Succeeding with Autism: Hear My Voice [Paperback]

Judith H. Cohen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2005

Michael is a young man who has succeeded in managing his autism and is experiencing success in life despite a diagnosis that might have predicted only disability and despair. He did not talk during his early childhood and displayed the classic traits of a severely autistic child, but he has broken out of his silence to help others to learn from his insights and experiences. An explosion of newly diagnosed cases of autism has resulted in a keen interest in the stories of autistic individuals, and many people are touched by knowing a family with an autistic child. This unique book reveals what has been a silent world in the voice of an insightful, articulate young adult with autism. The book also gives perspectives from Michael's family, friends and the professionals who have known him from diagnosis in early childhood through to adult, independent life. After each chapter, the author presents "reflections" that highlight the key issues pertinent to autism and the relevant stage of development. Michael's story is poignant and moving, and provides information and hope to families of autistic individuals and the professionals who work with them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'One day I naively asked Michael what's it like to be autistic. He replied, "I don't know. I've always been autistic."' --from Succeeding with Autism

About the Author

Judith H. Cohen is a Full Professor of Education at Adelphi University, New York. She holds a Ph.D. in Literacy Education with a specialization in special education. Dr. Cohen is also an attorney in New York State and works as a child advocate in both school districts and the courts. She is a published author of many articles, curriculum materials and textbooks, and has been a well respected teacher and educator for over 30 years. She has devoted her life to both advocating for and educating children and their teachers. Dr. Cohen met "Michael" when he entered the teacher education program she coordinated at the University and has been a friend of his and his family since that time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub (April 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843107937
• ISBN-13: 978-1843107934
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #470,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Listen to Autism!, December 11, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Succeeding with Autism: Hear My Voice (Paperback)

Michael is the young man featured in this book. He displayed severely autistic behavior as a child and his language skills were delayed. Fortunately he was enrolled in a local school and had a lot of support services. He saw therapists for the majority of his early years.

Even with the support he received, Michael's behavior remained impulsive and erratic. He also had major meltdowns and violent episodes. Sadly, he served a 2-month hospital sentence when he was 9. The experience could not have been anything but traumatic. Michael describes being bound in sheets when he had meltdowns; he said that the same behavior that earned him a 20-minute time-out at home and in class netted him a 4-5 hour lockdown in the hospital. To make matters worse, he was not allowed to have visitors on days his behavior was out of control. It sounded like a truly heinous experience and Michael even saw his life as being before and after the sentence he served at 9. This was plainly the demarcating line in his life.

Meltdowns were an issue Michael spent years trying to control. He had a major meltdown at the end of his own Bar Mitzvah after a change in plans. Michael's behavior did not suggest Asperger's, which is the spectrum partner to autism. His behavior hollered autism and, over time, his autistic behaviors became less obvious. He had cognitively learned how to conceal many of them.

Michael became a brother when he was 6 and his relationship with his younger brother Scot remained rocky. Both sons as well as their teachers and therapists are interviewed and their voices flesh out and round out the experience of coping with autism. Scot, in addition to coping with his brother had ADD to contend with. He and Michael were vastly different in personality and interests. Unlike Michael, who was very introverted, Scot was an outgoing personality who could not understand why Michael had such lackadaisical grooming habits and little interest in meeting peers.

The boys would part company over the years; when their parents got divorced, Scot stayed with their mother while Michael moved in with their father. From the telling, the arrangement sounded like it worked well.

In time, Michael was able to mask his autistic tendencies in public. He graduated from college and, at last count was a mathematics instructor at a nearby school.

This book was, for the most part interesting, but lagged in parts. The best message it has to offer aside from how well a person with autism did academically is that it brings home the reminder to listen to people with autism. Being heard is very empowering.