Product reviews for The Little Book of the Autism Spectrum

This is a great book for people who want to know about autism. It is packed full of facts and information and signposts readers to other books, research and organisations who can provide further help. The key point reiterated throughout this book is that people with autism are individuals with different personalities, likes and dislikes and that there is no “one size fits all” approach that will magically work for every autistic person. The focus upon the different ways in which individuals with autism may think about and experience the world really encourages the reader to respond creatively. By using statements from autistic individuals to explain their perspective the author helps readers to gain insight into situations and behaviours which may appear baffling or unusual from the outside but make much more sense when viewed through an “autism lens”.

The book contains information on most key areas that can be challenging for people with autism from communication difficulties, “mind-blindness”, problems with eating, sleeping and tolerating situations due to sensory overload to self-injurious behaviour, psychiatric vulnerabilities and repetitive behaviours. Each section gives good, sound, practical advice on ways of approaching or managing the difficulties and offers sources of further information and advice. This is no mean feat for such a comprehensive book and is to be applauded.

The book is written in simple language without jargon which makes it easy to read and the key points at the end of each chapter help to pull everything together. The tone is just right and is informative, factual and interesting. The glossary is excellent and the references are extensive and wide ranging. My only surprises were the omission of Division TEACCH (although visual schedules are well covered) and that the National Autistic Society was not mentioned as a resource for training, publications and parental support; notably their helpline and Early Bird/ Early Bird Plus parent training schemes.

As a parent of a young man with Aspergers I would have welcomed this book wholeheartedly when he was younger and it probably would have helped me through many anxious times. As a teacher who has worked for many years with children and adolescents with autism I loved the warmth and empathy with which the author talks about the people with whom she works and her complete and utter dedication to these very special individuals.

Thank you for letting me read this book. It has been a pleasure.