Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew: Ellen Notbohm Excerpt from Amazon Winner of an iParenting Media Award and Honorable Mention in the 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards! Every parent, teacher, social worker, therapist, and physician should have this succinct and informative book in their back pocket. Framed with both humor and compassion, the book defines the top ten characteristics that illuminate the minds and hearts of children with autism. Ellen’s personal experiences as a parent, an autism columnist, and a contributor to numerous parenting magazines coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum. Don’t buy just one of this book- buy one for everyone who interacts with your child! Give the gift of understanding. Helpful chapters include: My sensory perceptions are disordered Distinguish between won’t and can’t I am a concrete thinker. I interpret language literally Be patient with my limited vocabulary Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do Help me with social interactions Identify what triggers my meltdowns To purchase Ten Things click on the…

Lorca shares her experience raising her daughter, Carrie, with autism. The book gives the reader a clear description of what it means to raise a child with autism. Through her harsh reality one could gain perspective on how to overcome the challenges parents face when raising a child with autism. I am looking forward to purchasing this book to gain insight on methods that worked for Lorca. Refer to the following link for more information.

A Story Explaining Idiom for Children With Asperger Syndrome and Other Communication Difficulties: Written By Aileen Stalker Excerpt taken from Amazon One day it was raining and Sam’s mother said to his father, ‘My goodness, George – it is raining cats and dogs outside’. ‘That’s strange’, thought Sam. When he looked up into the sky, he couldn’t see cats and dogs anywhere, no matter where he looked. All he could see were giant raindrops and big puddles. “The One and Only Sam” is the heart-warming story of a boy who, like many children, often struggles to understand the ‘silly sayings’ used by adults. Throughout the story, Sam encounters a range of common idioms. Each idiom is accompanied by an illustration of its literal interpretation and its real meaning, encouraging children to explore what sayings such as ‘curiosity killed the cat’, ‘hold your horses’, and ‘quiet as a mouse’ sound like and what they might really mean. Special emphasis is placed on the ‘feeling aspect’ of each saying, encouraging children to think about the implied emotions of the words. The book also suggests simple steps that children can take whenever they encounter new and unfamiliar idioms that are not covered in…

Choosing a School for a Child With Special Needs: Written By Ruth Birnbaum. Taken from Amazon.com Ruth Birnbaum is a Chartered Educational Psychologist in independent practice, with 27 years’ experience in the field of education. A trained teacher with a Masters degree in Educational Psychology, she now visits schools across the UK to audit provision and advise parents and legal consultants on which schools are most appropriate for which children. If you are considering placing a child with special needs at a new school, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Should you choose a special school, or a special unit within a mainstream school? What will be the involvement of therapists? Maybe home schooling would be best? Whether the child has autism, dyslexia or any other special educational, emotional or behavioral need, this book will help you find the school that suits the child best. From drawing up a list of possibilities and setting up a school visit, to asking the right questions and recording your opinions in order to make an informed decision, “Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs” will guide you through this complex and stressful process with confidence and ease. Whether…

Remember picture books are great assets for beginner level readers. Check out Eric Carle and is amazing collection of picture books about animals and nature! Eric Carle is an inspirational writer of children’s books. His books are comprised of simple stories, with beautiful and intricate pictures.  They’re great books to read with your little ones during story time or bedtime. Eric Carle’s collection is not only limited to books, but also other fun educational tools you can use with your children. The website has downloadable games, and coloring sheets that are easy to use and can be utilized as a fun or learning activity. The website also offers a blog site where you can read his biography, as well as find out about upcoming events and products. Be sure to check out his site, I think there is something for everyone! http://www.eric-carle.com/books.html