Thinking Person's Guide To Autism [Paperback]

Shannon Des Roches Rosa (Author), Jennifer Byde Myers (Author), Liz Ditz (Author), Emily Willingham (Author), Carol Greenburg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2011

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism (TPGA) is the resource we wish we'd had when autism first became part of our lives: a one-stop source for carefully curated, evidence-based information from autism parents, autistics, and autism professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Refreshingly free of dogma, disinformation, and heavy-handed agendas, The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism is an oasis of sanity, compassion, and hope for people on the spectrum and those who love them. --Steve Silberman, senior writer for Wired magazine and autism/neurodiversity blogger for the Public Library of Science

This is a book of HOPE. The underlying message is that however tough things may be, however difficult they may get, don't give up. Things can and generally, but not always will get better and there are resources available and people willing to help you give your child the best possible life. I believe this book may be the turning point in the lives of many parents of autistic children, but what do I know? I am an autistic adult and I contributed --Rory Patton, self-advocate, Springing Tiger

When Hank got his autism diagnosis, they gave us a binder from Autism Speaks. [Thinking Person's Guide to Autism] is the book I wish we'd been given. --Colin Meloy of The Decemberists and Wildwood

About the Author

Editors: Shannon Des Roches Rosa Jennifer Byde Myers Liz Ditz Emily Willingham Carol Greenburg

Product Details

• Paperback: 355 pages
• Publisher: Deadwood City Publishing (November 18, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0692010556
• ISBN-13: 978-0692010556
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insider's scoop on everything autism, December 29, 2011

By 

Denise Somsak (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thinking Person's Guide To Autism (Paperback)

As a pediatrician and mom to an 8 year old autistic boy, I found this book to be authentic and spot on. The book addresses practical autism issues like parental/caregiver stress, planning for your child's future, meltdowns, potential guilt over not refusing vaccines and not trying the myriad of costly pseudoscience treatments, the role of the education system, friends, therapists, and medications. Many of the topics were blog posts from various internet sites; thus, they read like a collection of greatest hits by parents and specialists affected by autism in their own lives. THEY GET IT. They share their joy, sorrow, anger, mistakes and speak of real solutions not false promises of cure. Even as a well read medical provider and parent, I still learned from this book. Some of the topics covered are short on detail, but the reader is referred to other quality sources for in depth coverage.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazingly Helpful And Inspirational Guide, January 30, 2012

By 

Ellen Seidman (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thinking Person's Guide To Autism (Paperback)

Thinking Person's Guide To Autism has set a new standard for special needs parenting books. It is packed with the practical, helpful and necessary information parents need to know--but it also offers much comfort, hope and inspiration. While it's an outstanding first book to reach for after a diagnosis of autism, those in the throes of autism parenting or who have grown children will also discover much that is useful. And this guide isn't just relevant to autism; I have a child with cerebral palsy, and found so much in the book insightful, from dealing with meltdowns to creating a Special Education PTA.

Each chapter is written by a different person: one of the authors (the five women behind the TPGA site), top experts, powerful voices from the blogosphere and beyond, and well-known advocates including Holly Robinson Peete and Susan Senator. There's step-by-step info, explanations of various therapies, resources, debunking of myths, heartfelt musings on acceptance, hard-hitting looks at causes, treatment, education and inclusion. The essays are beautifully written, moving and smart; one of my favorites is "Buying Hope" by Jennifer Byde Myers (mom to a child with autism and cerebral palsy) about the endless products and potions we parents purchase to help our kids, and how to avoid wasting your money and emotional energy.

I've been turned off by other guidebooks for special needs parenting because I've found them to be negative, unrealistic or both. Thinking Person's Guide To Autism, however, is empowering and all about real life. You'll want to read this book not because you "should" but because you will be grateful that you did; it's bound to improve your life as the parent of a child with special needs, and your child's life, too.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Essential Guidebook for Your Autism Journey -- a Must Read!, January 11, 2012

By 

Gail Pubols - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thinking Person's Guide To Autism (Paperback)

An excellent, comprehensive, balanced and very readable collection of essays that answer all of the questions you might have about autism. This book illuminates the way forward for both parents of autistic children and adults who are starting to recognize autism in themselves. Far away from the stereotype of Rainman and the emotional blame-game surrounding vaccines, The Thinking Person's Guide To Autism presents a thoughtful picture of the realities of autism as told by parents, professionals, and most importantly, autistic people themselves, who are all too often ignored by those who would purport to help them.

My son was diagnosed as moderately/severely autistic 2 years ago at age 2.5 and in those 2 years I have spent countless hours researching anything and everything about autism. I have wasted a lot of time on unproven theories and methods, and have had a lot of worry about therapies, the school system and his future. I could have saved myself a lot of time, money, and stress if this guidebook had only been released 3 years ago. When we first had our suspicions about our son, we were told: "He's just a boy, wait until he is 3, you are overreacting...", but it is so important not to wait! If you are a parent who suspects that your child is autistic, you have come to the right place. Order this book now and start off on your journey with a sound autism education. Read it, then give it to anyone who is going to come in contact with your child -- it really helps for everyone on your "team" to be on the same page, especially grandparents (old autism stereotypes die hard, but this book will help). The editors have done all of the hard work for you and sifted through the immense mountain of falsehoods and hype surrounding autism -- putting together a complete and sensible guidebook for living with autism and helping autistic people function in a neurotypical world. Autism is not the end of the world, and in fact can be quite a gift -- but you need to educate yourself to navigate the world of autism. The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism is an excellent place to start.