Autism in the Family (review)

Autism in the Family, Caring and Coping Together arrived as a surprise from Brookes Publishing. Sometimes they send me new books, and this one is a treat.

The process of acceptance and coping with the challenges and demands of autism alongside the grief that we process as we journey this pathway that is so different from the one we dreamed about when we thought about parenthood can be lonely. We parents are often misunderstood by adults with autism who are functioning at a level where their autism is something positive they see to be embraced and celebrated, when in fact, the autism we see is something negative that holds our kids back. (An aside: I have blogged in the past about my opinion that the two sides are in fact one side who happen to be defining autism differently.) The emotions of being a parent of a child with special needs are a puzzle piece that we parents sometimes overlook or ignore.

Naseef addresses both the emotions and the day-to-day challenges of parenting a child on the autism spectrum in Autism in the Family. The combination is unique, in my opinion. I don't remember encountering this combination in all of the books I have read along the way.

Most of the books I read about caring and coping are written by women. Robert A. Naseef's book is a surprise, not simply because it was an unexpected delivery, but because it comes from a male perspective.

His story touches me, reaches my heart, and I relate to his experience in a way I didn't expect. Naseef is authentic, real, a peer, parent of a child with autism.

Naseef is a psychologist as well as a parent of an adult child with autism, and that makes a difference that is evident. He has insight, empathy, and understanding that many professionals in our journey have not had. (Many of our professionals were not parents. Looking back, that was a problem because they had no experience base to perspective take from my point of view as a parent!)

Naseef gives us advice and insight about our children, but more importantly, about ourselves as parents. He reminds me to include my own reaction to my child's behavior in addressing challenging behavior, something our developmental approach has taught me. I'm better at it some days than others. "If you are spending more time correcting your child than guiding and enjoying him or her, then that may be the signal that it is time to seek help." p. 63, Chapter 5, Understanding and Guiding Your Child's Behavior. 

Naseef writes in detail and honesty about topics that are difficult to talk about, write about, and self-examination toward making changes for the better, for the parent, from the inside out. His book plants seed after seed for my self-reflection and growth, something I did not expect when I opened the book for the first time.


The table of contents:

About the Author
Preface
by Cindy Ariel
Acknowledgments

Prologue: A Letter to My Son

1. My Story
2. The Emotional Journey: From Lost Dreams and Chronic Stress to Acceptance
3. Understanding Autism
4. Starting Over and Falling in Love Again
5. Understanding and Guiding Your Child's Behavior
6. Surfing Your Stress: One Wave at a Time
7. Parents and Professionals: A Partnership in Child Development
8. Big Boys Don't Cry: The Secret Life of Men
9. Ordinary Couples, Challenged Relationships: Another Developmental Process
10. A Different Perspective: Understanding Siblings
11. Family and Friends: Finding and Building Circles of Support
12. Adolescence
13. Adulthood
14. Reflections on Peace of Mind and Happiness

References
Resources
Index 


I especially like the way he does not ignore challenges and issues that are specific to girls and the autism spectrum.

My one complaint: Naseef is a psychologist, a scientist, and he relies heavily on what science has to say about a cause or a treatment or intervention. While I agree that lots of "snake oil" does exist, there are many therapies and treatments that are safe and that work where the scientific studies lag behind. And I do not believe the science is in, yet, on whether vaccines play a role in autism.

Autism in the Family is a resource I would not have purchased for myself, although it is one that I needed. I'm glad it arrived as a surprise at my front door.

I found an interview with Dr Naseef here, if you'd like to know more about him. An excerpt from a previous book is located here.

Autism In the Family, Caring and Coping Together is available at book stores and online. A 268 page paperback, it is list priced at $24.95.

Disclaimer: Brookes Publishing sent me a free review copy of Autism in the Family, Caring and Coping Together. I am not paid for reviews. The opinions here are my own. I am not obligated to write a positive review.

Pedro's Whale

Autism and inclusion expert Paula Kluth, with Patrick Schwarz and illustrator Justin Canha bring us an important book for children, Pedro's Whale. Pedro is a little boy on the autism spectrum who has a special interest in whales. I identify with Pedro; I love cetaceans, too. (I was a docent on whale watch boats during several whale watch seasons when we lived on the West Coast.)

Pedro's Whale is a wonderful story that helps children and adults understand the extreme attachment to a special interest that are common in individuals on the autism spectrum. The story helps readers understand ways in which we can all use those interests as a bridge to relationships and learning.

The illustations are really nice. Illustrator Justin Canha is a young man on the autism spectrum, and he does a beautiful job putting pictures to the story.

Pedro's Whale is based on a true story.

I attended a day-long workshop with Paula Kluth a couple of years ago; she mentioned a new book was about to be published, called, Just Give Him The Whale! I haven't read that book, but Kluth gave us some background during the conference. Apparently, at the beginning of a new school year, Pedro's teacher thought he was too big to carry a toy whale all day long and she would not let him have it. His affect and behavior changed drastically, and Kluth was called in to help with the situation. When she learned that his toy had been banned, his safety net, her answer was, simply, "Just Give Him The Whale!" And Kluth and Schwarz wrote a book for teachers (and parents and homeschooling families) about using those fascinations and special interests in education and relationships.

Pedro's Whale is the version for children, complete with a page of suggestions and hints for how to use the book with groups of children. It's a 26 page hardback book with a simple story that 'normalizes' special interests for typical children, a story that gives important insight and perspective taking about autism and special interests to typical peers in group (school, co-op, Sunday School, camp etc) settings. List price is $18.95.

Brookes Publishing sent me a copy of Pedro's Whale for review purposes. I am not paid for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

"You're Going to Love This Kid!" second edition, by Paula Kluth

One of my absolute favorite people in the autism world of professionals is Paula Kluth. I purchased the first edition of "You're Going to Love This Kid! Teaching Students With Autism in the Inclusive Classroom" when my daughter was first included in a kindergarten classroom, loaned the book to the teacher, and never got it back. ;)

Kluth is one of a few angels who can convince me that, yes, I can, teach my daughter who happens to be on the autism spectrum, and Kluth has the creativity and experience to show me many different ways to think about working with a child on the autism spectrum (or other developmental challenge) and she gives me ideas and strategies that don't require an advanced degree, don't require a lot of expensive equipment, and that I am able to accomplish.

I got a surprise in the mail : it's the SECOND edition of "You're Going to Love This Kid!"! ($29.95) This book came from Kluth's intimidting (and ultimately successful) introduction to autism and a student on the autism spectrum early in her teaching career. Of course the only other thing I remember about the first edition that I never got back was that it was smaller. The second edition is bigger in size, which makes it easier to photocopy the charts inside.

Kluth's books are the ones we parents buy in bulk to hand out to Sunday School teachers, community ed teachers, co-op leaders, school-building-school staff members, and anyone involved in teaching or coaching our children who happen to be on the autism spectrum.

The subtitle bugs me - like so many wonderful books about teaching children with learning challenges, the title suggests the information is for school-building classrooms. Nothing could be further from the truth. I tend to find that a lot of homeschoolers of special needs learners don't even know about Paula Kluth. What a shame, because Kluth's wisdom works for the homeschool setting, too. I hope the subtitle doesn't discourage homeschoolers from checking out this book.

"You're Going to Love This Kid!" is packed to overflowing with tested and proven wisdom, insight, perspective, tips, hints, how-to; it is a must-have for every parent, teacher, Sunday School teacher, homeschool co-op leader. If you've ever interacted with child with autism in a learning environment, you'll relate to Kluth's experience, and you'll put some new tools and strategies in your toolbox.

Brookes Publishing sent me a review copy of "You're Going To Love This Kid" at no charge. I received no monetary compensation for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.

"From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks" (review)

I have a problem with the subtitle of the latest book I received to review. The "100 Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K-12 Inclusive Classrooms" that follows the title, "From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks", is misleading. "From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks" ($34.95 list price; $23.07 at Amazon right now) is a book of 100 *FANTASTIC* ways to differentiate instruction for *ANY* student, and is not limited to "inclusive classrooms". Homeschoolers will find this book helpful. Staff members in school-building-schools who teach students in pull-out "specials" or contained special-ed classrooms will find this book helpful. If you are the parent and/or teacher to a child with unique learning needs in any educational setting, this is a *must have* book.

First of all, every idea in the book has been tested and has been proven to be successful. Each of the 100 ways to differentiate instruction is pictured and described. The reader doesn't have to guess what the finished product looks like. "How to" directions are provided in great detail. Kluth and Danaher provide examples, a "Keep in Mind" section to spotlight other uses or aspects of some of the ideas. Readers are given a References/Recommended Reading section with *each* idea (no need to flip to the back and try to sort through a long list of references because the related references are right on the page with the idea), with quite a few new-to-me references (and I've read a lot over the past 10 years). Many ideas are low-cost or are made with supplies you already have at home or school; Kluth calls 'em "dollar store differentiation" ideas. The authors provide a Vendor section with each idea so that users know where to purchase materials needed to complete each idea. And finally, Kluth and Danaher give the reader a list of related web sites at the end of each idea. Kluth and Danaher thought of everything and have organized it in a way that maximizes my time. I've not seen a book like it (and I've seen a lot of books about adapting material and differentiating instruction for students with unique learning needs).

The book is heavy and lies open, flat, without my having to weight it down. (I like that.) So many of the ideas have me thinking, "I should have thought of that." They're simple, when I think about them, and make sense. I need a pad of sticky notes to bookmark pages. I need a notebook or electronic notepad to keep a list of the ideas I want to try.

Most of the ideas are simple to implement, yet, I'm so glad I got this book now. NOW (June) is the time to BUY this book. As a homeschooler, I have a little bit of time before we gear up with school again at my house, time to gather materials, order a few items, so that I can implement some of the ideas in late summer or fall. For those of you starting school in August or September, summer is a great time for planning, and this is a wonderful resource to help parents/teachers be better facilitators of all things academic and some things social, including relationship w/ self and aspects of executive functioning.

I don't know anything about co-author Sheila Danahan beyond what is written in the "About the Authors" page. She's an administrator and educator in Chicago Public Schools.

I do know a lot about co-author Paula Kluth. (When my daughter was in public school, I purchased Kluth's books for my daughter's teachers.)

Paula Kluth is well-known among special ed parents and professionals in public schools. Kluth was a public school teacher who has a natural instinct, natural gift for grasping the importance of inclusion, particularly of children with autism, an the necessity to adapt materials and differentiate instruction so that all students learn. She writes and markets her wisdom to school-building schools with inclusion as a focus.

She's amazing. Her creativity never ends. If you have an opportunity to attend one of her presentations in person, GO.

She's an amazing speaker (I've seen her three times). She has me believing that I can do this stuff, too, for my daughter, and when my daughter was still in public school, had me believing that if only I could get my daughter's teachers there to hear her, Kluth's enthusiasm and creativity would rub off on them, too.

As I chat with parents from the homeschooling world, particularly those homeschooling children with unique learning needs, I tend to discover that homeschoolers don't know about the wisdom and creativity of Paula Kluth.

Paula Kluth's web site, which is a super resource, is HERE.

Paula Kluth's facebook page is HERE; the 1000th fan will get a copy of this book and two more (and so will the person who referred them, so if you're the 1000th fan, tell 'em I sent you, please).

There is a facebook page for the book HERE, where Kluth has been posting pages/ideas from the book.

From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks, 100 Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K-12 Inclusive Classrooms by Paula Kluth and Sheila Danaher
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Paul H Brookes Pub Co; 1 edition (March 30, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1598570803
ISBN-13: 978-1598570809

Brookes Publishing sent me a review copy of From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks, 100 Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K-12 Inclusive Classrooms by Paula Kluth and Sheila Danaher. I am not financially compensated for reviews and am not obligated to provide a positive review.