Ira Glovinsky, PhD Psychologist, Interdisciplinary Center for the Family; Co-author of Bipolar Patterns in Children (2002) and Mood Swings in Babies and Children (2007) “Nancy Wiseman has provided us with a classic and a treasure. Her book belongs in the hands of every parent who is going through the journey of parenting a child with an autism spectrum disorder and every professional who works with families with children on the autism spectrum. She does a remarkable job of presenting the sequence of steps that evolves into a comprehensive treatment plan. No one whom I have read has provided such a comprehensive guide. This is a major contribution to the field and will be invaluable to all families and professionals.”
Karen Levine, Ph.D., Psychologist and Developmental Specialist, Helping Children with Challenges, Harvard Medical School Teaching Faculty
“Nancy Wiseman’s The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders is like a very wise and caring best friend who has “been there,” in the form of a book. Wiseman sustains a calm, reasoned, and logical step by step tone, tackling all angles of what parents need to know and do. While comprehensive, this book is informative without being overwhelming. In a time where there are more questions than answers about autism, and parents of newly diagnosed children are often presented with insistent “Do’s and Don’ts” from well meaning professionals and friends, this book serves as an anchor and island of sanity.”
Ricki Robinson, MD, MPH, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Co-Director, Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning
“Nancy Wiseman's book provides straightforward yet compassionate information for parents and families affected by autism. She clearly outlines what to expect and how to organize the journey to maximize a family’s effort to help their child be all that he can be. This book should quickly become a classic. She has done a superb job of mapping out the first year in a family’s life once a child has been diagnosed with an ASD—which can be overwhelming and frightening. Every parent with a newly diagnosed child with ASD should have this book on their shelf.”
Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Director, Childhood Communication Services and Adjunct Professor, Center for the Study of Human Development at Brown University
“OVERWHELMED. This is the first experience of most parents when they receive a diagnosis of ASD for their child. Where to go, what to do? Nancy Wiseman has provided clear direction for parents in this essential resource that will be of great value for parents and professionals.”
James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York (Library Journal Xpress Review, 3/27/2009, Starred Review
Verdict: A comprehensive guide for parents coping with their child’s recent autism spectrum diagnosis. Strongly recommended for consumer health collections.
Background: Wiseman’s excellent hands-on overview of the first-year following a child’s diagnosis is based on her experience as president of First Signs, Inc., a national organization she founded to educate parents and professionals about the early signs of autism syndromes. Like Bryan Jepson in Changing the Course of Autism, Wiseman tries to stretch the understanding of autism from purely neurological/behavioral impairments to encompass "the entire body, including the brain, gut, and immune and metabolic systems." The book lays out day-by day, month-by-month guidelines for emotional acceptance and handling the details of home care, special education, insurance and medical costs, and negotiating with medical agencies and social bureaucracies.
About.com, 10/13
“I highly recommend this book to the parent who has already dealt with the initial autism diagnosis, found an acceptable setting for their child, and is ready to dig deeper.”
