Soon Will Come the Light: A View from Inside the Autism Puzzle

By Thomas A. McKean

Book Overview

Written by an adult with autism, this sensitive, humorous book won the Autism Society of America's "Literary Achievement Award." Look inside the world of Tom McKean growing up in a confusion of misdiagnosis, spending years in an institution and finally his journey into adulthood while seeking answers. His challenges, discoveries and victories will move you. His poetry, songs and humor will delight you.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885477112
• ISBN13: 9781885477118
• Release Date: July 1994
• Publisher: Future Horizons
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.7" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A moving personal account of autism

I have had the pleasure of speaking with the author on AOL and after hearing about his book, I purchased it. His personal account of his life and dealing with the realization he had autism was extremely moving. I only hope that I can remember the things he went thru, the things he felt growing up, the sensory issues he continues to deal with....and be able to apply that knowledge to understanding my son who has autism. I want to help my son make his journey thru life in such a way that their is no pain, limited frustration and in such a way that he is confident and happy in his world. Reading this book has helped me see a glimpse of my own son's thinking. Thanks Thomas for putting such a personal glimpse of your life in words!

Wish you could walk in your child with autism's shoes?

"You can't know a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins," is the best quote I can come up with to sum up the impact of "Soon Will Come the Light". Thomas McKean has presented in this book the one thing that I always wished for, but few books could offer---the ability to walk in my children with autism's shoes for a while and perhaps gain a deeper understanding of what their world looks and feels like.McKean's writing reveals loving, gentle, brilliant man with autism, and his book is a stereotype buster. He shows us that people with autism have worth and wisdom to share with the world. He teaches us both through his inspiring gifts as a poet, and with his "no holds barred" personal thoughts on many of the current intervention trends in autism, such as auditory integration. Even better, Thomas' book shows us who he is, a precious human being who walked away from life in an institution and bravely learned to coexist and compensate for the often harrowing sensory issues that come with a diagnosis of autism.This book is a must read. It is a story of survival, courage, and the strong realization that people with autism have much to contribute to this world. Mr. McKean is to be applauded for this timeless contribution to literature on autism. I will hold this book dear for a very long time to come.Liane Gentry SkyeauthorTurn Around, Bright Eyes-Snapshots from a Voyage out of Autism's Silence

Soon Will Come the Light: A View from Inside the Autism Puzz

As a teacher of students with Autism, I found this book to be very insightful. To be able to view Autism through the eyes of a person living with Autism was very helpful to me. I found his sections on sensory issues to be very informative. I loved his works of poetry at the end.

Valuable resource to parents of an autistic child.

Thomas McKean gives great advice and valuable insight for parents of autistic children. He understands how parents try so hard to be helpful for their children, and sometimes fall short for lack of understanding. Thomas gives an insider's view of what autism feels like as a child and as an adult. Thomas was a student of "The Child Whisperer" author Matt Pasquinilli. Mr. Pasquinilli has worked with children and adults challenged by austism and aspergers syndrome, and speaks about it in his book. Get "The Child Whisperer" for some great advice that compliments Thomas McKean's "Soon will come the Light."