Seeing Through New Eyes by Melvin Kaplan

This book that promises to be able to "change the lives of children with autism, Asperger syndrome, and other developmental disabilities through vision therapy" intrigued me from a number of perspectives. I am an optometric vision therapist so I work with this patient population on a regular basis. I found Kaplan's clinical notes and case studies to be rich with insight as well as technique that I can adopt with some of my patients immediately. I am the aunt of 3 children whose symptoms fall along the autism spectrum so I was interested in whether Kaplan's material would be presented in layman's language. It is. Recently I wrote a series of three books about learning-related visual skills for home schooling families, the Eye Can Too! Read series and have been asked to consider writing a book in the same series to give the home schooling parents of special needs children a series of visually reliant academic activities that they can use. Kaplan's book would definitely be included on my resource list should I end up writing the fourth book. Kaplan's vision therapy evaluation tools for non-verbal patients are great and his explanation of the therapeutic use of yoked prism glasses (while sounding quite mysterious to the uninitiated) is well documented and easy to understand. My only negative comment is that the book takes a long time to read even knowing the terms and activities as I do. However, anyone who wants to understand why some children rock, flap the air, or utilize other stimming behaviors to make sense of their world will gain both empathy and hope that these socially challenging habits can be adjusted by reading Kaplan's book. Well done.

Kaplan, Melvin. Seeing Through New Eyes. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Philadelphia, London. 2006

Philanthropy Annual- 2007 Review by the Foundation Center

The Philanthropy Annual 2007 Review is the premier edition of what is designed to be an annual overview of the nonprofit funders in America. There's a section of the top news stories, the key players, the media, and tables filled with statistics about which foundations gave how much money. However, the actual data in these tables is from 2005. Some of the most helpful information is in the appendix which includes current contact information for agencies and organizations that provide resources to grant-makers and grant-seekers alike. A big surprise is the crossword puzzle. The journal sells for $19.95 and is available from the Foundation Center (www.foundationcenter.org). Its publication was partially funded by a grant from the Wallace Foundation.

Philanthropy Annual: 2007 Review, by the Foundation Center c. 2008, New York.

Boards That Make A Difference by John Carver

Even though this book was written in 1990, it has a great deal of wisdom to impart about nonprofit governing boards. Carver begins by clarifying the motivation of the volunteer board members in contrast to that of other volunteers. Board members volunteer out of an "ownership" interest. Other volunteers work out of a "helpfulness" interest. It is like the difference between working on your own house or helping a neighbor with theirs. He goes on to give a 14 point model that an organization can use to set board standards and expectations. He even delineates issues that are not the board's but that can become distractions when a board is too intrusive in the organization's day to day procedures and routines.

Carver, John. Boards That Make A Difference. 1990. Jossey-Bass. San Francisco.

Boards That Deliver by Ram Charan

Ram Charan's book gives very practical tools for boards of directors for both nonprofit organizations and businesses. His diagnostic survey helps a board evaluate itself in terms of group dynamics, how and what information is conveyed to the board, and the extent to which the board's focus is on substantive issues. This is just one of several detailed suggestions for how a board can be effective, progressive, and a truly meaningful experience. He sets an expectation for boards to evolve from the traditional "ceremonial" role to this progressive one. He also exposes some of the excesses that most boards go through during the transition process. His insight along with the tools he provides makes this book a must-read for everyone who is either on a board of directors or who must regularly relate with one.

Charan, Ram. Boards That Deliver. c. 2005. John Wiley & Sons.