Embracing Autism

"The voices here confirm what I've always suspected: everyone is part of one large continuum, and the approaches and insights recounted here can help any parent, any educator, any person deal with any child—or, for that matter, any other person—more effectively and with more compassion. I only wish I'd encountered earlier this cadre of experienced and caring individuals whose humor and resourcefulness represent clearly how best to love and nurture a child."—Cynthia Nitz Ris, J.D., Ph.D., University of Cincinnati Through sensitive, sometimes humorous, experienced-based writing from teachers, clinicians, and parent activists in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community, this book will help educators and others to better understand the world inhabited by ASD children. The stories contained in the book will inspire and inform readers who are working day-to-day with children in the autism spectrum, providing valuable insights into what makes these kids tick and useful information on how they communicate, learn, and succeed. Robert Parish (Cincinnati, OH) is an award-winning journalist with four nationally broadcast public TV documentaries about Autism Spectrum Disorders to his credit, as well as more than 100 digital video projects about ASD for the educational market.

Acknowledgments xi About the Editor xiii About the Contributors xv Foreword: The “Secret” Key to Connection xix by Susan Senator Introduction xxiii by Robert Parish Chapter 1 My Journey with Jacob 1 by Diane Bayer Chapter 2 Relating to ASD Children 15 by Arnold Miller Chapter 3 Three Special Kids—No Apologies Necessary 22 by Kim Stagliano Chapter 4 Patience—The Least Important “Super Power” 31 by Kristin Kaifas-Tennyson Chapter 5 North of the Border 49 by Gay and Dennis Debbaudt Chapter 6 Getting to Know You 61 by Stephen Shore Chapter 7 Life with Shawn 73 by Jeanne Lyons Chapter 8 The Freedom to Be Odd 100 by Cammie McGovern Chapter 9 Just a Little Autism 105 by Teresa Becerra Chapter 10 Acceptance in Waves 118 by Robert Becerra Chapter 11 Everyone Has a Chance to Grow 123 by Jackie Marquette Chapter 12 Grass in the Wind 134 by Kristina Chew Chapter 13 Now for Our Feature Presentation 139 by Robert Parish Chapter 14 The Big Question 157 Resources 163 Index 167