Book Description
Framed with both humor and compassion, the book defines the top ten characteristics that illuminate the minds and hearts of children with autism. Ellen's personal experiences as a parent, an autism columnist, and a contributor to numerous parenting magazines coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

One section was good, ten were frustrating
When I started this book, I thought "what a breath of fresh air!" It seemed so light, focusing on the psychological aspect of autism, which in today's world, seems to go unnoticed. Years ago, autism was thought to be completely psychological. Now the pendulum has swung 180 degrees the other way, and all we ever focus on is the biological aspect of autism. I am extremely interested in the biological aspect, but there are also psychological aspects that warrant attention.

But then she goes into more detail on each of the ten items. This is where I felt like the book self-destructed. There were a couple of themes that I just got tired of hearing, One was a good occupational therapist will help you with x, y, z... All occupational therapists are not the same. And just because you see an occupational therapist, does not mean you child is going to improve. I felt like she was leaving out huge details. What was it that she thought was so great, and why isn't she telling us?

Her lack of details was just annoying. For instance, at one point she's talking about an instance where her son uses echolia (repeating something previously heard verbatim), to answer a question, in this case, she says it's a line directly out of the movie Toy Story. But she never tells us what he said, what was the line? It was an irritating loose end.She does make the point that she read an article written by an adult with ASD where he explained that much of his daily conversation is echolia, which brought her peace. My son still does it sometimes, possibly more than I realize, but it is invisible to 99 percent of the world, so I don't care.
She tells a story about an intervention that was popular in the 90's and how she said "If you do that to my child, I will kill you!" But she doesn't tell us what the intervention was. Again, why bring it up if you won't tell us the details. If it was that bad, why be silent on the subject?

Then there's the constant drumming of "don't try to fix your kid". Well, that's all well and good for her. Her son is verbal, goes to dances, stays at camp for a week, sort of "that's easy for you to say."And in some respects, she speaks out of both sides of her mouth on this subject. In the beginning she made it clear she wasn't going to accept what everyone said about how he wasn't going to ever be able to do numerous things. So she obviously wanted to help her son, possibly even fix him.Had she focused on simply adjusting your slant from fix to help, it would have been more tolerable. She does talk about looking at the good side of ASD, such as instead of lining things up, they are good organizers, but I really felt like she got stuck on semantics, and being politically correct, even though she said that wasn't her taste or style.

On several occasions she criticizes a parent's feelings. For instance, she brings up the vaccine issue while criticizing a parent for being angry that his child was made autistic by the shots. She thinks he's wrong to focus on the damage done to his child, and that he needs to focus on the future. She then says she's not going to get into the question as to whether or not the shots cause autism. Then why bring it up, just so you can criticize the poor man that is devastated his child is autistic? Anger is part of the mourning process; we've all been through it. And don't bring up lightening rod subjects like the vaccine debate then refuse to discuss it.

This book had a great start, but it left me feeling very frustrated. I don't recommend it.

Ten things every child with autism wishes you knew
This is probably the most helpful book about autism that I own.Everyone who has a child with autism should own this book.I learned so much about my daughter because of this.It is awesome.I bought it for family membersso they could learn some things about my daughter.I even bought it for her teacher.It is worth every penny!

incredible book!
This book was great!I have 2 autistic boys and this book helped me to understand them soooooo much better.I sent this book to my parents and gave a copy to our pastor. I believe that this book will help thembetter understand where I am coming from and where my boys are coming from.It is easy to read and straight to the point.I highly recommend this book for parents of autistic children.The ending is a bit weird, but the main part of the book is great and very helpful.

Good Autism Book
This book is very well written and easy to read.It is interesting to see autism from the child's perspective.It has good ideas and thoughts about handeling day to day activities.It is a good resource for anyone dealing with autism.

Awesome book for anyone new to autism
When I read the 10 things list, I started to cry...

But that's no reason to buy this book.I've recently met an incredible little boy with autism.Spent a lot of time at the local bookstores, looking for something to help me understand what my friend (his mom) is going through. This was the first book I ran into that truly presented autism in a positive light.Autism does not define a child, it is simply a trait the child has.

Today I understand a whole lot more when my friend talks about her son having a meltdown.I get it a whole lot more when he struggles to go to the grocery store, go to sleep at night, or when he struggles dealing with other kids.For me, reading this book was a giant step in understanding.Reading it was learning about how to support, love, accept, and help a child become well adjusted.

Awesome book for anyone exposed to a child with autism.It will help you understand - and hopefully begin to be a more positive influence on a child you love.

... Read more

Book Description
In a snappy, can-do format, 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders offers page after page of try-it-now solutions that have worked for thousands of children grappling with social, sensory, behavioral, and self-care issues, plus many more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Great resource...especially for parents of young autistic
This book is a great resource for parents of newly diagnosed kids with autism. I am a therapist working with families with autistic children and recommend this book.Many parents "don't know where to start" and this book gives great basic ideas in activities that these kids would enjoy. It gives brief and concrete rationales. If you are looking for in-depth info on autism, you will not find it here.However it gives great practical suggestions for play activities and daily struggles such as potty-training, hair combing battles, behavior problems etc.

Addressing the Sensory is SO important
This book gave me great ideas of what to do with my 3 year old daughter at home as well as reassured me her teacher and therapist are all on the same page as to what to do with her. I have seen PHENOMENAL success with my daughter by addressing her sensory issues. If your child has autism or PDD PLEASE get him or her into OT so you can learn how to address these needs at home.

Easy Read on a Complex Issue
I am a teacher as well as the aunt of a delightful autistic four year old, Eli.The book is one I wish I could place in the hands of every parent and teacher working with autistic kids.It is a practical and easy to use guide covering many aspects of dealing with a child on the spectrum.It isequally useful to those new to the world of autism and those well read and taught on the topic.1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Such a great resource
1001 you gotta be kiding me I thought that before I borrowed the book from a professional.

It did not take me long to sign on to the computer and purchase the book I love the realistic ideas the things that you have in your home or class everyday and the unique ways to use them.

I recommend this book not only for Autistic children but for any one with a child it is crammed full of wonderful down to earth ideas.

1001 Ideas for Teaching and Raising kids with Autism
This books has so many great ideas for parents and teachers alike. It's a wonderful book - a bible for educating kids with autism from pre-school years through adulthood. Our son is 18 but I found some excellent ideas for keeping him educatively entertained or give more ideas to his teacher(s). It's a must in every classroom where kids with autism are present. ... Read more

Book Description
This book shows that autism can be treated by reducing the neurological inflammation that is part of the disease process, rather than simply masking the symptoms with drugs like Ritalin and Prozac. The authors have have seen autistic behaviors improve dramatically or disappear completely with appropriate medical treatment. The book reviews the medical literature regarding the biological nature of the disease, including the potential connection between vaccines and autism. The foreword is by Katie Wright, whose parents--Bob and Suzanne Wright--founded Autism Speaks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Must read if you care for someone with autism -- or who is at risk
If you care for an autistic* child (or someone older) then this book is a must read -- several times, until you thoroughly understand the science involved in this condition and until someone rights an update in a few years as the science grows.

*Autistic Spectrum Disorders, PDD, (including 'regressive' autism in children who initially developed normally.)

[If there is a better book -- or one even nearly as good -- PLEASE leave a review pointing the way to that book since I want to read it too.]

Dr. Jepson is quite simple a scientist AND a physician who is trying to learn everything *he* can about autism, and to teach what every parent and treating physician needs to understand as a basis for beginning to help those with autism.

In this book he has provided a primer on the science needed to understand autism from a medical view point and on the current medical treatmentsand how they might work or be improved.

This is a book any literate (or really determined) parent can read, while at the same time presenting the scientific documentation so enable a physician to use it as a primer on the current debates and state of knowledge.

When deciding "can I read this book", consider it to be roughly at the same level as high school or college freshman biology in raw difficulty but remember that likely you are motivated to understand this disease far more than you ever were in high school.

Those who gave it low ratings as 'unscientific' quite simple never read this book, since practically every page is a discussion of biochemistry, immunology, and/or the scientific literature, both in support and in opposition to every major theory of autism and its treatment.

Jepson warns parents and physicians to seek the science.He is NOT a "mercury causes it" fanatic, but instead (for example) presents the science for and against mercury being a contributing factor.

He leads with the primary known risk factor and reminds of this throughout the book:autism has a strong genetic component.

He also points out that autism is on the rise (now estimated by the CDC at between 1 in 150 or 1 in 165) -- diagnostic changes and anomalies do NOT account for the increase of the last 20 years -- and that purely genetic diseases do not exhibit "epidemic" characteristics.

Jepson's only consistent "points of view" or biases are these:

1) Autism has a STRONG genetic component
(e.g., monozyotic twins incur it far more frequently but not
universally than either fraternal twins or other siblings)

2) Autism is more than just genetic and is a complex condition
likely to have several 'causes' which affect those with the
genetic predisposition.

3) Other (than neurological) conditions are commonly seen in
conjunction with autism, and might either be more closely
related to the root causes or environmental factors which
cause autism to express so tragically. (Intestinal disorders
being the most common.)

4) Finding a way to TREAT the babies that is safe and scientifically
supportable, driven by neither fads nor hindered by refusal to
really LOOK at and UNDERSTAND what the current scientific
studies indicate and do NOT indicate.

There is much more research to be done on autism -- read this book if you care for someone who has autism, or who may have it.

Give this book to your physician, or if you are a physician yourself, then recommend it to your friends AFTER you have read it and determined for yourself that it is indeed scientific.

Excellent technical detail about the causes of autism
And many other medical problems, for that matter. It basically is a complicated breakdown between the intestine, nervous system, and the brain due to a number of situations that have happened to a child or person. Dr. Jepsen, whom I heard speak in L.A., has a son who was diagnosed with autism and was told to "save money for an institution and don't waste your money on alternative treatments." It was his wife that learned (on the web) that kids were being helped--even cured--and he started investigating the data to prove her wrong. He said this book was written for people in the medical field to show them how this breakdown into autism occurs and, with hope, that they will be open minded to treatment.

A very good book for the lay person, too, like myself who has two kids affected and needs to learn as much about the causes (and treatment) as possible.

Read this enlightening book and make sure others do too
Dr. Jepson has written an amazingly readable, comprehensive, and convincing book on the medical underpinnings and potential treatments of autism.His statements and conclusions are consistently backed by scientific and clinical evidence.

This book highlights once again the need for a sea change in the way doctors, as well as parents, view autism.

Here's a quote from the very popular book Three Cups of Tea, detailing one man's ability to counter terrorism with educational opportunities:"The enemy is ignorance."

Our autistic children's enemy is not the conventional-thinking practitioner, it's his or her ignorance of the scientific facts.

For those who read and see the value of this book, please consider taking steps to dispel the pervasive ignorance about autism.

Request copies of Jepson's book for the special needs resource section of your school library, for your public library, for your local chain or independent book store.Ask your local newspaper and radio station to read and review the book.Recommend the book in your support group, and your school parents advisory council for special needs kids.

If you don't currently have a DAN doctor for your child, please do not use this book to treat your child; that was not Dr. Jepson's intent.If your area of the country does not have one, you can link up with great DAN doctors in other states.Some DAN practices have patients from all over the world.

Brian Jepson, MD, and all the other DAN doctors who through their research and practices contributed to this book: a heart-felt thanks for giving parents and practitioners alike an opportunity to apply an intelligent, scientific approach to understanding autism and its treatment.

Great book
This is the best overview of autism studies and treatments I have found.Every part who suspects their child has an ASD or has been newly diagnosed should read this book.Autism is not a mental illness and this book explains all the various medical issues to pay attention to with ASD children.Even if you don't want to pursue radical on non-mainstream treatments, it does a good job of going over nutritional concerns, diet, etc.Buy it for your loved ones or give it to your child's doctors.It's really worth the read.

complete and complex
It a very comprehensive reading about autism that can help one understand it and specially dis mystify some related topics. I believe it is too complex for parents and more suitable for physicians because, in some chapters, the extensive number of articles make it a bit confusing and too technical. ... Read more

Product Description
Intimate, bold and inspiring, Autism Heroes provides a compelling and sensitive account of the experiences of 38 families from different walks of life confronting the challenges of autism with courage, tenacity and love. With empathy and expertise gained from her three decades of leadership of The Help Group and her commitment to children with special needs, Dr. Barbara Firestone engages the families in candid, powerful and deeply affecting conversations about their lives. Each family narrative is set against the backdrop of her insightful essays about dignity, hope, opportunity and love, which are fundamentally important to all families living with autism.


The families offer their experiences openly and honestly, sharing their challenges, triumphs and hopes. Their candor helps demystify and destigmatize autism and embraces other parents just beginning or already on the journey. Their reflections chart the course through the many stages of coping with autism and seeking solutions for their children, and they offer a lifeline of support, insight, encouragement and hope.

Fully illustrated with stunning photographs by Joe Buissink, Autism Heroes is an invaluable resource for families as well as educators, clinicians, researchers and policy makers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Better Than Heroes - Just Good People
Being a good person far exceeds being a hero.I have said for many years that I would rather be deprived of the Beatles and be bombarded with painful loud noises than be a hero.To me, "hero" suggests looking for grandeur and acting on behalf of others with the thought of return.Often heroes lose their lives.To me, "hero" is far from an appealing concept.September 11, 2001 soured me on "heroism" all the more because I didn't like the way stepping up to the plate for others was viewed as the exception and not the rule and the way many appeared to expect kudos for doing so.Real benevolence seeks no return.

The families portrayed in this wonderful book are better than heroes - they are good people who have allowed their lives and those of their children with autism to be shared.Readers are treated to beautiful photographs and anecdotes and interviews from the families featured in this book.

Autism is an equal opportunity neurobiological condition that makes no distinction in who is affected.In our ever-dwindling quest for privacy in today's highly connected world, it is all the more courageous and generous for people to share their life stories of coping with autism in any form.

Dr. Firestone's book is a book for everybody regardless of placement or lack thereof on the autism/Asperger's spectrum.Experiences are validated; autism is accepted and unconditional love underscores the personal accounts each of these families have provided.John Lennon's 1971 magnum opus "Imagine" and his classic classic "Gimme Some Truth," also from Imagine would be the ideal soundtrack to this book.

This is the ideal companion book to SOULS: BENEATH & BEYOND AUTISM (paperback version) and Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes.

Honoring families and caregivers of children with autism
Autism Heroes provides an intimate glimpse into the world of a ever-growing sector of the human population that cuts across social, economic, and cultural boundaries in a mysterious manner. The personal anecdotes presented by caregivers living and loving in the complexworld of an autistic family member are sometimes heart rending, sometimes hilarious, and always enthralling, compelling, and sobering.It is incongruous that our technologically-advanced, information-savvy society has such little understanding of people with autism.In our present atmosphere of privacy, it is yet another act of heroism for these families to share this most personal and sensitive part of their lives.Dr. Firestone's work will touch hearts and open eyes to the beautiful spirit found in people with autism and the ones who love them. Her positive but honest and balanced outlook will help parents with newly diagnosed children get a foot-hold on the future possibilities and the breadth of the autistic spectrum.For veteran families, seeing their daily efforts recognized and honored will lighten their work.For professionals, it will provide insight into the kaleidoscope of consequences the diagnosis can have depending on the family context.To understand and address the unique needs of families struggling with autism is a great challenge, and this book is a respectful, heartwarming, and sensitive step toward that goal.

heroes exist
...and not only in the news, putting out a fire or fighting a war. these are real people. families with TRUE strenth and love.the lesson learned from this book, goes beyond autism and applies to any human condition that requires good old fashioned HELP and HOPE. there is a brighter future for anyone reading this.if 'a hero is nothing but a sandwich', you can definetely eat this one up.

Hopeful and engaging portraits
Austim Heroes documents personal stories of autism and the common struggles of families from widely diverse backgrounds. Stories of hope and unconditional love are presented with informal black and white family portraits to create a beautiful tribute to the strength of families touched by autism. This is an important, honest and insightful book sure to raise awareness and understanding.

Terrific for anyone touched by autism
This is really a lovely book that profiles 38 different families living with autism. As a mom to twins on the autism spectrum, how I wish this book was available when we first started our journey. The stories are full of hope and encouragement, honesty and love. It's large -- almost a coffee table book -- but full of beautiful black and white photos and pretty lengthy stories. The children profiled are of all ages, their families from all walks of life. I loved it.

I loved all the different voices of moms and dads as they tell of first getting that diagnosis and what their road has looked like since. I loved each bit of advice offered to other parents. It made me feel less alone and I was sad when I finished it. ... Read more

Book Description
Based upon Chantal Sicile-Kira's personal and professional experiences with autistic disorders, this comprehensive and accessible source covers all aspects of autism conditions, including Asperger's Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, including:

- The causes of autism spectrum disorders
- How to properly diagnose ASPs
- Treatments based on physiology, sensory, and biomedical interventions
- Coping strategies for families
- Educational programs
- Living and working conditions for adults with ASP
- Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

great expectations--very disappointed
I had great expectations for this book and was very disappointed. If you have a child "somewhere" on the spectrum, you might be like me searching for a comprehensive book that details characteristics, dev info, etc on every part of the spectrum, instead of spending hours sorting through all of the web-based mumbo-jumbo about autism. Just give me the facts.

However, I won't bash this book completely -- it is useful for helping you navigate ASD resources and the slew of doctors that you will face and how to negotiate more early intervention services for your child. The book just isn't a "guide" as the title suggests -- although the author tells where else to go for more information.

The bestI've read yet
Wow, this is the best I have read yet on autism,it actually covers other disorders on the spectrum and after reading it at the library first,I went to buy my own, as i wanted to have it always with me.This includes grief for me! now that is a good thing,(also for carers),then the list goes on, to much to list here,definately a guide for us,in understanding these disorders,i found this material also good for understanding ASD adults. A must read for sure.

Just diagnosed?Read this book!
When we first learned our twins were both on the Autism Spectrum, I needed more information and direction to immediate resources.This book has both and so much more from a PARENT's prespective.I found it helpful, empowering, and realistic for moms like me reeling from the initial shock.I'm so glad I bought it, read it and have it on my shelf as a reference guide!

A book of actually great help
I have an 17-year old daughter with PDD (Atypical Autism) who does not live with me but with her mother (we are divorced). My daughter's diagnosis came in very late (only about 10 months ago) considering we have been taking her to psychiatrists and psychologists since she was 10 ys old, when the first strange traits showed up.This excellent book gave me a thorough insight on what is going on in her mind, and paved the way to my better understanding her attitudes and better contacting her, as far as it can be done.I have also discussed some of the issues in the book with her mother who, of course, living with her knows her the most but maybe did not grasp fully and with solid scientific grounds what the disdorder is about.I recommend it.

Autism Spectrum Disorders
This book has given me a wealth of resources in one package.I can't thank the author enough for giving me an overview of all the different resources and information available both in print and online.I feel empowered to move forward in the direction that best suits my child.Thank you. ... Read more

Book Description
The best kid-friendly recipes and guide to the gluten-free milk-free diet for ADHD and Autism.What it is.Why it works.How to do it.

The Centers for Disease Control reports significant increases in Autism and ADHD - both affecting primarily boys.The CDC estimates that 1 out of 175 children (age 4 to 17) currently have Autism (300,000).Before 1985, Autism occurred in less than 1 out of 2000. ADHD is much more common in that it affects 4.4 million U.S. children (age 4 to 17).

Common to both of these conditions is the negative impact of certain foods - especially milk products and glutens such as wheat(and to a lesser degree - soy and corn.) One of the challenges that parents face is coping with children who have picky appetites and crave the very foods that affect their behavior, focus and development.The other challenge is finding ways to get their children to eat healthy foods and improve their nutritional status.

The uniqueness of this book is that it not only provides gluten-free milk-free substitutes and recipes, it provides successful suggestions for feeding the picky eater.The authors share details about just how and why the diet works.The specialty ingredients are explained and extensive sources provided.There are also testimonials from the parents and from the children themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

ladyannem
Dana has written the most sensitive book on this subject I've ever seen, and I've read them all! Most cookbooks on this subject say they are gluten-free and simply change the grain from wheat to some other grass. They do not admit that ALL grasses contain gluten, including cane. Dana does and she works around it. Many authors simply switch from dairy to soy drink products, Dana describes why soy is dangerous for small children due to the American genetic hybridization programs and how it causes the users' hormones to be thrown out of balance. Dana also addresses the salicylate problem (or the Fiengold diet) which most ASD cookbooks ignore. Dana labels each recipe individually thereby identifying what your child may be sensitive to. She also addresses the issue of the lack of amino acids and provides holistic natural ways to boost you childs amino acid levels. You can heal your child holistically using this book.

Outstanding Cook Book
This book is better than fantastic!I never believed that I would ever get my children to eat healthy foods and actually like it!The recipes are simple and very user friendly!

Excellent resource for parents new to GFCF/Autism/ADHD
Dana and Pamela have done a remarkable job of thoroughly explaining the Gluten Free Casein Free diet for parents as well as professionals. Not only does this book explain the GFCF diet but, it also gives detail to ADHD and Autism and how your child may benefit from this particular diet. I have bought a few copies for myself as well as friends, family and doctors that we work with. I am personally looking forward to a second book as the first is truly inspiring, easy to read and an asset to my book collection. Thank you Dana and Pamela.

Awesome - full of information
This book has given more information than I expected.It is full of allergies information and their substitutions.It is also full of any time of recipe you could think of without the gluten and casein.We eat a lot of ketchup, milk, mayo, muffins etc.This is what I needed new recipes for.I can talk my son out of the fast food, which we are already avoiding, but to talk him into giving up the gravies, sauces and breads is more difficult.This book is great.

Have a Care with Unproven Theories
The book espouses the opiate-peptide hypothesis, which is just a hypothesis, not a fact.Evidently some studies refute this notion, which is presented as fact in the book.I also found it frustrating that the book mentions the use of enzymes to mimic the diet, but does not elaborate or provide a resource for further exploration in this area.It could also use a section that details what to look for on a food label.That said, there seems to be a lot of anecdotal support for the benefits of a GFCF diet, and I'm a parent of an Aspie kid who's ready to try anything.The book has a lot of great suggestions for helping the picky eater, and the chicken nugget recipe is to die for (and I say this as a grown-up). ... Read more

Book Description
Ellen Notbohm's first book, Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, was a shot heard throughout the worldwide autism community, branded by readers as "required reading for all social service workers, teachers and relatives of children with autism." Now, for the teacher in all of us comes Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew. The unique perspective of a child's voice is back to help us understand the thinking patterns that guide their actions, shape an environment conducive to their learning style, and communicate with them in meaningful ways. Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew affirms that autism imposes no inherent upper limits on achievement, that both teacher and child "can do it." It's the game plan every educator, parent, or family member needs to make the most of every "teaching moment" in the life of these children we love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

If you have or know a child with autism read this book
My recommendation is to read every book Ellen Notbohn writes about autism. All of her books are easy reads.The information is on target, clear and sometime humerous and always relatable. If you have a child with autism ask the teacher if they have read it, if not purchase a 2nd copy for them.

Excellant information for the uninformed
We got this book because our nephew is autistic and we wanted a better understanding of why he does what he does. After reading this book which was recommended by a friend, we are no longer in the dark about alot of his behavior problems. We thought it was him, as it turns out, we were the ones who needed the education on how to treat him so we wouldnt trigger certain things in his behavior. It works!!

Great Book!
I bought several of these and handed them out to his teachers and people that work with him. What a great book!

Didn't learn anything new from this book.
I got this for my son's teacher who doesn't seem to understand what autism means.I had hoped it would be more informative from an autistic child's point of view, but it really wasn't. It's the way all children should be treated nothing extra for a child with special needs.

ten things
This book should be read by every new teacher being educated today. It has a lot of information that is really helpful ... Read more

Book Description
Parents of young children on the autism spectrum are often at a loss for ideas about how best to help their child. Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum shows how to break down activities into manageable stages and looks at ways to gain a child's attention. Case studies illustrate how obsession and ritual can be redirected positively and how to build on small achievements. Each chapter centers on a theme: music, art, reading, physical activities, puzzles, playing outdoors and turn taking and can be used for toddlers and older children who struggle with play. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

great book
I thought that this was a great book. it really focuses on younger children, most other books that I have read are geared towards older kids.There were a lot of practical ideas and simple things that you could do with your child.

Excellent reference
I found this book to be a great resource.It's a very gentle, child-centered way to promote interactive play with children on the spectrum.The examples are creative and easy to follow and most of the materials you can make yourself.Highly recommended!

A great resource!
Great resource with lots of practical and usable ideas. I would highly recommend for young children on the spectrum.

Good resource for parents and professionals
I am a speech-language pathologist who works with autistic children and the mother of an autistic child.I found this book to have good information.It isn't too clinical, so a parent without specialized training could easily follow the advice offered.Play is so important for children with autism, but it is hard to know what to do when a child isn't interested in interacting with you.This book gives excellent advice on how to get a child to want to play with you.

Wonderful book
This book is about learning how to work, act, and play with a child on the spectrum.The book is written in plain english, which makes it very easy to understand and incoperate the play ideas.I enjoyed this book.However my few critisms are that some of the links and references in the back of the book are mostly UK sites.Also, if you want to learn more about behavioral modification programs like ABA or TEACCH techniques, this is not the book for you.Basically, this book gives the reader creative ideas of how to interact with an autistic child.This book is great for parents and therapists.Its a book i think everyone should read, whether you have an autistic child or not.There are several useful ideas, even working with "typical" children. ... Read more

Book Description
The Autism Acceptance Book is an interactive, educational, and character-building book that introduces children to the challenges faced by people with autism while also supporting their personal journey toward appreciating and respecting people's differences.
This book offers educational information, conversation-starters, and engaging exercises that invite childrento "walk in someone else's shoes" as they learn to treat others the same ways they would like to be treated themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Autism for kids
Book is good.It seems appropriate for kids who are in kindergarten or older.

The Autism Acceptance Book
I think this is a great resource for any child to use who might interact with a child with autism. Its meant to be an individual book, where the child writes their name in, and personalizes it. I thought it was more of a resource/story book- but it was a pleasant surprise!

Great for group and individual
I really like this book.I appreciate that it encourages the reader to find commonalities with a friend who has autism. It shows that people can be friends with those who have autism.I am an educator in my church and I plan to use this is children's small groups.

Great book to explain to family and friends
I have a son with Autism and this book helped my family understand many of the issues that my wife and I had been trying to explain for years.I actually have ordered 4 books!

A good overview of friendships and autism
This book was wonderful to share with my son's friends and classmates. ... Read more

Product Description
Individuals with autism are reportedly one of the most difficult populations to toilet train. This second edition offers effective strategies that take the child's physical and emotional sensitivities into account instead of trying to force traditional methods. Easy-to-read bulleted lists offer more than 200 do's and don'ts, along with over 50 real-life examples, to help make the process more of a lesson and less of a battle for all involved. The young trainee will learn to overcome fear of the bathroom, properly use toilet paper, flush once, wash hands, and more. The toilet trainer will learn how to overcome challenges caused by communication needs, sensory sensitivities, motor challenges, anxiety levels, etc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Some good starter ideas
Our family has a child with both sensory integration and developemental delay challenges.This book provided some ideas on how to proceed with the toilet training process, which is especially difficult for children who have less awareness of their need to go to the bathroom.

Gives You the Scoop on Pee and Poop
I have a six-year-old with Autism who is yet to be potty trained.I was beside myself until I purchased this manual.Now, I understand more about his point of view when it comes to learning this new task.I was perplexed by his ability to control his bladder and bowel, but his unwillingness to use the toilet.It never occurred to me that using the bathroom could cause anxiety or that I needed to provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere for him while he was on the toilet.

What I like most about this book is that it gives you not only an overview but solutions and ideas for making a very important milestone in your child's life possible.Any parent of a child with learning disabilities wants their child to be able to assimilate into society as much as possible.This book helps to knock down one more wall standing in the way of social acceptance.

toilet training for the autistic
I had been struggling with toilet training my autistic child.This book gave me a better understanding of what autistic children experience when toilet training them.It gave me different techniques and helpful hints to toilet training my child.It was so helpful that I purchased a copy for his teacher.

A difficult task made easier!
I am so thankful that I chose this book over others that deal with toilet training.I did not realize how teaching someone on the spectrum how to use the potty is very different in many ways, than someone who's not.This book deals with those issues.It brings to light some very important routines and activities to follow.Especially for someone who is new to the world of Autism, this is a book that I highly recommend that you include in your library.

great ideas!
If you ever thought that toilet training was no big deal, try training a child with special needs...a whole different story.This book gives some great tips on how to go about it when the odds are against you.Determining readiness, common problems and solutions and developing a routine, are just some of the topics covered in this book.It is a must have for special ed. teachers as well as parents of individuals with autism and related disorders.Great book! ... Read more

Book Description
The long-awaited landmark guide to autism and ASD by the authors of the timeless classic The Child with Special Needs

The inspiring success of Dr. Stanley Greenspan's unique approach to autism and ASD (autistic spectrum disorders) is known to grateful parents and to professionals throughout the world. Now at last his highly effective and influential program is presented in one clear and accessible volume.

A number of innovative, exciting features distinguish Greenspan's approach to autism: First, his program has demonstrated that children with signs of autism or autistic spectrum disorders do not have a fixed, limited potential, but in many cases can join their peers and lead full, healthy lives, emotionally and intellectually. Secondly, his approach can be applied at a very early stage, when signs of autism first appear. Thus, the hope of preventing the full onset of autism becomes a real possibility. Third, the approach empowers the entire family to promote their child's development throughout each day. Also, the DIR Floortime approach guides the efforts of speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and educators to work with the family and builds on the latest research on the development of the mind and brain.

As cases of autism continue to rise worldwide, Dr. Greenspan's extremely successful Floortime approach is producing very promising results that could one day stem the tide against this dread disorder. No one involved in the care of children with autism, parent or professional, can afford to be without this landmark work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Useful
Nice to know more than one method for teaching children with Autism. This book has great information to help you individualize teaching for young children with Autism.

Good introduction
This is a good introduction to the Floortime method. It includes lots of practical tips and real-life examples.

very repetitive
I was very disappointed in this book. There was very little information in the book. It basically just kept repeating the same general concept over and over again. As an educator of elementary age ASD students, I was hoping to expand upon the TEACCH and ABA approaches that I have been employing. But, I found very little information that was useful. I have read literally hundreds of books about autism and related disorders, including many first hand accounts. The authors of this book did not seem to demonstrate a firm understanding of autism spectrum conditions.

Good beginner Floortime book
I am "seasoned" in DIR/FT, having read numerous books by Dr. Greenspan and Dr. Wieder and attended ICDL and Floortime Foundation conferences.This book thoroughly explains the core deficits of autism spectrum disorder and the DIR/FT approach.If your child was recently diagnosed with ASD or if you have an older child/adolescent with difficulty with social interactions (pragmatic language) or sensory needs, this is an excellent book to read.There are also examples with respect to integrating FT into the school curriculum.It complements Dr. Greenspan's "The Child with Special Needs".

This book changed our lives
This book took off where ABA left off.ABA is a fantastic therapy, but it only did so much for my child.He still lacked the 'natural' spontaneous nature of a child.Floortime made all the gears click in my childs brain, that used to be idle.The changes were so profound that I cried. I can't express how thankful I am that I incorporated Floortime into my child's life.

Thank you Stanley Greenspan! ... Read more

Book Description
There have been huge advances in our ability to diagnose autism and in the development of effective interventions that can change children’s lives. In this extraordinary book, Lynn Kern Koegel, a leading clinician, researcher, and cofounder of the renowned Autism Research Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, combines her cutting-edge expertise with the everyday perspectives of Claire LaZebnik, a writer whose experience with a son with autism provides a rare window into the disorder. Together, they draw on the highly effective “pivotal response” approach developed at the center to provide concrete ways of improving the symptoms of autism and the emotional struggles that surround it, while reminding readers never to lose sight of the humor that lurks in the disability’s quirkiness or the importance of enjoying your child. From the shock of diagnosis to the step-by-step work with verbal communication, social interaction, self- stimulation, meltdowns, fears, and more, the answers are here-in a book that is as warm and nurturing as it is authoritative. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

The essential "Welcome to Autism" handbook
So full of hope and realism. If you are going through a tough time coping with the diagnosis, this book will get you back on track and focused on how to best help your child from an ABA/educational perspective. You won't find all the controversial treatments in here, but straight forward therapist and parent perspectives on how to help your child. I immediately started using techniques discussed in the book and was impressed by how quickly my daughter responded. At 3.5 she still has a way to go, but I have such an improved outlook for her future thanks to this book.

An Excellent Buy
There are books on autism that I recommend that parents and heathcare professionals read. This is one book that I recommend that they don't just read but buy and keep it for future references.

There is such a wealth of info on autism here. If you can only afford to buy one book on autism. Let this be the one.

The authors take a highly optimistic view of treating autism. However, they make no bones about the fact that the treatment process is long, tedious and can even be painful. The first chapter deals with diagnosis and dealing with the initial shock.

From the second chapter onwards, the authors get down to earth with managing the autistic child. They go down to every detail on how to encourage communication. Start from the very simple and basic. Turn sounds into words. Reward, reinforce ...

Next, it's down to breaking the self-stimulating or injury cycle. Introduce replacement behaviour. The authors go into the dos and don'ts for breaking repetitive actions. Why punishment doesn't work for them. There is also a very practical FAQ section that deals with the common concerns and problems faced by parents and care providers.

The following chapters deal with imparting social skills, providing education and family support. There is so much useful info that it's impossible to finish, let alone digest in one reading. Buy this book and keep referring to it as you manage autistic children and see them grow up.

Gives you hope
My son was diagnosed with ASD at 2. I read many books and this was my favorite. It was clear, easy to read and most of all it gives you techniques on how to help your child overcome. It gave me hope when I was facing his diagnosis.

Very positive and encouraging!
Although I have not purchased this book, I have read a copy that I borrowed from a library.

While the author of this book doesn't guarantee that autistic kids will improve suddenly as soon as their cargivers start giving them the help they need, she talks about how much they can progress eventually if their caregivers give them all the help they need. I really like books that tell us about how much autistic people can progress eventually if they are given every chance to progress as much as they can, and that also give examples of those who have made great progress already, as a result of being given every chance to progress as much as they can. In fact, I really like all books that offer solutions to major problems and/or better alternatives to the status quo!

Treasure Trove of Information
This book can be a great addition to the library of people with children who have been diagonosed with autism.It is definately a book with shows a ray of light at the end of what seems to be a dark never ending tunnel. ... Read more

Book Description
If someone you love is diagnosed with autism, LOUDER THAN WORDS is the first book you should read.

One morning, Jenny McCarthy was having a cup of coffee when she sensed something was wrong. She ran into her two-year-old son Evan’s room and found him seizing. In that moment, Jenny went from being the mother of an average toddler to being in the midst of a medical odyssey. Doctor after doctor misdiagnosed Evan until—after many harrowing, life-threatening episodes later—one amazing doctor discovered that Evan is autistic.

Though Evan finally had a diagnosis, Jenny didn’t know what to do next and she soon found herself alone without any resources except for her determination to help her son. Jenny eventually realized that she’d have to become a detective. She spoke with many doctors, parents, governmental agencies, private foundations, and essentially earned a Phd in “Google Research.” At last, she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from autism.And, now in this book, she creates a roadmap for parents who are concerned about their own child.

Jenny does more than just reveal the winning formula that worked for Evan. Her story shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and shows how with love and determination a parent can shape their child’s life and happiness. ... Read more

Book Description
Autism affects more than 1 million children and adults in the United States, and parents may be confused by the behavior of autistic children. This book provides help-and hope-by explaining the differences between various types of autism and delivering the lowdown on behavioral, educational, medical, other interventions. Featuring inspiring autism success stories as well as a list of organizations where people who support those with autism can go for additional help, it offers practical advice on how to educate children as well as insights on helping people with autism use their strengths to maximize their potential in life.

Stephen Shore, EdD (Brookline MA), serves on the board for several autism spectrum-related organizations and he has written Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (1-931282-00-5) and edited Ask and Tell: Self Advocacy and Disclosure For People on the Autism Spectrum (1-931282-58-7).
Linda G. Rastelli (Middletown, NJ) is a veteran journalist who specializes in health and business.
Temple Grandin, PhD (Fort Collins, CO) is the author of the bestselling Thinking in Pictures (0-679-77289-8) and Emergence: Labeled Autistic (0-446-67182-7). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great Resource
This book is such a good resource for me as a parent of an Autistic child. This book also helps me explain Autism to others who are not familiar with it. I will be purchasing more of these books for family that want to understand and help my son. This is an easy to read book and has easy answers for the most common questions about Autism. I recommend this to book to anyone who has had a child just diagnosed and doesn't know where to turn or for people who are in contact with anyone with Autism and want to understand it better.

Great book!
This is a great book with lots of basic information.There are plenty of books on the clinical nature and epidemiology of Autism - I needed something to help me better understand my child now!It's been great to share with family and friends who don't need the level of detail I do on a day to day basis.Lots of tips to try and good web resources.

Brilliant Presentation
A welcome book to add to the growing body of autism literature!This masterpiece gives an excellent overview of autism and Asperger's and the wide range of spectrum behaviors these related conditions cover.Readers learn about autism/Asperger's (a/A) from behavior/sensory reactions to resources for adults on the spectrum.A lot of coverage is given to education for people on the spectrum of all ages; discussion about environment and sensory responses is discussed in depth.

This well written book is the ideal reference book and resource tool that will give readers a very good understanding of autism, which is a neurobiological condition and its spectrum partner, Asperger's Syndrome.Be sure to add this gem to your autism library.Parents, educators, medical professionals and lay people alike will get a lot out of this book and will certainly come away with a good understanding of autism.This book's fund of information will also hopefully pave the Road to Tolerance.

Stephen Shore who co-authored this book has written his autobiography and has autism as well.Temple Grandin's foreword endorsing this book will certainly speak to its accuracy and credentials; both Dr. Grandin and Mr. Shore are veterans and experts in matters pertaining to autism.Make this book your best friend and be sure to pass it along to others.It is a veritable treasure chest!

special needs children
A BIBLE FOR THE PARENT'S WHO ARE BLESSED WITH THESE SPECIAL KIDS.

I learned about autism the hard way
A decade ago I learned about PCs from the Dummies series; I learned about autism the hard way when my son was diagnosed nearly 25 years ago.For the past 20 years I have specialized as a psychologist in helping the families of children with autism and other disabilities to survive and thrive with their adorable and loveable, but challenging, children.Stephen Shore is one of the truly remarkable people I have met on my journey.His latest book is extremely valuable for anyone starting out on this journey whether as a parent, a family member, or a professional living or working with a child who has received this diagnosis.

When my son was born there were few books available in public libraries, so I went to colleges and universities to get information. Now the pendulum has swung the other way.When I searched Google recently, there were over 20,000,000 sites that covered autism.The sheer amount of information staggers the mind.And surely there is no shortage of books on the subject-- a search of Amazon shows almost 13,000.

Where to start getting reliable, understandable information that you can wrap your mind around and that you can trust--right here!!!

--Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D., psychologist, author of Special Children, Challenged Parents, and co-editor Voices from the Spectrum

Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People With Autism, And Professionals Share Their Wisdom ... Read more

Product Description
Most of us use visual supports in our daily lives--for example, a shopping list, calendar, or a roadmap. Visual supports are particularly beneficial to people with autism because they help make abstract concepts concrete and capitalize on the user's inherent visual learning strengths. VISUAL SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM shows parents and educators how incorporating these aids while teaching can improve academic performance, behavior, interaction with others, and self-help skills. In a friendly, conversational-style, the authors, both certified behavior analysts, describe the deficits typical of autism--language, memory, temporal sequential skills, attention, motivation, and social skills--and present strategies to use visual supports to address those issues at school and home. This guide presents an abundance of examples, illustrated by dozens of black & white and color photos, including: activity schedules; calendars; charts; checklists; color coding; flip books; graphic organizers; mnemonics; nametags; photo boards; Power Cards; scripts; Social Stories; to-do lists; and video modeling. VISUAL SUPPORTS also explains considerations such as portability, durability, preferences, age appropriateness, and effectiveness. While visual supports can enhance learning, they should, however, eventually be eliminated to avoid over-dependence on them. An entire chapter describes different ways to fade visual supports. With this book, there's no limit to what can be taught, from fostering social interaction by using a graphic organizer of conversational talking points to learning to put away toys from video modeling. Most of the visual supports presented in this book are low-tech and easy-to-use, making it simple for parents and professionals to create their own, suited to the needs of their students. Inspiring success stories will further motivate parents and professionals to get started. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Book review
I really enjoy this book.It is very organized but unfortunately it isn't very colorful.There is a lot of helpful information in this book.

Not as helpful as I hoped
I have a 3 year old with autism. She hit a rough patch and I was hoping for ideas on visual cues to help with transitions. This book was not at all helpful to me as the cues are much better geared to school age kids, even older school age kids in my opinion.

Excellent resource!
This is an excellent resource for those teachers working with students with autism.Visual supports are the best way to help an autistic child.The techniques described really work!!!The colored pictures of the supports were helpful, too!

An excellent, reader-friendly guide
Experts Marlene J. Cohen and Donna L. Sloan combine their expertise in Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents & Professionals, an educational guide for parents and professionals responsible for instructing children with autism spectrum disorder. Packed with examples and black-and-white photographic illustrations of over 140 visual supports, Visual Supports for People with Autism is an excellent supplementary resource for working on problem learning areas such as language, attention, memory, motivation, sequential skills, or social skills. An excellent, reader-friendly guide featuring reproducible diagrams to facilitate its ideas and concepts for enhancing learning. ... Read more

Book Description
Teaching Conversation to Children with Autism describes scripts that parents and teachers can use to help children learn to initiate conversation, thereby improving communication.Drs. McClannahan and Krantz—-authors of Activity Schedules for Children with Autism—-have successfully used scripts and script-fading techniques based on their clinical observations and research, and founded on applied behavior analysis principles.

The authors begin by thoroughly explaining the script and script-fading processes and include many examples to support the instructions.A script is an audiotaped or writtenword, phrase, or sentence that often reflects the child's preferences and interests.For very young children and nonreaders, scripts are paired with pictures of desired objects or activities.

The process starts when a child engages in conversation with an interaction partner by reading a script or playing it on an audio card reader to start the conversation (e.g., "I like yogurt").The partner supports the conversation with a response (e.g., "Yogurt is good," or "You had yogurt for lunch").After the child masters a few scripts, the script-fading process begins. The last word of the script is removed, then the next to last, and so on, until the script is absent.After scripts have been introduced and faded, many children learn to spontaneously initiate and pursue social interaction.

Teaching Conversation to Children with Autism also covers:

• Prompts and rewards
• Observing, evaluating, and measuring results
• Activity schedules, card readers, and voice recorders
• Conversation activities
• Scripts for readers and nonreaders

Customer Reviews (2)

good information, just not what I expected
This book offered a lot of information about teaching beginning conversation skills to individuals with autism. The authors cited a few research articles that they wrote themselves related to scripts and script fading. This book was not exactly what I was hoping for, however. The methods described appeared to be better suited for use with individuals that have very little verbalization. I was looking for methods that taught higher functioning, verbal individuals the skills to have a conversation. I would recommend this book for those who are working with individuals that are lower functioning and that have very little conversation skills.

A must for professionals and parents
This well-written book provides clear theory and method for teaching ASD children conversation using scripts and script fading.Includes many ideas for activities as well as recording-keeping forms. ... Read more

Book Description
Autism is a word most of us are familiar with. But do we really know what it means?

Children with autism are challenged by the most essential human behaviors. They have difficulty interacting with other people-often failing to see people as people rather than simply objects in their environment. They cannot easily communicate ideas and feelings, have great trouble imagining what others think or feel, and in some cases spend their lives speechless. They frequently find it hard to make friends or even bond with family members. Their behavior can seem bizarre.

Education is the primary form of treatment for this mysterious condition. This means that we place important responsibilities on schools, teachers and children's parents, as well as the other professionals who work with children with autism. With the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, we accepted responsibility for educating children who face special challenges like autism. While we have since amassed a substantial body of research, researchers have not adequately communicated with one another, and their findings have not been integrated into a proven curriculum.

Educating Children with Autism outlines an interdisciplinary approach to education for children with autism. The committee explores what makes education effective for the child with autism and identifies specific characteristics of programs that work. Recommendations are offered for choosing educational content and strategies, introducing interaction with other children, and other key areas.

This book examines some fundamental issues, including:
· How children's specific diagnoses should affect educational assessment and planning
· How we can support the families of children with autism
· Features of effective instructional and comprehensive programs and strategies
· How we can better prepare teachers, school staffs, professionals, and parents to educate children with autism
· What policies at the federal, state, and local levels will best ensure appropriate education, examining strategies and resources needed to address the rights of children with autism to appropriate education.

Children with autism present educators with one of their most difficult challenges. Through a comprehensive examination of the scientific knowledge underlying educational practices, programs, and strategies, Educating Children with Autism presents valuable information for parents, administrators, advocates, researchers, and policy makers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Condensed, authoritative resou