"We are far from having a complete understanding of autism and Asperger syndrome, but Dr. Peter Szatmari
has done an unsurpassed job of shedding light on how children with these disorders feel and act. The cases he recounts
in this book touch on many different aspects of autism, including both the numerous problems that children and
their families face and the successes they can achieve. The book also bears witness to the courage and perseverance
of parents who, all too frequently, must struggle to find appropriate support from clinicians and educators. An
enlightening and welcome resource for many, many families, and one that should also be read by all professionals
in the field."
--Patricia Howlin, PhD, Department of Psychology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London,
UK; coauthor of Teaching Children with Autism to Mind--Read
"A landmark book in terms of style and content. Dr. Szatmari explores and describes the world as perceived
by people with autism to explain their unusual behaviour and abilities, and discusses scientific theories and current
therapies as well as causes and prognosis. The book is written objectively and engagingly, with literary skill
and a sense of optimism that will be particularly appealing to parents. Dr. Szatmari clearly appreciates and admires
the minds of children with autism, and is able to explain those minds to parents while providing realistic advice
on remedial strategies."
--Tony Attwood, PhD, author of Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
Publisher Web Site, October, 2004
Summary
How do you know if your child is happy or sad, tired or hungry, when all he wants to talk about is wasps--or
the color of subway train doors? What can you do to reassure a nine-year-old who asks questions about death hundreds
of times in a day? And how can you build a nurturing relationship when your little girl hates to be touched?
Questions like these make parenting a child with autism or Asperger syndrome (AS) a journey through uncharted terrain.
That's why understanding how kids with these disorders actually think and feel--and the striking ways in which
their minds work differently from those of typical children--is so important. Through moving stories of children
he has worked with, Dr. Peter Szatmari helps you see the world through your child's eyes. Revealed is what lies
behind the intense preoccupations, communication problems, and seeming lack of affection that often accompany autism
and AS, and what your child's mystifying behavior might really be trying to tell you. This compassionate book shows
how gaining a better sense of your child's experience can deepen the bonds that support learning and growth--and
help you lead the way toward a happier future.
Table of Contents
1. Stephen: The Eccentric Entomologist
2. Heather: A World That Revolves around a Different Axis
3. Justin: Listening to the Architecture of the World
4. Zachary: An Obsession with Death
5. Sharon: Seeing Other Minds Darkly
6. William: A World without Metaphor
7. Teddy: Asynchronous Time, Asynchronous Development
8. Sally, Ann, and Danny: Accepting the Enigma, Moving Beyond the Cause
