School-Age Children with Special Needs
Dale Borman Fink
School-Age Children with Special Needs
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
What Do They Do When School Is Out?
by Dale Borman Fink
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Did you know that some after-school programs are specially designed to help kids with disabilities learn and play? This book shows how different places work together to make sure every child can join the fun, no matter their needs. Understanding these programs can change how you see school and friendship forever.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This nonfiction book explores various before- and after-school childcare models designed specifically for children with disabilities. It summarizes national survey results and profiles multiple program types, including home-based, public school-operated, and community partnerships. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it provides educational insights without graphic content, focusing on inclusion and support.
Why we rated School-Age Children with Special Needs 9LS
School-Age Children with Special Needs is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, School-Age Children with Special Needs works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate School-Age Children with Special Needs as 9LS ("Light — Social") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, School-Age Children with Special Needs explores disability representation, family, community, and educational inclusion — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about disability representation, family, community.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LS — Light — SocialNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Making A Place For Kids With Disabilities
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Making A Place For Kids With Disabilities
Dale Borman Fink
Special Needs in the Early Years
Sheila Wolfendale
Special Needs in the Early Years
Sheila Wolfendale
Preschool children with special needs
Janet W. Lerner
Preschool children with special needs
Janet W. Lerner
Special Needs in the Early Years
Sue Roffey
Special Needs in the Early Years
Sue Roffey
Families and children with special needs
Tom E. C. Smith
Families and children with special needs
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780313283840
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Praeger
- Published
- 1988
- Type
- Nonfiction