North Lancashire Directions Group
Parent Carer Network
Autistic Spectrum Disorder Books
The following books have been recommended by parents of children on the Autistc Spectrum.
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Autism Spectrum Disorders : The complete guide
The Golden Hat
Talking back to Autism.
By Kate Winslet
Born on a blue day
By Daniel Tammet
I was born on 31 January 1979 - a Wednesday. I know it was a Wednesday, becasue the date is blue in my mind and Wednesdays are always blue, like the number nine or the sound of loud voices arguing.'
Like the character Hoffman portrayed, he can perform extraordinary maths in his head, sees numbers as shapes, colours, textures and motions, and can learn to speak a language fluently from scratch in three days. He also has a compulsive need for order and routine. He eats exactly 45 grams of porridge for breakfast and cannot leave the house without counting the number of items of clothing he's wearing. If he gets stressed or unhappy he closes his eyes and counts.But in some ways Daniel is not all like the Rain Man. He is virtually unique amongst people who have severe autisitic disorders in being capable of living a fully-functioning, independent life. It is this incredible self-awareness and ability to communicate what it feels like to live in a totally extraordinary way that makes BORN ON A BLUE DAY so powerful.
Thinking In Pictures
By Temple Grandin
The idea that some people think differently, though no less humanly, is explored in this inspiring book. Temple Grandin is a gifted and successful animal scientist, and she is autistic. Here she tells us what it was like to grow up perceiving the world in an entirely concrete and visual way - somewhat akin to how animals think, she believes - and how it feels now. Through her finely observed understanding of the workings of her mind, she gives us an invaluable insight into autism and its challenges.
A Will of His Own
By Kelly Harland
This collection of essays reveals the often dizzying mix of heart-wrenching challenge and sweet elation that comes with a son with autism. Kelly Harland's stories explore the first nine years of her son's life and the new and unexpected universe she and her husband -- both professional musicians -- must learn to navigate with him. Will's fears, anxieties, and obsessions can dominate daily life, making a trip to the grocery store seem like a walk across a mine field. But amidst Will's unpredictable behaviour, Harland finds moments of wonder, and renewal when, for example, Will finally learns the give and take of conversation, or dreams about his future. Over and over Will's exuberant spirit rekindles his mother's belief that anything is possible. Reflecting on her life before and after motherhood, Harland finds that despite the pain and chaos of Will's autism, her life's horizon has stretched and grown. Her son's disorder has pulled her in directions she never meant to go, but wouldn't reverse for anything. This book should be enjoyed by other parents whose child has taken them into uncharted territory, as well as by readers who want to imagine what that journey entails.
Life on the spectrum.
The pre school years. getting the help and support you need.
By J.M. Worgan
This book will give help and advice to all parents of preschool children who are on the autistic spectrum. The book deals with topics such as sensory issues, getting the help that you need from professionals,education, finding local support, going out with your child, toilet training and helping siblings. Most importantly you will find out that you are not alone.
A friend like Henry
By Nuala Gardner
This is the inspiring account of a family's struggle to break into their son's autistic world - and how a beautiful retreiver dog made the real difference.
Dale was still a baby when his parents realised that something wasn't right. Worried, his mother Nuala took him to see several doctors, before finally hearing the word 'autism' for the first time. Scared but determined that Dale should live a fulfilling life, Nuala describes her despair at her son's condition, her struggle to prevent Dale being excluded from a 'normal' education and her sense of hopeless isolation. Dale's autism was severe and violent and family life was a daily battleground.
But the Gardner's lives were transformed when they welcomed a gorgeous Golden Retriever into the family. The special bond between Dale and his dog Henry helped them to produce the breakthrough in Dale they had long sought. From taking a bath to saying 'I love you', Henry helped introduce Dale to all the normal activities most parents take for granted, and set him on the road to being the charming and well-adjusted young man he is today.
This is a heartrending and fascinating account of how one devoted and talented dog helped a little boy conquer his autism.
The Boy Who Loved Windows
By Patricia Stacey
The compelling story of Walker Stacey – a child who triumphed over his autistic tendencies with the dedicated help of his family When in 1996, Patricia Stacey gave birth to her second child, a baby boy, she quickly noticed an emptiness in his gaze – a vacant quality that emphasized her sense that he was ill at ease in his own body. By the time Walker was five months old, his gaze was obsessively directed towards windows – light had become his true north. Despite the reassurance of many health professionals that Walker was fine, during the weeks and months that followed the family continued to question the experts, who finally arrived at a diagnosis of “sensory integration problems”; a term inextricably linked with autism. Refusing to accept that this diagnosis would lead to the finality of an autistic disorder, the family dedicated four years to incessantly drawing Walker away from the sirens that seemed to call him inwards, using the latest play–based techniques. Progress was often painfully gradual, and yet sometimes they made astonishing leaps on the back of seemingly bizarre treatments like simply rubbing the roof of Walker’s mouth. Not only a story of Walker’s development, The Boy Who Loved Windows also follows his parents’ journey of understanding and coming to terms with Walker’s difficulties. Today, Walker still suffers from allergies and occasional gastrointestinal difficulties, but he has attended a normal preschool and looks forward to everything you would hope for for a child. Not bad for the kid they said would probably never walk or talk.
Stand Up For Autism
By Georgina J. Deryshire
When we tell someone that our child is autistic, the most common response is a sad face and an apologetic look. I hate it when people say "I'm sorry to hear that". Parenting a child on the autistic spectrum can be tough at the best of times, but few books take the time to celebrate the love and laughter an autistic child can elicit in their parents and those around them. In this warm, honest and laugh-out-loud tale of bringing up Bobby, now ten, Georgina Derbyshire shares and rejoices in his 'slightly different' childhood. As she outlines momentous events in Bobby's life, from the day he decided he was a dog (continuing life as a canine for a year afterwards), to the time he catapulted an innocent shopper into a mountain of strawberries, Georgina repeatedly challenges the perception of autism as an affliction, maintaining that neurotypical people often make far less sense. Through her light-hearted and hilarious storytelling, she reveals how social codes and psychological games make the neurotypical world a very confusing place to live in, more so than ever if you happen to be a young boy with a passion for rocks, tape measures and trains. This book is a must for anybody involved in the upbringing of an autistic child, whether they are in search of a little comfort, companionship, light relief - or all three.