Eating an Artichoke: A Mother’s Perspective on Asperger Syndrome: Written By Echo R. Fling Excerpt taken from Amazon.com During a routine parent-teacher conference in November 1991, Echo Fling was told by her son’s teacher that his behavior in class was ‘not normal’. After two years at the pre-school, five-year-old Jimmy had failed to make any friends, had recently started to act aggressively towards his classmates, and was beginning to react violently to any changes in his routine. Echo was not taken completely by surprise: she had suspected for some time that her son was different from other children. Over the next five years, she and her husband accompanied Jimmy to doctors, medical specialists, learning consultants and psychologists. Finally, at the age of ten, Jimmy was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. This is the book that Echo Fling needed when she first set out to have Jimmy diagnosed, and it will enable parents and teachers to understand and help other children with Asperger Syndrome. Eating an Artichoke is a wonderful book for parents to read. This book will give insight and allow you to relate to the troubles, joys, and expectations Fling experienced as a mother raising a child with Asperger Syndrome.…

How Do I Teach This Kid? Written by Kimberly A. Henry Excerpt taken from Amazon First Runner-Up in the 2006 Writer’s Notes Book Awards, this book utilizes the strengths of children with ASD to help them develop new skills. Tasks are visually oriented, consistent; expectations are clear. Children learn motor, matching, sorting, reading, writing, and math skills using easy-to-make “task boxes.” Tasks include pushing items through a small openings (children love the “resistance” it takes to push them through); matching simple, identical pictures or words; sorting objects by color, size, or shape. Ideas are plentiful, materials colorful, and children love the repetitive nature of the tasks, which help them learn to work independently! Sample data sheets are included. This is a great book for parents of all children, however it additionally a good read to families affected by autism. It teaches them a variety of ways to learn educational skills maximizing on sensory stimulation through activities that target different learning styles such visual, auditory and tactile input. These activities are intended to both promote working together and completing tasks independently, without the help of a parent.