The Self-Help Guide for Special Kids and Their Parents

by James Williams and Joan Matthews

Book Overview

James Williams is an SP or special person - he was diagnosed with autism during early childhood. His mother, Joan Matthews, is an NP or normal person. As James grew up, his different perception of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1853029149
• ISBN13: 9781853029141
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Meeting One Another Halfway - NT & a/A

James Williams is an extraordinarily bright, articulate and well-rounded young man who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. James, whose inspiring story is featured in "Dancing in the Rain" and "The Sound of Falling Snow" by Annabel Stehli offers further insights to having autism; coping with it and how families work together. I was impressed with the way James explained how he developed an interest in learning to knit and how soothing he found this activity. He also developed an interest in the American Girls Series, bravely jumping the Gender Bias Barrier to emphasize how one group is usually treated as an underclass at the expense of another (or others). I loved it when James addresses the very real problem of the word "perseverate" in any tense. He threw down the gauntlet on this harmful word in "The Sound of Snow Falling." It is truly a damning, judgmental, negative and destructive word that is best avoided. "Repetitive behavior / verbalizations" is a preferable replacement and certainly shows more tolerance and is far more accurate. James rightfully points out that overtly autistic behaviors such as lining up items could be the precursor to a talent in draftsmanship and architechture and mathematics. Each "special interest," by far a more tolerant and accurate term than the harmful "perseverate" ever was, can segue into a rewarding interest and possibly career. James speaks to hope and potential and his story is a strong beacon of hope. James does an exemplary job of explaining how confusing the Tacit Social Codes & Rules are. For many people on the autism/Asperger (a/A) spectrum, the rules seem to change on a whim, based on the needs of the neurotypical (NT) population. What a wonderful bridge, a link, a meeting point for the a/A population and the NT population to meet each other half way and go the extra mile. This book truly deserves a place of honor and is for everybody.

A highly practical and useful book

Being the parent of a child with PDD, I have been procuring a lot of books and materials on autism. Many of them turned out to be highly specialized and some downright negative. This book turned out to be one of the best buys which gives practical solutions to all sorts of problems faced by an autistic parent and the solutions are suggested by a child who was autistic. Also, the book is highly positive, as the child it seems, has now been fully mainstreamed and therefore this is another success story like that of Catherine Maurice which gives us parents a lot to learn and practise.PS. The books was bought in the US and sent to me by a friend.

An eight-year-old wrote parts of this book

A lot of adults have written about their experiences with autism, but very few children have enough language to do so. This book shows you that even kids have insights into themselves.

Funny, revealing, intense, and right on target!

I wish every parent of an autistic (or AS or PDD or SID or ADHD) child would read this book. I find myself constantly trying to explain to people how/why my son behaves the way he does. I've understood to some degree right from the beginning (having shadow AS dx myself), but this just brings it all into unbelievable focus. Especially for all those parents who pointlessly physically punish their children for behaviors that are neurologically-based, not attitude-based, this book is/would be a real eye-opener.

A Great Book! I Loved It!

This book actually makes autism funny and interesting. I found myself wishing I were autistic, because it seems so much more logical than being "normal." Parents will love this introduction to their child's world.