduced to award-winning author Yvonne Capitelli, of Rockville Centre, who was presenting one evening. The two decided to meet at a diner to chat and an idea for a new book sprung to life. After working with an illustrator and publisher for nearly two years, “I Get It! I Get It! How John Figures It Out,” went to press in January. The twosome became proud authors of the first book on APD that is written for children from a child’s perspective.

Based on Andrew’s first-hand experiences, the book follows one week in the life of John who encounters difficult situations at home and in school. He is frustrated and just doesn’t get ‘it’ until a teacher suggests his parents have John tested for APD. With a diagnosis, John receives the testing and in-class accommodations he needs to succeed in an academic environment.

APD, which appears about 5 percent of people, effects the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds, particularly speech. According to KidsHealth, “Kids with APD often do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard.” One example, said Loraine, is when Andrew heard a teacher say “youth in Asia” rather than “euthanasia”. This situation caused students to laugh, an embarrassing situation familiar to many students with APD, said Loraine.

“APD is just really a killer of self-esteem,” she added. “It makes you feel like you’re stupid; like you just don’t get it . . . I found ways to adapt and accommodate, but in terms of my academic abilities, I always had low self-esteem,” Loraine recalled. “The fact that I had a doctorate did not help raise my self-esteem.” She added that Capitelli’s book, “Daria Rose and the Day she Chose,” is a story that helps children build a positive self-image; the main reason why the two women decided to collaborate.

In addition to John’s story, Capitelli and Loraine decided to add a glossary of terms and tips for parents and teachers who are looking to support children with APD. Loraine said that she utilized these same tips when advocating for Andrew who graduated from Adelphi University in May and was accepted into the school’s master’s program for adaptive physical education.

Capitelli and Loraine had their hand in every stage of publishing from choosing fonts and a hardcover jacket to image alternations and word choice. They said it was a collaborative effort that would not have come to fruition without one another.

The book is endorsed by special education advocate and author Rick Lavoie, former president of the American Psychological Association Florence Denmark and president of the National Coalition on Auditory Processing Disorders Jay Lucker.

To purchase “I Get It! I Get It!” visit Loraine’s website at www.psychdocinfo.com or Capitelli’s website at www.dariarosebooks.com. It is also available on the Barnes and Noble Nook at http://bit.ly/LQL2n2.