Brains, Trains & Video Games: Living The Autism Life details the emotional, humorous and often profoundly insightful journey of an everyday family raising a child with autism. This is a book about life with Ewan—the center of one family's universe and the gravity that holds them together. Far from being the stressor that causes this family to disintegrate, autism has made this family what it is today. A family that laughs more than it cries, and a family that eagerly awaits for the next Ewanism to spring forth from the lips of this solar system’s sun. Over the years we have built a bridge between his world and ours, his brain and ours, and his perspective and ours. Join us on the journey we’ve taken to help create a world of possibility for our son—a world filled with words, thoughts, ideas, and love. Alicia Hart, author of Brains, Trains & Video Games, is a wife, mother and advocate for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. She has worked for various autism related agencies, early intervention programs, and has consulted with schools, hospitals, and other programs regarding autism spectrum disorders, feeding aversions, and augmentative and alternative communication. Alicia continues to write and has planned a series of books surrounding the autism life. The first book, Brains, Trains & Video Games details their life through infancy, early intervention, augmentative and alternative communication, feeding problems, medical care and preschool. The next book, Foods, Moods & Isms will be out soon.
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About the Author
Alicia Hart...Wife...Mother...Writer...Connoisseur of fine candies and caffeinated beverages...Recognized authority regarding comfortable pajama pants. Find me on Facebook at The Autism Life or on Twitter at @TheAutismLife or at @EwanismOfTheDay.
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Alicia Hart, author of Brains, Trains & Video Games, is a wife, mother and advocate for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. She has worked for various autism related agencies, early intervention programs, and has consulted with schools, hospitals, and other programs regarding autism spectrum disorders, feeding aversions, and augmentative and alternative communication. Alicia continues to write and has planned a series of books surrounding the autism life. The first book, Brains, Trains & Video Games details their life through infancy, early intervention, medical care and preschool. The next book, Foods, Moods & Isms will be out soon.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Story, author portrays self as martyr,
By read_read_read "read_read_read" (MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brains, Trains & Video Games (Living The Autism Life) (Kindle Edition)
When I saw this book, I picked it up for my Kindle right away. It looked intriguing. While I do not have a child diagnosed on the Autism spectrum, I have my suspicians that my son is an Aspie's kid. This book was interesting but it also disappointed me in a few ways.
First the good: I like how strong Alicia is in fighting for her son. Sometimes a mother DOES know something isn't right. I like how she tries to push her son passed doctor's expectations. Her admission that it takes a lot of time and resources to help these children. I like that she explains any of the terms and therapies used to help autistic kids. Her appreciation for early intervention. Where I live that is very hard to get. All of those therapies would have to be paid for out of my pocket. The stuff I didn't like so much: Alicia portrays herself heavily as a martyr. She repeatedly talks about everything she sacrifices but only touches briefly on what her other children miss out on due to her hyper focus on Ewan. She also makes her husbands contribution sound almost incidental when his financial contribution (while at times not enough) was all they had. Sections and details are repeated in the book almost as if someone else added them and didn't bother to check to see if that information had already been given. For example, the reason behind Skye's names is described twice in the book in different sections. Making doctors out to be the enemy and that she is always right got grating after awhile. In this book, only the people who agree with her theories and methods are good, the rest are bad. But then she cautions, every kid is different so don't just copy what we did. So, by that logic, those doctors and therapists may have been correct just not in her situation. The ending was abrupt and clearly written as to entice you to get her next book. Overall, I am glad I read this book. However, I feel greatly for her other children who seem somewhat neglected. I also feel for her husband. I am glad Ewan made a lot of progress. I am not sure I will read the follow up books but I hope he continues to make a lot of progress.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Life Story That Just Happens to Include Autism,
This review is from: Brains, Trains & Video Games (Living The Autism Life) (Kindle Edition)
What a wonderful, enthralling book. I was unable to put it down. A read of about 7 hours.
While the title indicates it will be about Autism, it is also more. It is a glimpse into the struggles, challenges, and ultimate finding their way saga and LIFE story of the Nees/Hart family. If anyone has dealt with Autism they will not only relate to this book but also learn from it. Hope is given as the readers see Ewan come out of the silence and corners of Autism to share his interest in trains and gameboys and connect with the world around him.I couldn't help but cry the 1st time Ewan, through aid of a communication device, asked for pancakes. By the end of the book Ewan will be well onto his way of finding his voice. Alicia Hart is a fighter for her child, recognizing almost instantly that something is "different" with her Ewan, which ultimately will lead to the Autism diagnosis. Her never accept less then the best for him, comes across as she seeks help from Dr. after Dr., and therapist after therapist. We read of the family's walk with Early intervention services, Speech therapy, Eating specialists, and later battles with the school system and stressful IEP meetings. The book gives an honest,intimate look into the trials of parenting a child with special needs and how it affects everyone in the family. The ups and downs, the fears, and then the acceptance of a limitless future. The writing also comes across as a glimpse into a personal journal. The stories come to life of those that have dealt with and survived the heartbreak of divorce, addictions, financial pressures, family stresses, miscarriage, Cancer, and even death. Everyone will find something to relate to in this book and will be left wanting more.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't stop reading it!,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Brains, Trains & Video Games (Living The Autism Life) (Kindle Edition)
I downloaded the kindle app onto my iphone just for this book and thank goodness I did. I couldn't stop reading it, which says a lot considering I have two special needs kids of my own to care for and shuttle between multiple therapies and preschools. But I was so glad to have this book in my pocket and my hand so I could get back to it every time I found my hands empty for a moment or two. I only recently found Alicia Hart's 'The Autism Life' facebook page but love the insights and couldn't wait for this book to come out. I was not disappointed. On the one hand I learned first hand and in intimate detail how another family navigated the difficult systems of therapies, school districts and service providers that I am now doing with my children, and on the other hand I was riveted by the deeply personal story of a family with foibles and failings all exposed to the light, falling apart and coming together around one amazing little autistic boy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an autistic child, loves an autistic child or who works with autistic children. Ewan is a great example of just how much our kids can progress and achieve given the right tools and supports at the right times in their lives. And it is a good reminder to parents and educators that every autistic child is an individual and the most important thing is to address the individual strengths and challenges that every child presents. Parents need to look to therapists and educators for their years of experience, but therapists and educators need to look to the parents to get to know each particular child. Thank you Alicia for this wonderful book.
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