Motivate to Communicate by Simone Griffin and Dianne Sandler Excerpt taken from Amazon. Simone Griffin is a speech and language therapist, and has worked with children on the autism spectrum for the past 10 years. Dianne Sandler is currently working as a specialist teacher for inclusion, and has worked with children of all ages with autism and complex needs for 30 years. She has designed a number of toys that are available commercially for children with special needs. This accessible and practical photocopiable resource is brimming with ideas and guidance for motivating children with autism spectrum disorder or other communication difficulties. The clear and user-friendly format of the book enables quick access to over 300 practical games and activities for using everyday toys and games in a range of settings throughout the day. For example, if your child likes to pop bubbles with their fingers, perhaps they would also enjoy counting bubbles? Or catching bubbles on a wand, stomping bubbles with their feet or even playing bubble volleyball. The many innovative ideas in the book have developed through over 40 years of clinical and educational experience, and are designed to be fun for both the adult and the child. All…

A Spectrum of Light: Inspirational Interviews With Families Affected by Autism, written by Francesca Bierens Excerpt taken from Amazon The emotional trauma that families go through when they find out their child has an autism spectrum disorder can feel like being plunged into darkness. Francesca Bierens is here to show that there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. Over a period of fourteen years, Francesca Bierens interviewed ten families of children on the autism spectrum. This book records their answers: how they felt, how they coped, and what gave them strength and solace. Each family discusses how they reacted when they found out their child had autism, and their feelings leading up to diagnosis. They share their positive and negative experiences of professionals, and describe the support that they received, often from grandparents, respite care givers, support groups and other parents. Two of the original children, now in their 20s, also talk about the experience of growing up with autism, and describe how their lives are now. Above all, Bierens’ message, and that of the families she interviews, is one of inspiration and hope, showing that there is light, love and laughter along the way. Their…

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism written by Temple Grandin Excerpt taken from Amazon Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a gifted animal scientist who has designed one-third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. She also lectures widely on autism–because Temple Grandin is autistic, a woman who thinks, feels, and experiences the world in ways that are incomprehensible to the rest of us. In this unprecedented book, Grandin delivers a report from the country of autism. Writing from the dual perspectivies of a scientist and an autistic person, she tells us how that country is experienced by its inhabitants and how she managed to breach its boundaries to function in the outside world. What emerges in Thinking in Pictures is the document of an extraordinary human being, one who, in gracefully and lucidly bridging the gulf between her condition and our own, sheds light on the riddle of our common identity. What better insight into Autism than to hear it from someone who has been through it her self. This amazing book is a great read for anyone whose family has been touched by Autism and is wondering what the future has ahead for their loved one. What…

Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes, written by Jennifer Elder. Excerpt taken from Amazon Different Like Me introduces children ages 8 to 12 years to famous, inspirational figures from the world of science, art, math, literature, philosophy and comedy. Eight-year-old Quinn, a young boy with Asperger’s Syndrome, tells young readers about the achievements and characteristics of his autism heroes, from Albert Einstein, Dian Fossey and Wassily Kandinsky to Lewis Carroll, Benjamin Banneker and Julia Bowman Robinson, among others. All excel in different fields, but are united by the fact that they often found it difficult to “fit in,” just like Quinn. Fully illustrated in color and written in child-friendly language, this book will be a wonderful resource for children, particularly children with autism, their parents, teachers, careers and siblings. This children’s book is a good tool to promote literacy and self-development in your child while bringing awareness to the autistic community. Enjoy-