Between Their World and Ours: Breakthroughs with Autistc Children [Hardcover]

Karen Zelan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2003

Autism has reached epidemic proportions. The latest studies suggest that as many as one in 150 children ages ten and younger may be affected by autism---a total of 300,000 children in the United States alone. Adults included, there are more than a million people in the United States suffering from autistic disorders. Since autism has had a bleak prognosis, and since the isolation of autistic children is so painful to parents, Karen Zelan’s accounts of her breakthroughs with autistic children in Between Their World and Ours present a particularly hopeful perspective. Zelan illustrates how diagnostic labels reflect the preconceptions and prejudices of the diagnostician, but reveal nothing about the unique person who carries the label and his potential as a human being.

Describing nine of the forty-five autists with whom she has worked, Zelan documents how psychotherapy with autistic youth helps them to overcome their problems in communicating, playing, feeling, thinking, and interacting with people more companionably. Her riveting narratives, showing her growing understanding of her young patients, capture how it is to be autistic. She describes the ways these young people meet the challenges of being the way the are. Her work demonstrates how the social context in which autistic children find themselves can make a significant difference in their development, their self-esteem, and their ability to think through problems in living.

Zelan, a gifted and intuitive psychotherapist, shows how the autist’s sense of self emerges during childhood. She details how these autistic children’s first friendships originate, the pitfalls and pleasures they experience in relating to their peers, their dreams, and their fears of social contact. These real-life stories reveal what worked with autistic children and why. Zelan offers prescriptive suggestions for parents and teachers based on her discoveries, demonstrating humane ways of dealing with the often troubling problems of autism and of closing the gap between their world and ours.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite modern's medicine many stunning advances, autism remains very much a mystery; here, psychotherapist Zelan, who has spent years working with autistic children, tries to shed some much-needed light on the subject. A disorder with myriad different manifestations, autism is often characterized by "indifference or rejection of social contact," which makes treatment all the more challenging. Zelan shares her experiences of what works and what doesn't, and tries to offer hope for overwhelmed and confused parents. Stimulating children through music or games can work, for instance, where using reason or discipline might not. Zelan can't offer any blanket prescriptions, because unfortunately, none exist; the best parents can hope for is to respect different understandings of reality, and to adapt therapy for each child. Zelan skillfully meshes complex theory and poignant stories and tackles the many issues of autism with admirable grace.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Praise for Between Their World and Ours by Karen Zelan

"This book provides excellent insights for mentoring elementary school-age children and teenagers with Asperger's or high-functioning autism."
---Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life with Autism

"Essential reading for all parents and teachers of autistic children... Dr. Zelan's work with autistic patients is a model for all good psychotherapy."
---Elio Frattaroli, M.D., author of Healing the Soul in the Age of the Brain: Why Medication Isn't Enough

"Dr. Zelan shows an amazing insight into why autistic people think and feel the way they do; she is to autistic people what Jane Goodall was for the wild chimpanzees."
---Dawn Prince-Hughes, Ph.D., author of Aquamarine Blue 5: Personal Stories of College Students with Autism

"A sensitive book about the many challenges facing parents, teachers, and, yes, those with autism. A worthy read, and inspiring."
---David L. Holmes, Ed.D., President and Executive Director, The Eden Family of Services

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (May 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312313756
• ISBN-13: 978-0312313753
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,350,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Great Book - according to me - an Autist, October 6, 2003

By 

oddizm "oddizm" (upstate, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between Their World and Ours: Breakthroughs with Autistc Children (Hardcover)

I am adult. I have Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism. I am the mother of an adult child with a form of autism. In my opinion this may be the BEST book about autism written to date, and that includes books written by other autistics. I want to thank Dr. Zelan so much for this book.
She dismantles the highly touted,"Sally-Ann" test, which is supposed to show a lack of "theory of mind". Finally someone has fresh thinking in this area!

There is no "cure" for autism.

Dr. Zelan very plainly makes that case and shows how to help autistic children of all levels of ability and communicativeness to reach their potential, with a heavy emphasis on love and respect and patience.
Love and respect, themes lacking in many therapies aimed at attempting to force autistic children into "normal" molds.
If you only want one book about autism right now, start with this one, _Between Their World and Ours_.
I also like Dr. Sally Ozonoff's book, "A parent's guide to..." and "A Positive Approach to Autism" by Stella Waterhouse.
I hope that Dr. Zelan will have another book of this quality soon, and I hope that her voice becomes very important in the autism treatment community.
I also recommend that anyone interested in autism seek out the voices of adult autistics on various internet sites. Some of the best information isn't actually in books it's on the web.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, Inspiring, Stimulating, September 12, 2003

By 

bradshaw (california) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between Their World and Ours: Breakthroughs with Autistc Children (Hardcover)

I recommend this book to all readers, not just parents, therapists, teachers, interested in autism. Here are a few observations:

--The experiences of her treatment of autistic children ranging from highest to lowest functioning are riveting and beautifully written.
--Her book covers important issues regarding the treatment and diagnosis of autism that have not been addressed in other books and programs on autism e.g., relations of therapists and parents, successful and unsuccessful school experiences.
--This book, above all others I have read or heard discussed, gives us a dramatic window into the feelings and amazing SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL awareness of autistic children who, Zelan notes, are often incorrectly judged incapable of such insight by many so called "experts". She also shows how understanding the views shared with her by many autistic children can make a difference in their having positive social experiences.
--She engages not just the powerful feelings and awareness of autists, she describes the larger world of feelings and interactions of and with parents, teachers, family and friends of autistic children.
--She describes and critiques theories of the mind imposed on autistic and other developmentally disabled children; this critique heightens awareness for everyone to the subtle but
damaging ways some "experts" can hinder hope and progress for people who don't fit "normal" behavior patterns.
--Her book offers insights into more than the real life experiences of autism for children, parents, teachers,therapists and the general population; it also is the best book I have ever read to give a vivid, concrete description of the psychotherapeutic relationship and what a difference it can make in all our lives, and especially for autistic children.
--Her chapter directed to parents reads like a letter and is full of empathetic and practical advice that can be of value to all parents and especially parents of autistic children. Hher book if full of realistic and tempered hope with concrete information on how to get good help. She doesn't talk about cures, but breakthroughs in communicating and understanding for autists, therapist, parents, teachers and friends of autists.

After reading this book, I felt enriched and wanted to share it with others. I have given it to friends who are mothers, herapists, learning specialists.

Note on the jacket that famous autistic authors have read the book and attest to its accurate and vivid description of the autistic experience. There are many others, both autists and professionals in the field, who have expressed their enthusiasm for this book.

I recommend this book with unqualified confidence and enthusiasm. This book makes us all wish we could have the benefit of such an articulate master therapist.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many of us know an autist ...very helpful and hopeful book, September 18, 2003

By 

Kristin C. Field (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Between Their World and Ours: Breakthroughs with Autistc Children (Hardcover)

Between their World and Ours, by Karen Zelan, reads almost like a novel. One becomes quickly engaged with the children whose stories Zelan uses to "show" rather than "tell" the reader about enjoying, helping and teaching young people on the autistic spectrum.

Given the statistics, (one in 150 children under ten may have autistic spectrum disorders) many people know someone with this syndrome. Schools are enrolling them in classrooms, teachers are finding ways to adapt their curricula so these children can be successful learners. Between Their World and Ours gives encouragement, hope, and helpful ideas. Teachers and parents will find acknowledgement of their own good problem solving. In addition, Zelan's book will be helpful to neighbors, aunts, uncles, and friends of these children. Experts will benefit as well from the practicality, and care Zelan uses in her work.

Like the many types of minds that we encounter, the autistic mind has much to offer. It requires little except quiet attention and patience to gain the trust and interest of many of these interesting kids. As with any child, it is important to LIKE them. Liking them, liking any child comes with knowing them. Unlike many authors, Zelan recognizes and rejoices in the feelings these children display. Zelan shows the reader how to attend carefully to the child so that s/he can discover the feelings of the autist s/he knows. And, more importantly, so the child can join our feeling world safely.

Our knowledge of aspergers and autistic children is enhanced by the kind of book Zelan has written. It presents a range of children with very different personalities, responses, and gifts, showing common ways of reaching them as well as the variations useful in connecting with their differing needs. There are suggestions throughout the book, but also a chapter devoted entirely to specific strategies. Zelan gives benchmarks without creating a defined road map because every child is his own person.

No "cure" has been discovered for this syndrome. Maybe this is a good thing. In the books mothers' have written about their own autists, it is obvious that they love and enjoy their chidren. Do we want to "cure" them or just learn enough to enjoy them and give them the requisite skills to navigate the world? I have no definite answers, but for now, I am happy to read of Zelan's success, of the children's success, and hope that parents, teachers, neighbors, friends, and experts will enjoy all the children they encounter.