Understanding Autism For Dummies [Paperback]

Stephen Shore (Author), Linda G. Rastelli (Author), Temple Grandin (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2006

Autism affects more than 1 million children and adults in the United States, and parents may be confused by the behavior of autistic children. This book provides help-and hope-by explaining the differences between various types of autism and delivering the lowdown on behavioral, educational, medical, other interventions. Featuring inspiring autism success stories as well as a list of organizations where people who support those with autism can go for additional help, it offers practical advice on how to educate children as well as insights on helping people with autism use their strengths to maximize their potential in life.

Stephen Shore, EdD (Brookline MA), serves on the board for several autism spectrum-related organizations and he has written Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (1-931282-00-5) and edited Ask and Tell: Self Advocacy and Disclosure For People on the Autism Spectrum (1-931282-58-7).
Linda G. Rastelli (Middletown, NJ) is a veteran journalist who specializes in health and business.
Temple Grandin, PhD (Fort Collins, CO) is the author of the bestselling Thinking in Pictures (0-679-77289-8) and Emergence: Labeled Autistic (0-446-67182-7).

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Identify signs and symptoms for early intervention

Get the right diagnosis and customized treatment plan for your loved one or yourself

This reassuring guide explains the symptoms of autism, how it's diagnosed, and the current options for treatment. You'll get helpful information on the latest in genetic and biomedical research, as well as coverage of special-needs financial planning, legal rights for education, and handling issues unique to adults with autism.

Discover how to

• Find and work with autism specialists
• Create and help manage an effective educational plan for your child
• Enhance communication and social skills
• Evaluate treatment options
• Explore other helpful autism resources

About the Author

Stephen M. Shore received a regressive autism diagnosis at age 18 months, became nonverbal, and was deemed “too sick” to be treated on an outpatient basis. Today, he’s finishing a doctoral degree focused on helping people with autism lead fulfilling and productive lives. When not teaching college-level courses in special education and teaching children with autism how to play musical instruments, he consults and presents on autism-related issues internationally. Some topics of particular interest to him include comparative approaches for helping people with autism, education, and disaster preparedness for people with disabilities. He also focuses on challenges faced by adults in terms of self-advocacy, disclosure, post-secondary education, employment, interdependent living, and relationships.
Stephen holds bachelor degrees in music and accounting and information systems from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also holds a masters degree in music education and is on the cusp of finishing his doctorate in education from Boston University. Although he seems to spend most of his time traveling in airplanes (Boeing 747-400 preferred), he resides in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife on the rare occasions when he’s home.

Linda G. Rastelli is an award-winning journalist, instructional designer, and author with 20 years of experience in writing and designing instruction for health, education, and business topics. In her career, she has focused on making complex and technical information understandable to the layperson. Although she has covered subjects ranging from financial ratio analysis to educational reform, her most challenging inquiry to date — an undertaking that has made her other projects look like finger painting in comparison — has been autism.
Linda holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Delaware and a masters degree from Columbia University. She lives on the New Jersey coast with her husband and her cat, who have reached a blissful state of detente. She hopes to keep her day job.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525476
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525476
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You need not be Dummies to benefit from this book, October 4, 2006

By 

Kristi A. Sakai (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding Autism For Dummies (Paperback)

Finally! A book that gives a clear overview of pretty much every aspect related to autism spectrum disorder: from "classic autism" to Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. It covers diagnosis, medical and biochemical interventions, sensory issues, learning environments, education, social skills and relationships from pre-school through adulthood. And much more! How can one book address so many topics on one book? Even I'm dumbfounded it can be done...and I guess that's the point. It's Autism for Dummies, which means it gives the briefest most concise explanation. It is written in a clear and understandable manner than ANYONE can simply pick it up, scan through it and get a good handle on what autism is. This is an excellent reference book that every school and parent should have in their library to quickly thumb through for a quick explanation. I, as a parent of three children with ASD, have purchased SEVEN copies (so far!); one for myself to use a continual quick reference book, and 6 others for the professionals who work with my kids.

Do you have relatives or people who work with your child who are always asking you questions you are having difficulty explaining? It's not that you don't know the answers! (Because, of course you DO). It's that sometimes the explanation is complicated and uses terminology they aren't familiar with. Autism for Dummies can provide the simple explanations for you, or you can pass the book on to those with questions and let Grandma or teacher peruse at will. My personal recommendation is to hand it over with little self-deprecating humor saying something akin to, "Well I finally found a book that explains autism to me!" (As if you aren't really the expert you are!) And offer to share it.

The book itself stands alone, but I find further solace in the fact that I can trust the information is accurate because one of the co-authors is Stephen Shore, an international presenter and author on the subject of autism and Asperger Syndrome, and he just so happens to be an individual with autism himself. Temple Grandin wrote the foreward and believe me when I say that if Temple didn't approve of the information in this book, she wouldn't have put her stamp of approval on it by contributing. Her standards are high. It's an excellent resource and I highly recommend it.

kristi sakai, MOM of three with autism and author of
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very complete and helpful guide..., September 20, 2006

By 

Grandma "Kathy" (Ocala, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Autism For Dummies (Paperback)

Over the past three years since we began to suspect my grandson was autistic, I have accumulated a large library on the subject. Many of the books covered or advocated specific types of treatment, or information on school special education, or finances and autism, or possible causes, or personal success stories or even stories of acceptance when success didn't happen. This book covers them all, and more, and does it well. I'm getting another copy for my son and daughter-in-law, although by now they are experts, not dummies.. This is a really EXCELLENT contribution to the available literature on this increasingly common developmental condition. Don't miss it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an invaluable resource!, January 28, 2007

By 

Billie R. Hoch (Limerick, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding Autism For Dummies (Paperback)

Whether you are new to the world of autism or you are a "veteran" reader/researcher, this book is a must have. It is comprehensive, yet easy to read. This book is an invaluable resource for parents and educators. As an elementary special educator, I plan to keep this book in my classroom for easy reference for regular education teachers, counselors, and administrators. I recommend it to all the parents of my autistic students. As a grad school student, I have recommended it to the college as required reading for preservice special education teachers. As a parent, of an autistic child, I plan to purchase an extra copy and make sure that my son's school has this book in their library. I just wish this book had existed when my son was first diagnosed!

Congratulations to Stephen Shore for providing this guide!