Sue's Reviews The Official Autism 101 Manual Created and compiled by Karen L. Simmons Winner 1st place Gold Medal in Medication, Health and Nutrition at the 11th Annual IPPY Awards Competition presentation during Book Expo 2007 We live in a world of ‘How To’ manuals. How to fix it, build it, find it, change it. But when I was growing up, and when my ‘Aspie’ son was growing up , there wasn’t much out there for support with Autism. We were barely at the ‘How To Identify It’ stage for Pete’s sake! My son is an adult now. In fact he just spent 7 weeks traveling around Europe with a couple of friends, and HE was the resourceful one! Meanwhile, back at the ranch, his mother was having a meltdown. A life time of inadvertently stepping on peoples toes and violating their rules caught up with me AGAIN, and I found myself ruminating over all the times I have felt as though everyone else got some kind of guide book for this planet and I didn’t. Then I was given this book to review. As is my habit I flipped the book open near the back and read a page or two. Then three. Then a couple more. I read the following with particular interest; “I am a female with Asperger’s Syndrome, I was born and raised abroad and now live in the USA. My diagnosis was given to me when I was 37 years old, opening the doors for me to harmoniously try to channelize my autistic journey which began so long ago.” I had to take a little break at that point because my mind was racing. I mean I know that Asperger’s is thought to have a genetic component, and I’ve wondered about some of the troubles I have had ‘fitting in’ and messing with people’s boundaries, but as I continued to read through this manual, I was astonished at the variety of information and the number of things that just fit. Years of confusion and self-doubt began to bubble to the surface, and I thought, ‘Where the heck was this book 30 years ago!!’ Author Karen Simmons is the mother of six, two with special needs, and one of those with Aspergers. She is the founder and CEO of Autism Today, which is a world leader in providing resources for Autism. Also a speaker and conference coordinator in this field, she was a perfect candidate for the creation of this book, which just received a prestigious gold medal for outstanding content through the independent Publishers Book Awards in new York coming in ahead of Stem Cell Repair and The Type II diabetes Crisis in America Today. An authority herself by world standards, Simmons has pulled together 44 of the foremost experts and caregivers n the field of Autism to compile this manual, covering everything from early diagnosis to, how to cope; from the apparent rise in Autistic Spectrum disorders to treatment methodologies; and from historical perspectives to planning for the future Simmons’ own story is both heartwarming and life affirming. To find out about all the areas she has become successfully involved in, you might think she is Superwoman and in a way she is. But first and foremost she is a mother with the maternal instincts of a tiger and the heart of a lion. I was not always the supportive patient mother I wanted to be. Don’t get me wrong, I think I’ve been a great mum for my aspie – there are things I’ve understood that only he and I know, and as a result, we are very connected. But not understanding my own challenges made it difficult to be patient with his, and when the stress levels got too high for either one of us, there were explosions! Over the years I’ve taken great personal strides in learning to love our oddities. We’ve had to learn to do a lot of things through trial and error – ultimately that’s what we all do anyway. But what a gift to have the Autism 101 Manual! Now trial and error doesn’t need to feel like flailing around in the dark. Take a one-step-at-a-time approach to using the tools that have worked for others, knowing there is an arsenal of support and information available. So, either you’ve just found out your child is autistic, or you’ve been plugging along trying to find the time and energy to gather all the information you need. Where do you go? How do you start? These are important questions that are answered here, but more than that, the brief yet complete descriptions of autistic behaviours, resources, and anecdotal illustrations of family life with an autistic are the threads that connect those who are still confused, to a very real world of hope and support. Chicken Soup for the Soul Children With Special Needs Co-authors Karen Simmons, Heather McNamara, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen Some years ago, I was battling some sort of cold/flu thing, and a friend dropped off a tub of chicken soup. “It’s home made,” she said. “My grandmother said it actually helps you get better. She always swore by this recipe.” Silently I swore a little myself. Thoughtful though the idea was, my tummy was exercising it's right to Just Say No! I thanked her and promised to warm some up and eat it later. Of course I didn’t get off that easily. Suddenly she was Florence Nightingale in full bloom, determined I should have the healing broth immediately. My little visiting virus didn’t hang around much longer. Who knows why – maybe my disposition was inhospitable, or just maybe eating chicken soup when you’re sick isn’t simply an old wives tale. Most of us are familiar with the Chicken Soup For The Soul series, a seemingly inexhaustible storehouse of short essays and personal experiences designed to lend hope and support to a variety of challenging life situations. Co-authors, Jack Canfield, also in “The Secret”, Mark Victor Hansen, Heather McNamara have all been instrumental in helping make the world an easier more loving place for those seeking safe haven for their hearts and minds in an increasingly demanding world. Author Karen Simmons, a mother of two special needs children and founder of Autism Today™ joined the “Co-author” team for a brand new Chicken Soup book called “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs. When the Chicken Soup publishing group decided to do this project they were astonished by the submissions - a record 5000 stories which still continue to roll in despite the expired submission date! Aphorisms, quotes and cartoons are scattered liberally throughout this collection of tales about living and giving, growing and knowing. The stories came from so many backgrounds and perspectives, dealing with issues such as adjusting, gratitude, breaking barriers, independence, and community. Contributions came from everyone – parents, siblings, teachers and people with disabilities, giving us eloquent and exhilarating insights into their profound lives. The following are a precious few examples from this new book which is so chock full of personal success stories, I wanted to include them all! Having just given birth, Nelma was distressed to find her arms empty. The hospital staff had whisked her baby boy away before she could see him. The doctor came in and explained there were problems and felt the parents might wish to consider an institution for their newborn. Insisting on seeing him immediately, the child was brought in. Nelma cradled him, smelled his new baby smell, and cooed to him. Then she carefully unwrapped the blanket revealing his tiny body with no legs and underdeveloped arms and hands. She caressed his skin, smiled into his alert trusting eyes, smiled softly and said, “Oh. Is that all?” Young Jerry was taken home and treated as equal to his 6 siblings. He grew up, went to college, met his best friend and married her. He and his bride proceeded to have five children. And when their eldest daughter had a school friend over for dinner one night, the young guest looked under the table and then announced ‘Your dad doesn’t have any legs’. The daughter looked under the table, examined the situation, then righted herself and said, ‘Your dad doesn’t have a wheelchair’. What a poignant example of acceptance – from generation to generation. Another example of the heroics of those who are different comes from Dillon York, a non-verbal 13 year old boy with autism. He wrote a poem about how people see him, and stated so beautifully: “I am not retarded. I wonder how I got to be viewed that way. I hear that dreaded word and shudder. I see everything without quite looking. I want trusting friends who don’t utter that word. I am not retarded. I am Dillon. I pretend I don’t hear it but I feel every nasty letter. I touch the hearts and minds of all I meet yet I worry what they think. I cry inside because I am not retarded.” Reading these heartwarming stories from ‘Chicken Soup For the Soul, Children With Special Needs’ is more than nice idea – it really is grandma’s chicken soup. Who has not been touched or influenced by a child with special needs? You’ve probably been in a public place and witnessed some parent trying to cope with their offspring’s sudden and uncontrollable tantrum, while trying to ignore the stares and rude comments of onlookers. Did you think to yourself that the child may have some sort of developmental challenge or did you think about their terrible parenting skills? I know I have not always been as compassionate as I would like. One contributor to this newest Chicken Soup explained things this way. When her son was born and diagnosed with Down Syndrome she stood in the hospital corridor and wept. Overcome with sadness as her mind painted a hundred scenarios of his future, a limited and bleak life, she was truly heartbroken. Six years later she reflected back on that ‘misinformed heartbroken woman’ who was wrong about so many things. In hindsight she was able to see how so much of her grief was over things that just aren’t true. Her son experienced a regular kindergarten, made friends, put his artwork on the wall with the others and snuck chocolate chips intended for the cookie batter when he thought no one was looking! This mother recognized that the only edge her son needed to participate in mainstream activities was ‘the edge of acceptance’. She could see that her son had missed some fine opportunities because many people were as uninformed and frightened as she had been six years earlier. And there lies the true beauty of this book. It’s an opportunity to examine the real world of someone with special needs no matter how far removed you may think your life is from that reality. And if you are a caregiver of a special needs child, then you will truly identify with these snapshots of peoples lives! I defy anyone to read ‘Chicken Soup For the Soul, Children With Special Needs’ and not have their heart opened to a new love for diversity in humankind. Who among us has not felt incapable, confused, misunderstood or unloved? Truly I think we are all special needs in a way. Aren’t we? A CUP OF COMFORT For Parents of Children with Autism ‘Stories of hope and everyday success.’ That is the by line for this collection of anecdotal snapshots of everyday life. A mother describes her journey from trying to fix her sons behavioural oddities to being the one person he could count on to love him exactly as he is. A father fondly remembers learning to play baseball with his dad, but recounts the terror he felt when his wife signed up their autistic son for little league. Ultimately his fears were replaced by admiration for his son’s tenacity and courage, for how hard he had to work to do the things other boys took for granted – to catch a ball, throw it, hit. Even to run without tripping over the laces he was not yet able to do up by himself. In another sketch of life with an autistic child, a mother recalls her son Jack’s frantic insistence on bringing the toilet plunger with them on their daily stroll. After a thorough bleaching the plunger leads the way up the first hill, passersby grinning and pointing. Then it all becomes clear. Just as Wile E. Coyote used a plunger to scale a steep cliff, Jack wanted to use one to help his mother up the steep hills during their routine walk. His inability to get the plunger to suction onto the pavement does not daunt him. Pleased and proud, he plunged away, doing his best to lever them up the sidewalk. This is more than a sweet collection of stories. It’s a slice of life in every home where children with developmental challenges reign. And it’s a little piece of heart you can carry with you. ASPERGER’S SYNDROME AND HIGH ACHEIVEMENT Some Very Remarkable People By Ioan James I have a confession to make. I’m a closet Boston Legal addict. In my defense, as television goes it’s worthy of addiction, but I digress. In one episode, a lawyer in the firm was repeatedly passed over for partnership because of his personal oddities. Despite his amazing legal prowess, which included a memory my new computer would be envious of, he would never ‘fit in’. He went postal, and during the ensuing trial he was diagnosed with Aspergers, a poignant explanation for a lifetime of challenge. In the program the disorder was explained to the jury, (and the television viewing audience) citing well known remarkable and successful people who have/had Aspergers. There were so many names we are all familiar with. In this book many of the same folks - Michelangelo, Thomas Jefferson, Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Glenn Gould, Albert Einstein, along with a host of other historical characters - are discussed in brief biographies which illuminate both the criteria and gifts of this syndrome. Such symptoms as all-absorbing narrow interests, social impairments, speech and language peculiarities, sensitivities to sensation and repetitive routines are described in a variety of ways in examining the profiles of these influential people. Yet each one made significant contribution to our world and many of them married and led ‘normal’ lives, despite their differences. This book is well researched and interesting, but more importantly it offers yet another example of how persons with life altering challenges lead gifted and successful lives. Whether or not you are directly involved with Aspergers, this book is a good read. Born on a Blue Day By Daniel Tammet Years ago when Donna Williams wrote ‘Nobody Nowhere’ and then ‘Somebody Somewhere’, the books were hailed as a miracle in communication. Finally someone was able to communicate what it was really like to be autistic. The books offered a glimpse into the unique psyche of a population that had hitherto before been unable to express itself. Now with Mr. Tammet, we have a similar glimpse into the mind of an Autistic Savant. Starting from early childhood, Born on a Blue Day describes the development of an extraordinary young man who has not only autism, but also synesthesia – an rare syndrome which gives him a vivid multisensory memory. Coupled with the attributes in pattern recognition more common to autism, Daniel is possessed of extremely rare talents to learn whole languages, and perform complex calculations in his head. In the course of learning to understand himself and with his ability to express how he processes the world around him, he sheds light on how we all create patterns in language. Daniel’s story is on one hand an interesting and quite readable biography, and on the other, a fascinating foray into what makes us all human – our minds. This is a cool book without all the jargon and terminology of a lot of the literature on this topic. Your Child's Health & Wellness Record Document Organizer Karen Melnick If you are anything like me, keeping track of our children's appointments and records can be challenging at the best of times. Don't get me wrong, I am actually fairly organized. It's just that the mind is… well… fragile sometimes. We are certain we will remember the clever filing system we created for medical dental, and other IMPORTANT STUFF, yet the moment we need to find a specific document the thought processes required to re-locate it are MIA. (An old war term - missing in action!) As the parent of a Special Needs child, this task can be even more daunting. This organizing system offers a beautifully bound binder set up with practical dividers with lovely black and white photos throughout. Within the binder is a hardbound spiral notebook set up simply and beautifully to record all the pertinent information about your child. From pregnancy to practitioners, Growth and Development to the Health and Wellness team, each well marked page provides a map for organizing all of your childs developmental and health information. A must buy either for yourself or as a gift. ARTISM Art By Those With Autism Compiled by Karen Simmons, Edited by Bernice Pelletier What a delightful little gem this book is. For those of you who have spent any time studying children’s art, you already know what gifted and intuitive artists they truly are. I have actually witnessed adults attempting to replicate the line work, color, and authenticity of their work. It doesn’t work. In fact, a well known graphic designer I know once took a collection of art work from a grade one class, simplified the lines, enlarged the work and painted it on the school hall wall outside their room. It was a very cool mural, but still lacked the je ne c’est quoi of the original art work. Here in this marvelous collection of elegant line drawings, vibrant temperas, confident acrylics, and muted watercolors, these individuals on the autistic spectrum reveal their brilliance. Sometimes, a glimpse inside a mind we cannot fathom, sometimes a rendering of something so poignant and beautiful we are moved to the very depths of our souls… each piece of art contained in this book is an opportunity to recognize the strengths, the similarities, and the Divine in every human. Bless us every one. STARS, Skills Training for Assertiveness Relationship Building & Sexual Awareness by Susan Kidd Webster and Susan M. Heighway This book is a great idea. I don't know how much material is out there on this topic but if what the author's state is true, there is a need for this teaching. Written by two women who give workshops and facilitate training in the sensitive area of sexuality and persons with developmental disabilities. Webster and Heighway state the common myths are that this target group either does not have any sexual desire or that it is over developed and potentially dangerous. They make a critical point here - persons with developmental disabilities have a range of sexual desires and means of expression similar to that of people without a disability. Obviously education is needed on both sides of the fence, not only to ensure appropriate behavior on the part of those with developmental disabilities, but also to prevent them being the recipients of inappropriate behaviors. This book gives guidelines and activities for teaching appropriate ways of understanding and expressing friendship and intimacy, as well as identifying areas of risk. If you are a caregiver of persons with developmental disabilities, STARS is worth picking up. In fact, I think it is likely appropriate for teaching all young people in an open and frank way about intimacy and appropriate sexual behaviour. CD Review Flights of Fancy, Connie Deming This is a lovely CD. Poetic, and heart-ful, Connie Deming paints a journey of love, support and acceptance as she illustrates the wonder she sees in her son David. Simply produced, this recording does not detract from Deming’s vocals with heavy instrumentation. Her voice is strong and fluid, moving from soft whispers to clear sweet notes that do not lie – evidence of an authentic heart. In the liner notes she quotes Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; [what is essential is invisible to the eye]”. I think she has captured this sentiment in her recording. Asperger's and Girl Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin Here is a neat little book dealing with girlhood to womanhood in AS country. This is a collection of comforting and illuminating stories written by some of the worlds foremost authorities on Asperger's, some of whom are Aspies too. Jennifer Myers begins by discussing her own challenges 'fitting in' and the lack of support material developed for women. Sheila Wagner M.Ed. examines this issue from the perspective of education, and why it appears to be geared more toward males with AS. (The clinical ratio for AS is considered 10:1 for males which may explain the lack of support for girls with this disorder. Some feel the female population may simply be under-diagnosed, and suggest the ratio of females is much higher.) Temple Grandin discusses what kinds of things truly interested her while her friends were all swooning over the Beatles. Ruth Snyder was not given insight and support as a girl, but she sure gives it here, discussing maternal instincts in Aspies. Other contributors have worked with and/or befriended AS women. Mary Wrobel addresses the challenges associated with puberty, and Lisa Iland focusses her attention on teenage social interactions. All in all, this collection of anecdotal and clinical stories may be an oasis to young women with AS, wondering if really there is anyone else 'like them'. About our wonderful reviewer, Sue Hodge Over the past fifteen years, Sue has made her talents known as a recording artist, vocalist, songwriter, personal consultant, writer and allopathic & wholistic health practitioner. She has two sons, one of whom has Aspergers. She was the lead singer with the popular musical group ‘Nickelfinger’, sharing stages with such notables as Sylvia Tyson, Cheryl Fisher, Cindy Church and Quartette. As a graduate of the GMCC Arts Administration program, Sue created a consulting business which enabled her to engage in a variety of arts related activities. This included preparing and facilitating workshops. She has written extensively for several publications, including a wholistic health column for Vue Weekly. For as long as Sue can remember, sound has been the golden thread running through the fabric of her life. From the sounds in nature where she grew up to the sounds of the world around us, she has been aware of the constant rhythm and melody in which we are bathed. When she became a professional musician, it was this vast body of sound she drew from to construct her music. She came to understand that we are in essence a tonal frequency, and that by using sound, we can communicate with the mind, body and spirit to restore balance and harmony. Sue’s interest in music and wellness led her to discover energy work and the use of directed sound in healing. She has her Third Degree in Traditional Japanese Reiki, and has been training as a Sound Healer with the renowned Pat Moffitt Cook at the Open Ear Centre in Bainbridge, WA, U.S.A. She is certified in The Use of Cross-Cultural Music & Therapeutic Applications. Sue now operates her own practice called SoundTouch, is a Licensed Practical Nurse, offers private workshops, is a professional singer, and accepts public speaking engagements to promote awareness in Sound in Healing.