Product Description

Written by a teenage dyspraxic, this inspiring book is a unique practical guide for dyspraxics and those around them struggling and determined to get to grips with the social, physical and psychological chaos caused by developmental co-ordination disorders (DCDs). In her own conversational style, Victoria Biggs discusses both the primary effects of her 'learning difference' - disorganization, clumsiness and poor short-term memory - and the secondary difficulties she and other dyspraxics encounter, including bullying, low self-esteem and loneliness. She offers down-to-earth advice on a wide range of issues, from body language, puberty, health and hygiene to family life and social skills. Personal stories and 'this-is-what-it's-like-for-me' accounts from other dyspraxic adolescents are also included. Her positive and practical approach and profound empathy with others in her situation make this book a must-read for dyspraxics, their parents and other family members, and for professionals working with them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51922 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Review
"I describe life with my hidden handicap as lying diagonally in a parallel universe - I'm always slightly out of step with everyone else...always with a skewed view of things. Luckily I now really enjoy life on a tilt." - Victoria Biggs

TES
Victoria gives good advice for all of us who are involved in supporting students with individual learning and behavioural needs.

From the Publisher
Winner of the Nasen/TES Special Educational Needs Children's Book Award 2005

Customer Reviews

I'm a dyspraxic teenager...
...and this is the one book I've ever read that describes how it feels to be me. Vicky is so good with words and by the time you finish the book you feel like shes your personal friend. That's what I needed - a friend, coz I was being bullied at school and i didn't know how to act normally. i didn't want to admit I had learning problems, either, even though my handwriting is awful, I can bearly add up, and my organisation is a joke. I needed this book. It explains EVERYTHING - how not to lose all your stuff, how to mix with other ppl, how to revise for exams, how to tell ppl about dyspraxia, and the best bit is that it was all written by a person who knows what its like. Vicky is severely dyspraxic, more severe than I am and shes got an amazing atitude to life. The book made me laugh a lot but there are parts where I cryed so much (like the bit where she talks about how she was bullied - she really didn't deserve that, no one does) and it was all helpful.

If you're a dyspraxic teenager...buy this book. She knows what she's talking about. It helped me a lot. If I've done well in my GCSEs it's partly because of Caged in Chaos.

If you ever read this Vicky, thanks a lot from me!

At Last!
I have already attempted to review this book on two previous occasions. Either Amazon doesn't like my writing style or they don't agree with my comments. Anyway here we go third time lucky and all that. I have now read this book on three seperate occasions plus select lumps from time to time. For the parent of a dyspraxic teenager it explains so much, much more than my favourite youngest could ever convey to me verbally. When your child is, it seems, continually living in the midst of general disorganisation and chaos it is difficult to understand quite why that should be. Especially considering how neat, tidy and methodical my wife and I are. This young lady has explained so much in less than two hundred pages and in such witty and informative style too. The book deserves success and to parents of dyspraxics I say; read and you too might just gain the insight we have. Our daughter never seemed to fit the idea of a what a conventional child should be and that's great because we think she's just a bit more special than that. Now we have a far greater understanding of why she is so unique (well to us anyway). I would also respectfully suggest it becomes required reading for those in the teaching profession, they might understand why some people are not as well co-ordinated or organised as others. We are, thank God, not "all the same" as the author so eloquently details through out her work. Ms. Biggs is obviously a very extraordinary young lady in a very ordinary world, thank you for helping us to understand our daughter just that little bit better.

best book yet on dyspraxia
This is what we have been waiting for , a coherent positive account of the range of difficulties and misunderstandings a young person with dyspraxia or perhaps Asperger's syndrome faces. Particularly good chapters on body language, social skills and how behaviours can be misinterpreted. Also good to see writing from and about girls as so much of the existing special needs literature is about geekish mathematical boys or children with language delay who are diagnosed and perhaps provided for more easily. I just need a few extra copies for colleagues, teachers and friends......
Have a great time at University, Vicky and thanks!