What book would you recommend to the parent of a newly diagnosed child?
December 20, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Catherine Maurice’s “Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family’s Triumph over Autism” was the first book about autism that I read, and it fueled Jim’s and my decision to start Charlie in an intensive 40 hour/week in-home ABA program using the Lovaas agency. The book was recommended to me by chance: I had gone to speak to the director of a new daycare center for Charlie (as it turned out, there was no place for him and he would not have been able to go, anyways); her sister was a special education teacher and recommended Maurice’s book.
As I wrote on Autismland in Unstrangers, “Maurice wrote of recovery from autism via ABA, of children acting always ‘appropriately’ and becoming ‘normal,’ and losing their autism diagnosis,” and that is certainly not why I think ABA has been a good teaching method for Charlie, from everything to reading to riding bikes to going to the dentist. As I have been reading Charlotte Moore’s George and Sam: Two Boys, One Family, and Autism, I have been wondering, though, what would be the one book I would recommend to the parent of a newly diagnosed child?
What book would you recommend?
We’ve given Michael Berube’s _Life as we Know It_ to a few new families of kids with Down syndrome. When my son was born and got his “rare chromosome disorder” diagnosis (not DS), back before much thoughtful relevant stuff was available online, the Harper’s article by Berube was the only thing that clicked for me.
Valerie Paradiz’s _Elijah’s Cup_. A ‘parent book’ that ISN’T all about the tragedy. It’s the only parent book I own, though I’ve read many.
Then I’d suggest some books by autistics *nod*
That’s a tough one. I read “Thinking in Pictures” when Amigo was young, before he was diagnosed. Many years ago, I read Josh Greenfeld’s “A child Called Noah”. My aunt recommended it; her child, my cousin, was a classic autistic. There are so many; I recommend parents read all they can.
Berube’s is a great read—he weaves writing about his son into his accounts of politics academic and otherwise—-long been on our shelf.
Tragedy is not what needs to get read…
I love, love, love Disability is Natural. I think the People First language is critical at this point.
Thank you! have not heard of this book.
The ones that helped me the most when I first realized my son was autistic (while waiting for the official diagnosis) were “Could it be autism? A Parent’s Guide to First Signs and Next Steps”, by Nancy Wiseman, and “A Parent’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism – How to meet the challenges and help your child thrive” by Sally Ozonoff, Geraldine Dawson and James McPartland. The first book confirmed that I was right about my child being autistic and gave me direction to seek help right away through the state’s early intervention program and school district because my son was approaching 3. The second book was great because it answers all the important questions and gives you an idea of what to expect in terms of behaviors and skills the HFA or Asperger’s child could have as he gets older.
I also enjoyed reading Dr. Greenspan’s “Engaging Autism”, because it gave me strategies to improve interactions with my son.
Now I’d also highly recommend “More Than Words – Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” by Fern Sussman.
Thanks, Leila—-really appreciate it. I posted some reviews about Engaging Autism during the summer.
Clara Claiborne Park’s two books — _The Siege_ and _Exiting Nirvana_. They are insightful and hopeful without being about only accepting recovery as an outcome. The focus is on understanding and engaging Jessy; I think it is useful no matter which therapy, treatment or belief you may have as to how to best help autistic people in your life. Also, the books are incredibly well written — they almost seem like reading a novel.
I’ve read all of the books out there, but by far the best was “Overcoming Autism” by Lynn Koegal. The title is somewhar misleading, as it is not an “I recovered my child from Autism with the sheer determination of my will” type books. This book actually breaks down Autism’s most common symptoms, and teaches you how allow your child to function “through” or “around” them. Really a terrific book.