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

Parish is an award-winning journalist with four nationally broadcast public TV documentaries about ASD to his credit. Filled with humor and hope, the essays give information on how people with ASD communicate and learn and what it takes to help them reach their full potential. (ASAP, 06/01/08)

The Editor

Robert Parish is an award-winning journalist with four nationally broadcast public TV documentaries about autism spectrum disorders to his credit. He has produced more than one hundred digital video projects about ASD for educational distribution and hosts a bimonthly program on Autism One Radio (www.autismone.org). Parish’s son Jack has been an inspiration to him, his family, and many others. Thousands visit his educational website each month at www.comebackjack.org.

Since it was first identified in 1943, autism has confounded and frustrated the medical and educational communities. To date, there is no agreed-upon cause and there is no cure. While the physiological aberrations that create autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remain a mystery, the personal perspective of those who live and work with children and adults in the spectrum can be illuminating.

Embracing Autism presents sensitive, sometimes humorous, experience-based stories from teachers, clinicians, and parent activists within the autism community. With insight and heart, this book offers parents and educators a way to better understand the world inhabited by ASD children and adults. Each story is compelling, inspirational, and informational—providing a vital and helpful perspective for anyone who is working or living day-to-day with ASD.

Embracing Autism gives readers encouragement for navigating the uncharted territory of working with an ASD child. As the book explains, while teachers and parents can be well prepared in autism approaches and educational training, they must also be willing to let go of expectations—they must get down to the basic task of getting to know the person beyond the diagnosis.

Filled with passion and hope, Embracing Autism shows what makes people with ASD tick and gives useful information on how they communicate, learn, and ultimately what it takes to help them succeed.