Recommended Mild Autism References
Contents of this page:
(a) Game -Play Books: these are the first four books you see below.
(b) The next two are the only Autobiographies I would recommend.
(c) The third group of four books are medical, technical or training.
(d) The last offering I have classified as “Other” : it is a “Stress Kit”.
(a) Game -Play Books: these four books immediately below:
Of all the books and references this is the one I would encourage you most to get.
Julia’s book is a great accompaniment to, and extension of, the Games you will see
in Module 4.
About the only difficulty is in working out what to do first! (because the book is slightly chaotic in its layout, but it overflows with ideas.)
As an experienced reader, I would encourage you to look at the exceptional Introduction, then Chapters 1 and 2 thoroughly first. Then scan the Contents section and pick out topics from there that look interesting rather than being lost in the text.
Note that book also incorporates a very good index, so you can also access any topic you like this way. Julia’s book also shows by example how to build upon a successful game over time, to make it even more involving for the Child and the parent/carer/teacher, by “pairing”. Page 28, Andrew, gives a good example of this. The Introduction, much of which is available for immediate perusal on Amazon (by clicking on the book image) will almost certainly be enough to convince you of this book’s merit.
Obviously this book also bases its therapy on Game-Playing, however the emphasis is more on “Motor Learning”, rather than Socialising,
which if this emphasis is appropriate for your Child, would make this book the one to get first.
The Chapter 6 Social Sense games are more in keeping with the games of Julia’s book, and some are excellent, and occasionally include waiting for and prompting Response.
The Games in this book are more systematically and clearly set out that with Julia’s book, which means it is more instantly accessible.
And each Game describes the physical and social outcomes that are being aimed for in the Game.
Definitely a recommended book too!
This book sets out simply and clearly (including photo-examples), how to set up tables and borders to play very simple Games for more significantly autistic Children.The book, “Autism, Play and Social Interaction” by Lone Gammeltoft and Marianne Sollok Nordenhof. focuses on how to organize groups of autistic children, but you and your Child can be a group of two.Plus if you wanted to organize another child or two, (if you can), to come over from say your special school, this book will give you valuable support.
I was interested by theContents section of this book, as it promised many Games.The Contents also promised a lot of detail about more technical aspects of autism, which may be of interest to those who can plow through drier text than some.Unfortunately the preview didn’t provide more than a couple of pages’ sampling, so I don’t know whether to recommend it or not.The title may be its best asset, but I am still curious to know what it may offer. Perhaps you will find out for me and let me know ..!
(b) The next two are the only Autobiographies I would recommend.
Donna Williams’ writing is clear and to the point. You can learn a lot about how one more-autistic person processed the world as a young person, and how it no doubt applies to most.
She is quite clear about her life as a more-autistic person being a journey between Own World and Real World, and I have extracted many a quote from this book to help explain what is happening to others like your Child.Her style is flowing and interesting, which makes it easy to absorb what she is saying.(She only lives up the road from me – I must have a chat with her some day!)
I have used a number of Temple’s clear descriptions of her autistic world in my summaries of what autism is like.Like Donna, her style is fluid and easy to read, but I would place it second in content to the understanding you get from Donna’s book.
All the same, this is “required reading” for those who wish to gain a fuller understanding of the more-autistic world.
(c) These four books are medical, technical or training.
This book provides a bridge between the technical medical world and the parents who would like a bit more medical understanding to help them make decisions for their Children.
Michael describes medication like Memantine which is an interesting drug, and he makes some comments of value about “brain inflammation”which seems like the effects of an engine that has been running too hot for too long, and makes some recommendations.
I have also referred to him when it comes to understanding more about “alternative medicine”, and have benefited from his experience and conclusions.A recommended book.
Tony’s research is impeccable, and his summaries save “time-poor people” like me (and you?) the need to look at volumes of discussion about the more-autistic condition.I recommend this book as a way to be “well-read” quickly, although I do not agree with his solutions, which seem to me to treat symptoms, rather than focusing on the key element of Withdrawal and the ways to encourage a person to enter the Real World more often.But it is valuable to read what the traditional model says before you can say you understand the whole autism issue. And describing the concepts and causes has never been more accurate, succinct and comprehensive. Tony largely summarises the range of traditional research and opinions.After all you can’t change something if you don’t understand what it is you are changing!
Ron is an autism practitioner with a difference: he deals with more-autistic kids with an appetite for self-improvement via martial arts.He has a caring, nurturing manner, while his greatest contribution is to impart a sense of self-discipline to his students and readers.As you read you learn the values of tolerance to discomfort, and the need to train your brain as well as your body. Ron’s insights and instructions relating to relaxing your body have been valuable for me in constructing my Modules, and you will get a “new sense” from reading his viewpoint.
This book established itself as one of the most influential volumes of this new century.It shows us that the brain is more like a muscle that with exercise of the right kindcan modify itself to become more the way we want it.It is a helpful and hopeful book that encourages people to transcend their limitations through “mental exercise” of supporting kinds.What you think and where you focus can actually change the physical structure of your brain!
(d) The last offering I have classified as “Other” : it is a “Stress Kit”.
This is a fine Kit for those who would like some friendly advice about relieving Stress, written in a non-condescending way.We selected the Stress book to accompany the Kit, but you can choose others like Pain instead. The Kit of Stress Toys will be a hit with your younger child, while the Book, or Booklet, because there are only 50 pages in it, are more valuable for the older Child who if high-functioning could read much of it him.herself. Though I suggest that even so, you read it all first together.The content is Excellent. It ticks all the boxes and never gets wordy.The younger Children will need you to paraphrase the meaning into simpler concepts while showing the pictures and playing with the Kit.
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