Radio One Autism to air interview with author/advocates Michelle Fattig and Rhonda Brunett, September 6, 2007.

For_Immediate_Release:

Michelle Fattig, author of the Annie Books Series: Experience Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, was interviewed on Chicago radio station, Autism One Radio, by author and host Rhonda Brunett.

The Annie Books are a must read for any parent, teacher, professional, or child with the challenges of Attention Deficit Disorders. Annie Books are fun to read, provide useful information, allow for empathetic understanding, for those of you, who don't get to understand it from the inside, and those of us, who don't know, that those of you, don't understand it from the inside! We think that everyone feels this way, so we wonder what is wrong with us, and why can't we just be normal...

Michelle and Josh have Asperger's Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder. They use their unique insight to fight crime, battle evil, promote world peace, a bring insights into the lives children struggling with Attention Deficits.

Michelle is a school psychologist and medical technologist, who volunteers as a parent advocate, and provides professional development to parents and educators, regarding Individuals with Disabilites Education Act (IDEA), Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities (ILCD), Hidden Disabilities, and Response to Intervention (RTI). She is a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership.

Illustrator: Josh is a junior in high school, and is incredibly gifted in art and music. Josh has many other wonderful attributes, and he also has the joy of Asperger's Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder (he firmly believes that having one less letter in his disorder makes him LESS disabled than his mom), and learning disabilities.

Review: This story of Annie masterfully illustrates many of the experiences of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Inattentive Type, (or ADD). Michelle captures the essence of an ADD child through Annie, and states it so clearly, " How many times has she (Annie) tried to explain to someone that what she was thinking just now, was too broad of a question? How do you explain that "just now" she may have thought about..."

The student can easily identify with Annie and her frequent distractible thoughts, that while wonderfully creative, frequently results in failure. Many ADD students frequently develop negative internal beliefs of I'm no good, I'm stupid, and as Michelle’s Annie says’ "Why can't I just...." Parents often read Annie, and not only see their own child (who may have ADD), but often see themselves, and question whether they may also have ADD. Teachers can easily recognize the frustration that they experience in their classroom and some see how they can approach situations differently.

Michelle's depiction of Annie, her distractions within her mind, school, and family, mirrors many of the life experiences of my clients, their parents, and teachers. As a Clinical Psychologist, I have used this book (even prior to publication) with several of my young clients, as well as their parents, to help in their understanding and identification of ADD. A Prairie Day with Annie, is enjoyable and easy to read, while wonderfully illustrating the creative mind, frustrating experiences, and hopeful possibilities of one who has ADD. By Dr. Paul Chleborad, Psy.D., MA, MFCT

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Patrick Foulk
Applications Manager
Flower by the Water Publishing
www.anniebooks.com 
PO Box 579 Genoa, NE 68640
308-940-2007

Promoting Empathy and Awareness Asperger's Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorders Alone we may struggle, together we will accomplish!