BOOKS
NURTURING YOUR AUTISTIC YOUNG PERSON: A PARENT’S HANDBOOK TO SUPPORTING NEWLY DIAGNOSED TEENS AND PRE-TEENS BY CATHY WASSELL
As the parent of a child recognised as autistic as a pre-teen or teen, it can often feel difficult to find the answers you need. Children who make it to late primary/early secondary age before being picked up by the system tend to present with traits that are harder to spot, meaning it can be harder to engage professionals in the diagnostic process and gather the necessary support.
Cathy Wassell, CEO of Autistic Girls Network, has tailored this handbook to support parents with older children or teenagers who are at the identification stage, walking them through the basics in an engaging and accessible manner. She addresses key challenges for this age group, including co-occurring conditions, puberty, and safeguarding, as well as looking to the future, advising on schooling options, and beyond.
Designed to help parents become fully informed and ensure a nurturing and positive environment for our autistic young people, this is a guide with a focus on difference - not deficit.
THROUGH THE EYES OF US BY JON ROBERTS
In this second book of the series, Kya is now going to school and has a best friend, Martha, who is also autistic but expresses herself very differently. Whilst Kya is quiet in the class, Martha is talkative and asks lots of questions. Both enjoy the sensation of eating, but Martha doesn't understand that she can eat too much. Both like a bedtime routine, but whilst Kya can keep going until late at night, Martha knows when she is tired and takes herself to bed. Through the Eyes of Us is an insight into the world of autistic children and an ideal tool for discussion with young readers.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO TOM?: A BOOK ABOUT PUBERTY FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN WITH AUTISM AND RELATED CONDITIONS BY KATE E. REYNOLDS
Tom notices that his body is changing. Tom's voice is different and hair is growing in new places. There are other changes happening too. Tom learns that he has started growing into a man.
Following Tom as he begins to notice changes to his body, this simple resource helps parents and carers teach boys with additional needs about puberty. It covers all the changes that they will experience, both emotional such as new feelings, and physical such as wet dreams. This fully illustrated positive and entertaining book provides the perfect opportunity to talk about puberty.
UNIQUELY HUMAN: A DIFFERENT WAY OF SEEING AUTISM BY DR BARRY PRIZNANT
Autism is a different way of being human. By understanding autistic behaviours as strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming, Barry Prizant seeks to enhance abilities, to teach new skills, help individuals build on their strengths and develop coping strategies to achieve a better quality of life.
Revised and updated with new material on identity and intersectionality and a chapter on autistic advocacy, Uniquely Human offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that could be life-changing. With a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice from thousands of autistic people and their families this is a ground-breaking book by one of the world's leading experts - essential reading for anyone who cares for people on the autism spectrum.
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THE AUTISM-FRIENDLY GUIDE TO PERIODS BY ROBYN STEWARD
Written by autistic author Robyn Steward, this is a detailed guide for young people aged 9 to 16 on the basics of menstruation. Created in consultation with young people, an online survey and a group of medical professionals, this is a book that teaches all people about periods, which can be a scary and overwhelming issue.
Promoting the fact that everyone either has periods or knows someone who does, the book reduces the anxiety girls face in asking for help. It offers direct advice on what periods look and feel like and how to manage hygiene and pain. It also breaks up information using flaps and step-by-step photos of how to change pads and tampons, it discusses alternatives to tampons and pads, and gives information about possible sensory issues for people with autism.
THE ICE-CREAM SUNDAE GUIDE TO AUTISM: AN INTERACTIVE KIDS' BOOK FOR UNDERSTANDING AUTISM BY DEBBIE ELLEY
Autism is a bit like an ice-cream sundae. There are lots of ingredients that go into it. There are so many types of sundae glasses out there. Some are plain and simple, some are loud and proud! In fact, sundae glasses are a bit like people - we're all different. Because we all have different personalities, autism doesn't look the same in everybody.
This picture-led book uses ice-cream sundae ingredients to represent various aspects of autism such as sensory differences, special interests or rigidity of thinking, explaining the different facets of autism in a neutral way. The reader can create their own individual 'ice-cream sundae' to illustrate their personal strengths and challenges, highlighting how it makes them unique and helping to build confidence and self-awareness. It includes colourful illustrations and workbook activities to help children cement their understanding of autism.
PLAYING, LAUGHING AND LEARNING WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
"For the parent or carer of an autistic child, play can be a very difficult area. It's often the area in which a child's departure from the "normal" developmental track becomes apparent - toys are not used in the way expected or not used at all, imaginative play fails to develop, and so forth. With "normal" play patterns not pertaining, how do you fill the day; how do you connect with the child; and how do you give them the developmental benefits, the life practice and the skills, that play helps to develop?
This book helps you answer those questions. The play discussed ranges from the very basic - tickle games or rough and tumble - to the more complex, such as helping to model imaginative play for the child. Processes are broken down into small, achievable steps." - Earth Shaker
THE MEMORY AND PROCESSING GUIDE FOR NEURODIVERSE LEARNERS: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS BY ALISON PATRICK
Armed with the wealth of understanding and strategies in this guide, students will discover how they can learn best, to make studying and revision more effective (and less stressful).
Packed with simple, tried and tested strategies and workarounds, this study guide for supporting kids and teens who learn differently (such as those with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or ASD) explains what memory and processing issues are, and how to work around them. Written by a tutor and specialist with years of experience of working with students with learning differences, this book enables the student to understand the best ways they learn and the reasons behind this.
Unpacking processing speed, sensory processing, metacognition, and executive functioning, including working memory, this uniquely relatable and empowering study guide will provide students with the self-understanding they need to manage exams and academic tasks at school with confidence and peace of mind.
MY AWESOME AUTISM: HELPING CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THEIR AUTISM DIAGNOSIS BY NIKKI SAUNDERS
A sweet book to help empower children and to highlight just how brilliant they are for being themselves! Eddie shows that we are all different, unique, have many strengths, talents and reminds children they are loved and valued. Eddie says, be proud of who you are, aiming for every child to feel a little ‘lift’ from this book! Eddie is autistic, he shares how he navigates his environments and teaches his readers in a cheerful way! Ages 3-7. Eddie helps all children learn about autism, what it is like for Eddie and how “we are all different and that’s wonderful!’ Whether your child receives their diagnosis at toddler age or much later, this wonderful tool suits all children, aiming for autistic children to see themselves and others to learn what it can be like for their autistic friend. This book can be used anytime before or after diagnosis to celebrate neurodiversity. It can also be an overwhelming time for parents and carers to know when to start to explain to their child, about their autism diagnosis. During this time parents, carers and therapists look for the best way to deliver understanding along with love, supporting needs and reassurance. At the same time, this can be a huge relief for the child to understand that they are truly wonderful as they are, and do not need to adapt to anything that does not suit their needs. This sweet little book anticipates to act as a communication opener between the child and the parents/caregivers. It helps to open up the subject in a gentle and nurturing way, to revisit at any time the child is ready and build upon their experiences with you! The colourful, eye catching illustrations are carefully designed in simple 2D characters, sensory colours with simple contrast and clear short sentences allowing space to process in the child’s own time. A beautiful beginning as this book was first made for my son, then blossomed to help children and families globally and is recommended by professionals. This book states 'autistic person' rather than 'with autism' as preferred by the autsitic community, however it is most important to ask each individual their wishes regarding what they would prefer.
UNTYPICAL: HOW THE WORLD ISN’T BUILT FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE AND WHAT WE SHOULD ALL DO ABOUT IT BY PETE WHARMBY
It’s time to remake the world – the ground-breaking book on what steps we should all be taking for the autistic people in our lives.
The modern world is built for neurotypicals: needless noise, bright flashing lights, small talk, phone calls, unspoken assumptions and unwritten rules – it can be a nightmarish dystopia for the autistic population. In Untypical, Pete Wharmby lays bare the experience of being ‘different’, explaining with wit and warmth just how exhausting it is to fit into a world not designed for you.
But this book is more than an explanation. After a late diagnosis and a lifetime of ‘masking’, Pete is the perfect interlocutor to explain how our two worlds can meet, and what we can do for the many autistic people in our schools, workplaces and lives. The result: a practical handbook for all of us to make the world a simpler, better place for autistic people to navigate, and a call to arms for anyone who believes in an inclusive society and wants to be part of the solution.
