Customer Reviews

Hope for the Autism Spectrum: A Mother and Son Journey of Insight and Biomedical Intervention

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The Autism Research Institute highly recommends this book (I have attached their review below). I think that speaks volumes about the value of the book content. I can also tell you that the book is easy to read and understand (and even entertaining at times). It provides detailed information to parents about how they can help their children through changes in diet and by reducing exposure to environmental toxins. Its value lies in its heartfelt story and in its nuts-and-bolts advice.

Here is the Autism Research Institute review:
Sallie Kirk joins the ranks of Warrior Moms who have turned author with her new book Hope for the Autism Spectrum, (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, September 2008). In her first-hand account of the journey she's taken through the autism spectrum with her son Will, she describes how her experiences using a biomedical approach served to vastly improve the quality of his life.

As Will's story unfolds over the course of this 320-page book, readers learn of the many biomedical interventions available - all told from a mother's invaluable first-hand perspective.
A strong proponent of the Defeat Autism Now! approach (a project of the Autism Research Institute -ARI), Ms. Kirk describes with careful detail the progress Will made in the care of a physician skilled at implementing these treatments, and includes ARI's Parental Ratings of Biomedical Interventions in the appendix of her book.

Hope for the Autism Spectrum received the coveted starred (noteworthy) review in the Library Journal, which called it "An essential book for public libraries." Read the Library Journal review online

Although biomedical treatment is generally recommended as early as possible, Ms. Kirk's story proves that it's never too late: she didn't begin biomedical treatment with Will until he was 11, and it was these very interventions that made a huge difference in his progress.

A highly recommended book for parents who want to learn about how biomedical interventions can help their child.

I got this book on a recommendation from a friend and by the time I had gotten through the forward, I was crying b/c the Author had already given me what the title stated - HOPE. What I love most about the book is that the Author is very open w/ her experiences and the path that they took - nothing is "good' or "bad" it either helped them or it didn't. It is very personal and is more like you are walking along side her and her family in their journey. She is not "pro" anything she tried both meds and bio-medical and found benefits to both depending on the point of the journey that they were on. Basically, reading this book feels like you are having a conversation with a friend.

As a mother with a child on the autism spectrum, this book hit home and has finally given me hope with my son!!! Sally Kirk explained how a child can benefit with biomedical intervention in a very reader friendly way and so a mother without a chemical engineering background can understand the steps in this process. Thank you so much Sally for giving us this book. FINALLY we are given hope versus being told by pediatricians that there is no cure for autism. I disagree!!

I have read practically every biomedical book out there on autism for my little boy. Most of my books find new homes. This book will be on my shelf for a long time. If you have read Dr. Kenneth Bock book on autism and Dr Mccandles book you know they are good and this one is right up there with them. I felt the first part of the book was a little drawn out. The last part of the book has a wealth of information with the newest information you will need. From some of the best probiotics to purchase to alternating different fungal medications. There is even a website you can go to, if you can't afford a DAN doctor to get you the tests you need, you can go through this site to get the tests without a doctor. This book really helped me to understand more about yeast and clostradia and alot of other matters that most autistic children have and i consider I now have an arsenal of information to help my little boy. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone trying to save there child through biomedical intervention. Great book.

This book really amazed me. I had read other books on biomedical interventions but nothing like hearing from a mother on real experiences and results. It also contains huge amounts of scientific information told in very easy and understandable language. Her references of research papers and scientific publications have proven invaluable to talk to doctors about these treatments because we can back them up as real medical science.
I recommend this book to any parent, even if your kids are not on the autism spectrum, but specially if they are. 'Normal' kids' parents will benefit from all the information on how to protect your kids, and autism spectrum parents will be guided to helping and healing your kids.
I would like to thank the author for her bravery on publishing it and for all the work that undoubtly went into it.

I was very impressed with this book. From someone who does not have a DAN doctor for their autistic son, but is very knowledgeable in the DAN protocol, I really like this book because it gives a lot of very great information on what to do to help your child. The author takes a very difficult subject-the autism spectrum, and breaks it down into very understandable reading because it is written in a more conversational tone. It is as if you had a very knowledgeable best friend explaining the biomedical route to treating autism, taking you by your hand, explaining the meaning of technical terms and leading you to the best help available. She also explains the treatments first hand, as it applied to her son, dealing with the emotions and successes of his improvement. The author backs up her information with many, many citations from credible researchers and medical doctors and does a great job of taking the mystery out of treating autism. I highly recommend this book.

I find this book easier to follow than many others that have been published. I started reading this a few weeks before seeing a DAN! doctor, and this book provided me with a solid foundation of the basics of biomedical treatment. The book is written in terms parents can understand without needing a medical background. I'm a visual learner, so the flowcharts are very helpful in understanding cause and effect. Also, there are good appendices. I refer to this book often.

The following review was written by Jennifer James of "The Mom Salon" for mom bloggers ([...]), and also appeared in the 10/26/08 issue of the Schrader Autism Report.

I want to preface this book review by saying that neither one of my daughters has autism or autism spectrum disorder, but as I delved deeper into Hope for the Autism Spectrum I found myself surprised by how riveted I became in Sally Kirk's moving story of living with a child who does indeed have the disorder and determined immediately that this is the book that I will recommend to anyone I run across who is dealing with autism on any level.
In Hope for the Autism Spectrum: A Mother and Son Journey of Insight and Biomedical Intervention, Sally Kirk lays everything on the table about the disorder and doesn't hold back detailing her experience discovering that her child had autism spectrum disorder and describes in laymen's terms the latest medical treatments and scientific advances to help improve the lives of children like her son.
Parents who begin seeing telltale signs of autism in their toddlers will find a refuge in this deeply personal tome of a family's life living with a child with autism spectrum disorder and a mother's incessant drive to help find the necessary help desperately needed by her son.
What makes Sally Kirk's story and extensive research so essential for children affected by this disorder is she looked at the underlying physical problems of her son and figured out ways to minimize his symptoms by altering his diet, using nutritional supplements, and staying away from heavy metals. All of Kirk's recommendations in her book are easy to understand and have minimal costs.
Every part of Sally Kirk's book is easy to understand and in reading it you will hear the reassurances of a parent seasoned in this disorder. Essentially, you will feel as though Kirk is tightly holding your hand throughout your own process of coming to terms with your child who may be showing signs of autism spectrum disorder or has already been diagnosed.
Hope for the Autism Spectrum is a book that should be on every family's shelf who is going through the early trials of autism as it will save them a lot of heartache. As its title suggests Hope for the Autism Spectrum does offer limitless hope for its readers, but beyond that Kirk's writing and tone throughout assure every bleary-eyed, seemingly defeated parent who is going through this disorder that the light is indeed bright at the end of the tunnel.

A wonderful book that is both enjoyable to read and will make a profound difference in your special needs childs life and yours. A must read for anyone who wants to help children on the autism spectrum.