Understanding Autism For Dummies

When my friend's son was diagnosed with ASD I started reading anything I could find either on-line or in print. There seemed to be either simplistic articles for mass audiences or very involved technical or specific articles. Recently, I was fortunate to pick up a copy of this book because it has been the single most comprehensive and accessible reference I have found.

If you have recently had a family member diagnosed, you should pick up a couple of copies and pass them around to grandparents, uncles and aunts, friends of the family and siblings. The book focuses on the parents of a newly diagnosed child, supporting what they are feeling and laying out options and expectations. This is something I have found lacking in other resources, but this probably is the most important information you would be looking for at this time.

The book is very complete in it's coverage of the entire autistic spectrum and constantly refers to other great resources to research further. All in all, this is simply the best introduction to autism out there right now. But it is much more than just a shallow introduction to the subject but should be a lasting resource you can go back to.

Finally! A book that gives a clear overview of pretty much every aspect related to autism spectrum disorder: from "classic autism" to Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. It covers diagnosis, medical and biochemical interventions, sensory issues, learning environments, education, social skills and relationships from pre-school through adulthood. And much more! How can one book address so many topics on one book? Even I'm dumbfounded it can be done...and I guess that's the point. It's Autism for Dummies, which means it gives the briefest most concise explanation. It is written in a clear and understandable manner than ANYONE can simply pick it up, scan through it and get a good handle on what autism is. This is an excellent reference book that every school and parent should have in their library to quickly thumb through for a quick explanation. I, as a parent of three children with ASD, have purchased SEVEN copies (so far!); one for myself to use a continual quick reference book, and 6 others for the professionals who work with my kids.

Do you have relatives or people who work with your child who are always asking you questions you are having difficulty explaining? It's not that you don't know the answers! (Because, of course you DO). It's that sometimes the explanation is complicated and uses terminology they aren't familiar with. Autism for Dummies can provide the simple explanations for you, or you can pass the book on to those with questions and let Grandma or teacher peruse at will. My personal recommendation is to hand it over with little self-deprecating humor saying something akin to, "Well I finally found a book that explains autism to me!" (As if you aren't really the expert you are!) And offer to share it.

The book itself stands alone, but I find further solace in the fact that I can trust the information is accurate because one of the co-authors is Stephen Shore, an international presenter and author on the subject of autism and Asperger Syndrome, and he just so happens to be an individual with autism himself. Temple Grandin wrote the foreward and believe me when I say that if Temple didn't approve of the information in this book, she wouldn't have put her stamp of approval on it by contributing. Her standards are high. It's an excellent resource and I highly recommend it.

kristi sakai, MOM of three with autism and author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

Over the past three years since we began to suspect my grandson was autistic, I have accumulated a large library on the subject. Many of the books covered or advocated specific types of treatment, or information on school special education, or finances and autism, or possible causes, or personal success stories or even stories of acceptance when success didn't happen. This book covers them all, and more, and does it well. I'm getting another copy for my son and daughter-in-law, although by now they are experts, not dummies.. This is a really EXCELLENT contribution to the available literature on this increasingly common developmental condition. Don't miss it!

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

Whether you are new to the world of autism or you are a "veteran" reader/researcher, this book is a must have. It is comprehensive, yet easy to read. This book is an invaluable resource for parents and educators. As an elementary special educator, I plan to keep this book in my classroom for easy reference for regular education teachers, counselors, and administrators. I recommend it to all the parents of my autistic students. As a grad school student, I have recommended it to the college as required reading for preservice special education teachers. As a parent, of an autistic child, I plan to purchase an extra copy and make sure that my son's school has this book in their library. I just wish this book had existed when my son was first diagnosed!

Congratulations to Stephen Shore for providing this guide!