The books that helped us as our autistic kids grew up; from pre-school to teenager

I was pretty sure that our eldest was autistic before he was diagnosed. But it was still an odd feeling to hear it confirmed.  The paediatrician seemed to be expecting tears or questions and it made me feel nervous - it made the diagnosis feel like an occasion.

Summer book ideas for the kids that will get them doing things

Books are great for many kids including those with autism.  They are great because they can give kids a starter for their imagination and they often provide the security of a routine - a story is the same each time you read it. So how can we use books to create more activities to expand their use during the holidays?

Kids books about autism, difference and acceptance

I’ve loved reading books with autistic characters and even more so, books with autistic kids characters too.  But I can’t share these with my kids yet. Especially as our younger kids are six and eight and the eight year old has many communication challenges. However for this audience (my kids) these books are all perfect.

J.R.R. Tolkien and our ADHD son

I love the Hobbit.  First time I read it I was nine years old.  It inspired most of my reading.  I loved many things about it. The battle of good and evil, the adventure, the underdog finding themselves.  Anthony turned 10 last year and he's no where near reading such a book.  When he watched Lord of the Rings over Christmas, I understood a bit more about why.

Four inclusive and supportive kids books

Through no fault of their own, many kids books miss out on the opportunity to be inclusive.  Many writers draw on their own experiences when writing and creating stories, so it's maybe not a surprise.  But I've found a few books that show inclusion in their stories and support kids in being themselves.

Three books for parents of newly diagnosed autistic kids

I was pretty sure that our eldest was autistic before he was diagnosed. But it was still an odd feeling to hear it confirmed.  The paediatrician seemed to be expecting tears or questions and it made me feel nervous - it made the diagnosis feel like an occasion.

Holiday books - for the kids

Summer.  Are you lounging by the pool with a good book?  Are your kids?  No?  Well don't worry if they are. While I may be loving my copy of Talking Autism: Parenting Your Unique Child, many people read in the holidays to escape. And this can be the case for kids too.

Top three books with autistic kids

I don't get the chance to read often and when I do get a bit of time, I like a bit of fact and fiction.  Like these books with autistic adult characters, I often go back to ones with autistic kid characters too. Not only are that full of fantastic plots or heart-breaking truths but I connect with them in a way I don't with other books.  My boys connect with books in a unique way too.  Why not have a read of my top three and see what you think?

Seeing things from another point of view with AniMalcolm

Sometimes it's not easy to think about others.  It's easy to think about ourselves. And that's the most natural thing to do.  Evolution has mostly meant looking out for one's safety and we even develop by first thinking about ourselves in what seems like a selfish fashion.  Young children need to be taught to share because the part of their mind that allows them to think about others is still developing.

Three well-thumbed books with autistic characters

Whereas some people wonder if Sherlock Holmes had Asperger's Syndrome, it's difficult to tell if this fictional character was designed on the autistic spectrum.  However, there are some absolutely brilliant novels which are, in my opinion, better for their autistic adult characters.  Even though I tend not to re-read books, mostly due to time, I find myself thumbing through for favourite scenes.  I've read lots with autistic children but I wonder about adulthood too.  I know few autistic adults and in some ways, though glamourised by text, these books give me some insight. Here's three of my well-thumbed ones that you may enjoy and learn a little from too.

WonderfulWednesday: @autisticnw and "What we love most about life"

This week's wonderful Wednesday share is a short video from Chris Bonnello at Autistic Not Weird. It's a video of the colour proof of his book - 'What we love most about life' that was on the Autistic Not Weird Facebook page.

Guess How Much I Love You

Books have always played a big role in our home. From helping our autistic boys access their imagination to immersing the all our children in words - books provide a source of education and fun for our family. We use basic books to label items to help increase vocabulary.  One of the greatest opportunities is that of shared attention or activity.  The joy and skill of doing something together and what better way to do that than with a snuggle book.

Books in the summer

Summer.  Are you lounging by the pool with a good book?  Are your kids?  No?  Well don't worry if they are. Books can be escapism for kids too. Read this post

The Snare (STAR WARS)

Getting our eldest son to read anything is challenging.  He's an eight year old boy interested in Formula One and there aren't many novels about that.  But a while ago be started enjoying Star Wars so we thought we'd try The Snare by Cavan Scott.  It's the first in a series called Adventures in Wild Space a Star Wars spin off aimed at children 5-8 years old.

Getting into the television

Jane and I were walking through a nearby park.  The sun was shining and if you stepped off the shady path into the sun you could almost forget the chilly breeze.  A gentleman with a dog, a big coat and hat walked past us.  Jane was busy commenting on some crocuses that were coming up through the grass.  As she looked back she saw the gentleman and said to me, "Look, I can see Sven."

Of course, she was talking about Sven from Disney's Frozen. By the time I'd figured out what she was saying, the gentleman was a bit far away to say hello, so we talked for a moment how we might see him again another day.  I also made a mental note to talk again to Jane, who is nearly three years old, about not talking to strangers without mummy or daddy.

Then, Jane announced that she had an idea. She'd figured out how we could see 'Sven' again. "You need to get some scissors and cut a hole in the television." Ahhh.. yes, that way we can get into Frozen.

Jane and I laughed loudly for a few minutes while I talked about how we can't cut a hole in the television.

Wouldn't that be silly, clever idea, but a bit silly.

Kids are going to lose themselves in virtual reality when it comes out. However, the event also reminded me of the literal thinking her brother showed in a similar circumstance.

Anthony is an eight year old boy with autism.  Like many autistic children he uses television and books to help him with his imagination.  He was reading a book from school about a magical adventure. Often if Anthony is reading a book that sparks interest we will try and find a way to allow him to experience this.  For example, in one story the children were transported back in time to the Blitz.  We took Anthony to the Imperial War museum to see what life was like during the war.

However, this magical adventure was a bit too far for us to 'visit'.  Anthony had mentioned the trip to the museum to his teachers and they had suggested he imagine being in the new magical story.  So at bedtime whilst reading his book, Anthony asked me, "But mum, how do I get into the story." 

I looked closely at him and realised he wasn't just looking closely at his book, he was physically pushing his cheek into the page.  Next he got out of bed and put it onto the floor to jump into the pages 'Mary Poppins into a chalk pavement picture' style. Like many autistic people, he has had difficulty with communication and realising the real value or meaning of some phrases and questions.

It was adorable of course.  Then we talked about the real meaning of 'getting into the story' and he is now pretty good at using his imagination this way.

As for Jane, well, we are hoping to visit one of the Disney theme parks at Easter.  This will surely blow her mind.

Links
Our blog - Beautiful Belle has a point about books
Our blog - Rocky reality: Autism and imagination

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Beautiful Belle has a point about books for autistic kids

It's not uncommon for Disney characters to appear to have the odd autistic trait. The little mermaid was obsessed with the human world and Rex from Toy Story doesn't like change for example. But maybe the most common similarity is characters who aren't understood by others, like Belle.

Never taught how to break the ice, in a different key

Is it possible that people with autism are still locked away?  I simply couldn't imagine being parted from my children or them being hidden from society because they happen to be autistic.  This is undoubtedly what used to happen as reported in The Daily Telegraph this Saturday by Kate Chisholm whilst reviewing 'In a Different Key' by John Donvan and Caren Zucker. 

As I read the review I was, as I have been many times, so relieved to be living in a time and country where my children are not taken to state-run institutions where they will be pumped full of various narcotics in an attempt to 'normalise' or placate their behaviour.

One of the keys parts of the review focused on the blame put on mothers for their children being autistic. According to the review, an article in Times Magazine in April 1948 ran an article that suggested these (my) 'frosted children' became so because their 'refrigerator  mothers' failed to bond with them.  I suspect it is simply that the mothers were never given the tools to break through the ice.

I remember having a feeling of disappointment after my first son had his first speech and language therapy session.  They hadn't done or said anything?  In fact all the therapist seemed to do was show me specific ways of playing with my darling boy.  As if I didn't spend all day sometimes trying to play with him.  She had pointed out a few things she was doing and gave notes to me on them afterwards.

Of course I realised that I was being given strategies to do therapy at home.  It was simple things like encouraging gap filling, encouraging requesting, encouraging eye contact and all just by changing the way I spoke and moved. Our second child needed more assistance in the form of my learning Makaton sign language and him using a picture exchange system to communicate. In both occasions, I was given the strategies and equipment to help my 'frosted children', indeed, I as given the tools to break the ice and help them access the world around them.

I'm so thankful that attitudes and 'healthcare' described were not frozen in time.  Speech and language therapy along with many other types of therapy such as occupational therapy is not simply dispensed at an institution or health centre.  Certainly for us, it's a way of expanding my sons horizons and is delivered on a daily basis with a mother's love and compassion.  And when there is a breakthrough, the results simply melt my heart.

Links
Our Blog - Why ALL forms of communication are awesome, it's not all about talking
Our Blog - Comments from Steve Silberman on Neurotribes

External
The Telegraph - In a Different Key