Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family [Paperback]

Kristi Sakai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

This book, written by the mother of three children on the autism spectrum, targets the major issues families face in creating a comfortable environment for every family member. With a balance of heart-warming and side-splitting humor, the author presents countless practical tools for dealing with everything from home-school relations to organization to just getting through a trip to the grocery store.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I am thrilled to have such a quality resource to recommend to parents with whom I consult. -- Lisa A. Lieberman, MSW, LCSW, psychotherapist, speaker and author

I am thrilled to have such a quality resource to recommend to parents with whom I consult. --Lisa A. Lieberman, MSW, LCSW, psychotherapist, speaker and author

I recommend this to parents, looking for help and professionals seeking to better understand Aspergers from an insiderÂ’s view. -- Jeanie McAfee, M.D., director, Social Solutions Clinic,

I recommend this to parents, looking for help and professionals seeking to better understand Aspergers from an insiderÂ’s view. --Jeanie McAfee, M.D., director, Social Solutions Clinic,

This book offers practical solutions for many of the questions I am consistently being asked by parents. -- Nan Lester, M.S., educational and psychological consultant

This book offers practical solutions for many of the questions I am consistently being asked by parents. --Nan Lester, M.S., educational and psychological consultant

This book offers practical solutions for many of the questions I am consistently being asked by parents. --Nan Lester, M.S., educational and psychological consultant

I am thrilled to have such a quality resource to recommend to parents with whom I consult. --Lisa A. Lieberman, MSW, LCSW, psychotherapist, speaker and author

About the Author

KRISTI SAKAI lives on a farm in Oregon with her husband, Nobuo, and their three children, Tom, Kito and Kaede, all of whom have Asperger Syndrome. Kristi serves on the board of directors of Mighty Oaks ChildrenÂ’s Therapy Center. She also has too many chickens, ducks, cats and bees to count.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Autism Asperger Publishing Company (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931282765
• ISBN-13: 978-1931282765
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #458,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of wit and wisdom! Required reading!, August 10, 2005

By 

Babyvan "Babyvan" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family (Paperback)

This is a must read for anyone who loves or cares for a child with asperger syndrome, be they parent, teacher, paraprofessional, babysitter, grandparent, Sunday School teacher or doctor. Written by one who has been down in the trenches and knows, this book is packed full of logical, doable and compassionate systems which parents can easily master in order to facilitate a more enjoyable existence for the whole family. You will feel like you have a found a new friend as you laugh at her poignant insights and find comfort in the shared experiences of aspergers. Evaluators and doctors would do well to hand this one out to parents of newly diagnosed children to serve as a soft cushion to ease the fall from what can be a devastating diagnosis. Ms. Sakai is a true friend who will help light a path to a way through what can be a dark time and find solace on the other side. Bravo!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LAUGHED and CRIED and then read it again!!, July 21, 2005

By 

Terri L. Cooper "Terri Cooper Swanson" (Overland Park, KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family (Paperback)

What a wonderful and insightful book. Kristi Sakai brings the reader into the world of the family with Asperger Syndrome. She makes you laugh and cry as she shares her experiences and ideas in the home. This is a must have for families so they can see that they are not alone and teachers need to read this so they can better understand what they family is going through and how they can support each other.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a Major Godsend!, September 15, 2005

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family (Paperback)

This is an excellent teaching tool for families with children who have Asperger's Syndrome. Kristi Sakai, the mother of three children with Asperger's provides excellent tips; explanations and vivid vignettes describing spectrum behavior. The book also includes funny little drawings that are clear and direct and people on the spectrum should have no difficulty decoding their expressions. I love this book!

Kristi Sakai was blessed with the gift of humor. Humor is one impetus that keeps this book rolling. I love her quick quips for judgmental comments people endure when their child is suffering during a meltdown or having trouble navigating on social territory. This book really is a Godsend!

One part that made me laugh was when Sakai wrote about a boy who disliked baths because of sensory issues and provided very real, very legitimate reasons for why he resisted enduring them. I also like the way she provided an alternative approach to ensure his cooperation during an unpleasant activity. The part that had me laughing was when she said her daughter Kaede, upon being needled about not liking to have her hair washed, said she didn't have to suffer that unpleasant activity - she poured the shampoo down the sink! (Sounds like the kind of thing I would have done - only I poured shampoo in the toilet at that age or in the tub and said it was bubble bath). In all honesty, hair washing is about the least favorite activity of many, myself included.

Regardless of where on the spectrum you are, on or off or someone directly involved with people who do have Asperger's, you will get a lot of mileage out of this book and will often turn to it. It is one of the best teaching guides I have ever come across.