Autism Reading List

Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, Tony Attwood, 1997. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. A must have for all parents and educators of Asperger’s. This book is very “layperson” friendly and easy to understand. In the Preface, Attwood mentions meeting over a thousand individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, ranging widely in age, ability, and background, and of being impressed by some of their abilities. As an AS person myself, I am impressed by Attwood's understanding of these individuals as real people, and by the simple straightforward language used. Temple Grandin's review, as printed on the back cover of this book, said that the book would have been a great benefit to her as a teenager and young adult. It also includes positive aspects of Asperger's Syndrome. Her full review summed up the book well and could well have been included in this series of reviews. There are eight main chapters, titled Diagnosis, Social Behavior, Language, Interests and Routine, Motor Clumsiness, Cognition, Sensory Sensitivity, and Frequently Asked Questions. There are also three appendices, including Diagnostic Criteria. And there are References, Subject Index, and Author Index. Only of late has there been a widening of knowledge of Asperger's Syndrome. This is a book that has measurably helped, and will be useful for quite a while yet..

Asperger Syndrome ,edited by Ami , Fred R. Volkmar, Sara S. Sparrow, 2000. New York, The Guilford Press. ...too bright and articulate to qualify easily for supportive services, too impaired to function well without support. This book offers the most up-to-date information on the disorder and elucidates strategies for further advancing research and clinical practice

Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Transactional Developmental Perspective, Amy M. Wetherby, ed., Barry M. Prizant, ed., 2000 Paul H. Brookes. Part of the Series Communication and Language Intervention. Volume 9.

Brain Allergies: The Psychonutrient and Magnetic Connection, William H. Philpott, PhD, Linus Pauling, PhD, Dwight K. Kalita, PhD, 2000, McGraw Hill. As a Chinese herbal practitioner, I have recommended this book to several clients who have autistic children. In almost every case, there has been a marked improvement in the child's situation. The book details not only the science and theory behind Dr. Philpott's approach, but more importantly spends a lot of time discussing practical implementation. Conventional western medicine still tends to ignore the dramatic impact our diets can have on the mental/emotional aspect of our lives; BRAIN ALLERGIES makes a very significant contribution to the growing literature around the old and very true proverb: "we are what we eat." If you're dealing with a child with emotional and/or cognitive difficulties, PLEASE read this book!

Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet, Elaine Gloria Gottschall, 1994, Kirkton Press. My sister was diagnosed with terminal Crohns, all she could eat was mashed potatoes. She wasn't allowed to eat much else without pain. After a year on the diet, her Dr that first pooh-poohed the book, asked to read the book, because she was free of signs of crohns. He and his colleagues could not believe her recovery!

Eat Right 4 Your Type: The Individualized Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Acheiving Your Ideal Weight , Peter J. D’Adamo, 1997, Putnam Pub Group. Different blood types mean different body chemistry. Carry this guide with you to the grocery store, restaurants, even on vacation to avoid putting on those extra pounds, or getting sick from eating the wrong thing. You'll never have to be without Dr. D'Adamo's reassuring guidance again

Emergence: Labeled Autistic, Temple Grandin, 1996, New York: Warner Books, Inc.Temple Grandin might be the most famous autistic person in the world, and this book, her autobiography, at 180 simply-written pages, can be read by children and adults. Instead of ending up locked in her own internal world, as autistic children often are, she was able to overcome many of her difficulties and gain a Ph.D. Her frightening journey is well worth reading.

Excitotoxins - The Taste that Kills, Russell L. Blaylock, 1996, Santa FE NM, Health Press. Primarily for the lay public, but also for those trained in medical science and biology, neurosurgeon Blaylock releases a well-researched bombshell--that excitotoxins, substances added to food and beverages and including glutamate (MSG) and aspartate (NutraSweet), damage nerve cells in the brain, and are particularly dangerous to the elderly, children, and those at high risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Must have the food industry flacks working overtime.

From Ritual to Repertoire:  A Cognitive Developmental Systems Approach With Behavior Disordered Children (Wiley Series on Personality Processes) by Arnold Miller, Eileen Eller-Miller (Contributor). John Wiley & Sons. Using a systems approach firmly grounded in cognitive development theory and findings, this book offers a new, well-researched method for intervening with severely disturbed children--autistic, brain-damaged, retarded, emotionally deprived, and developmentally delayed. This approach emphasizes building on the strengths of each child's coping mechanisms rather than on conventional behavior modification techniques, which the authors see as raising serious ethical questions. Their approach has been tried and tested in clinical practice and has demonstrated its efficacy.

The Child With Special Needs : Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth, Stanley I. Greenspan, MD, Serena Wieder, Ph.D., 1998, New York, Perseus Press. Covering all kinds of disabilities--including cerebral palsy, autism, retardation, ADD, and language problems--this comprehensive guide offers parents specific ways of helping all special needs children reach their full intellectual and emotional potential.

Fragile Success: Nine Autistic Children, Childhood to Adulthood, 2^nd Ed. Virginia Walker Sperry, Sally Provence, 2000. Paul H. Brookes Pub Co, Traces the lives and educations of nine autistic people educated at the Ives School in New Haven, CT, between 1963 and 1972, from childhood to their mid-twenties, with introductory chapters on autism and related disorders and the teaching methods at the school. The case histories include a b&w photo of each child, and comments from parents on navigating the medical and educational systems. Of interest to educators, pediatricians, childcare professionals, and parents.

The Gluten Free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy: Wheat Free with Less Fuss and Fat, Bette Hagman, Joseph A. Murray 2000, Henry Holt. Imagine a world where wheat and anything made of rye, oats, or barley were off-limits, then further imagine being deprived of favorite recipes from lasagna and pizza to crusty oven-fresh bread and apple pie. That's what faces people with an autoimmune system refusing to tolerate these food products. Hagman emphasizes speed of preparation and low-fat/low-cholesterol recipes. Her more than 175 dishes don't venture too far from the traditional fare; nor will her ingredient substitutes cause much consternation or surprise among home chefs. The only serious omission is the absence of nutritional analyses for any of the recipes

The Gluten-Free Gourmet: Living Well Without Wheat, Bette Hagman, 1990. Henry Holt. The Gluten-free Gourmet is more than just recipes, however. A complete sourcebook on how to live healthily with celiac disease or wheat intolerance, it features important new information on developing a celiac diet, raising a celiac child, avoiding hidden glutens, eating well while traveling or in the hospital, and locating and ordering from sup- pliers of gluten-free food and flour. This and Hagman's other books in the Gluten-free Gourmet series are recognized by health newsletters around the world as the best in this special diet category.

I Am Special: Introducing Children and Young People to Their Autism Spectrum Disorder, Peter Vermeulen, 2000. Jessica Kingsley Pub. I am Special is a workbook developed by Peter Vermeulen and is already used extensively with young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The workbook is designed for a child to work through with an adult - parent, teacher or other professional. Unlike other books, its content and layout are devised especially for children who read, think and process information differently.

Infancy and Early Childhood: The Practice of Clinical Assessment and Intervention With Emotional and Developmental Challenges, Stanley I., M.D. Greenspan, 1992. International Universities Press. Provides a systematic, clinically based frame of reference with 20 case studies, discussion of clinical principles, and guidelines and suggestions for dealing with babies and young children (and their parents) who present with emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.

Is This Your Child? Discovering and Treating Unrecognized Allergies in Children and Adults, Doris Rapp, 1992. New York: William Morrow. In this breakthrough book, Dr. Doris Rapp offers a simple yet effective approach to handling "problem" children. Is This Your Child? shows parents how to identify the common foods, chemicals, or common allergic substances that could be the culprits that cause some children or adults to feel unwell or act inappropriately. If your child is always sick, hyperactive, a slow learner, or cranky, the first question you should ask is not "What drug should be prescribed?" or "What have I done wrong as a parent?" Instead, find out the cause.

It's Nobody's FaultHarold S. Koplewicz, MD , Random House, 1997. Brain chemistry, not bad parenting, is responsible for the 12 percent of children younger than 18 who have diagnosable brain disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), separation anxiety disorder (SAD), or enuresis (bed-wetting). Through case studies, scientific data, and information about children's development and brain chemistry, Koplewicz helps parents understand the obstacles their brain-disordered children face. A practicing psychiatrist, he also suggests means, including therapy and medication, by which families may lessen the difficulties posed by those disorders. He devotes the final section of the book to considerations of the nature and treatment of problems including, besides those noted above, depression, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, and autism. Presented with compassion but in no-nonsense style, his effort offers a wealth of scientific information in a format easily accessible to parents, extended families, and friends of "difficult" children.

Joey and Sam: A Heartwarming Storybook About Autism, A Family, and A Brother's Love, by Illana Katz, Edward, M.D., Ritvo, Franz Borowitz (Illustrator). Although it is sometimes hard to have a younger brother like Sam who is autistic, Joey is proud when Sam's special class performs at a school assembly.

Kristy and the Secret of Susan (Baby Sitters Club, No 32), by Ann Matthews. Martin Kristy believes that the autistic child she sits for is normal enough to attend special ed classes at school. After a while though she realizes that Susan would be better off with children like herself.

Laughing & Loving With Autism: A Collection of 'Real Life' Warm & Humorous Stories, R. Wayne Gilpin . 1993, Arlington, TS, Future Education. It was refreshing to read true-to-life accounts of situations similar to what we have encountered with our 15 year old son who has autism. This is a book that you must read if you love someone who has autism. You will laugh and cry as you identify with the situations.

Learning to Live With High Functioning Autism: A Parent’s Guide for Professionals, Mike Stanton, 2000, Jessica Kingsley Pub. (Jessica Kingsley) Draws on the author's own experiences with his son and students, and compares it with the experience of others, to offer an honest portrayal of what living with autism is really like for all those involved. For professionals.

Living With a Brother or Sister With Special Needs: A Book for Sibs, Patricia Vadasy (Contributor), Donald Joseph Meyer, Rebecca R. Fewell, 1985. Seattle, University of Washington Press. Since siblings are not often informed about their siblings' disabilities by anyone, it could cause more concern; this book's objective is very important. You can also get basic knowledge of laws, programs, and services for persons with disabilities and their families in the U.S.

More from the Gluten-Free Gourmet: Delicious Dining Without Wheat, Bette Hagman, 1993, Henry Holdt. Bette Hagman's first book, The Gluten-free Gourmet, brought good-tasting food back into the lives of the millions who are intolerant to the gluten in wheat, oats, barley, or rye, or who are allergic to wheat. Responding to a flood of requests for "more, more, more," she offers more than 265 additional gluten-free recipes for tasty meals. Now with a gourmet look, this book is as irresistible as ever for gluten-intolerant chefs and their families.

The Neurobiology of Autism(Johns Hopkins Series in Psychiatry and Neuroscience), Margaret L.. Bauman, MD, Thomas L.  Kemper, MD, 1997 Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press. Synthesizes some of the current research into the many puzzling clinical and biomedical questions around the spectrum of autistic disorders, as an aid to clinical investigators and basic scientists who are trying to figure out where autism comes from and what to do about it. The topics include the genetics, neurophysiologic observations, brain chemistry, positron emission tomography, and memory function.

The New Social Stories,Illustrated Edition, Carol Gray, 1994 Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc. This is the newest offering by Carol Gray. Social Stories help the child with autism or Asperger's Syndrome to understand the social world around them. This book is an updated version of the New Social Story Book with new text and accompanying illustrations

The Out-of-Sync Child, Carol Stock Kranowitz, MA, 1998. Recognizing and coping with sensory integration dysfunction. Recognizing and coping with sensory integration dysfunction. “Difficult." "Picky." "Oversensitive." "Clumsy." "Unpredictable." "Inattentive." Children who have been labeled with words like these may actually be suffering from Sensory Integration Disorder-a very common, but frequently misdiagnosed, condition that can manifest itself in excessively high or low activity levels, problems with motor coordination, oversensitivity or under-sensitivity to sensations and movements, and other symptoms. This guide, written by an expert in the field, explains how SI Dysfunction can be confused with ADD, learning disabilities, and other problems, tells how parents can recognize the problem-and offers a drug-free treatment approach for children who need help.

Parent Survival Manual: A Guide to Crisis Resolution in Autism and Related Developmental Disorders, Eric Schopler, 1995, New York: Plenum Press. 350 anecdotes told by parents of children with autism, and analyzed by behavior therapists, this handbook illustrates effective solutions to behavior problems related to aggression, communication, play and leisure, eating and sleeping, and hygiene. It covers both individual solutions and suggestions for obtaining community support, and gives the family quick reference to handling various problems as well as systematic behavior analysis for application to new problems.

A Parent's Guide to Autism, Charles A. Hart, Claire Zion, 1993, New York: Simon & Schuster. Despite the tremendous need for parents of autistic children to learn as much as they can about treatments, life choices, and possible cures, there has never been a broad subject survey or a complete examination of the anecdotal evidence until now. It includes the success rate of the best-known treatments and more.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing: Practical A-Z Reference to Drug Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Food Supplements, James Balch, MD,  Phyllis Balch, CNC, 2000. Prescription for Nutritional Healing by nutritionist Phyllis A. Balch and James F. Balch, M.D., has long been considered one of the most trusted, comprehensive sources on the mind-boggling array of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements now available. Working from the premise that a good diet promotes good health, this third edition of PNH still starts with the basics: consume fresh produce, grains, and lean meats; avoid foods that are processed or high in saturated fat; cook using glass, stainless steel, or iron--never aluminum; and drink filtered water. The authors also stand by their claim that the government-prescribed recommended daily allowances are ridiculously low, and that the book's optimal daily intake for nutrients should be followed instead.

A Shot in the Dark,Harris L. Coulter, Barbara Loe Fisher, 1985. Out of Print. Discusses medical problems attributed to vaccinations/immunizations.

Siblings of Children With Autism: A Guide for Families (Topics in Autism), Sandra L. Harris, Ph.D., Michael D. Powers, 1994, Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.  An invaluable guide to understanding sibling relationships, how autism affects these relationships, and what families can do to support their children as they cope with the intensive needs of a child with autism

The Siege: A Family's Journey into the World of an Autistic Child, Clara Claiborne Park. Boston, Little Brown. 1988, Boston: Little Brown. Public awareness of this disability has greatly increased since the movie Rain Man. This updated reissue will be welcomed by parents, educators, psychologists, and physicians. Out of Print.

A Slant of Sun: One Child's Courage, by Beth Ciphered, 1998 New York: W.W. Norton & Co. The hardest part of being a parent is the certain knowledge that there are some things you can't control. When Beth Ciphered's son Jeremy was labeled with the unsettlingly vague diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder (a behavioral disorder related to autism) in the fall of 1991, there were no definitive medical answers, no guidebooks to Jeremy's inner world, no maps to help Jeremy's mom and dad lead their boy back into the land of relatively uncomplicated childhood. The other story, the more universal story, is the haunting account of the symbiosis between mother and child, which grows particularly intense when a child feels pain from which his mother cannot shield him. Ciphered's fears that her own maternal failings are somehow implicated in Jeremy's problem stand out as the emotional core of this memoir.

Tired So Tired: And the Yeast Connection, William G. Crook, Bernard Rimland, PhD, 2000.Professional Books. Fatigue is the number-one complaint that doctors hear from their patients, but it is often dismissed as psychological. In the early 1980s, Dr. William G. Crook treated a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). He created a successful treatment program for her that combined a sugar-free diet with oral anti-yeast medications. Further research confirmed that sugar and yeast, along with other food and chemical sensitivities, are a major culprit in everything from headaches to anxiety to CFS and related problems. ‘Tired So Tired’ presents the doctor's program and additional research in lay terms.

Thinking in Pictures: And Other Reports from My Life With Autism, by Temple Grandin, Oliver W. Sacks, 1996, New York: Knopf. Oliver Sacks calls Temple Grandin's first book--and the first picture of autism from the inside--"quite extraordinary, unprecedented and, in a way, unthinkable." Sacks told part of her story in his An Anthropologist on Mars, and in Thinking in Pictures Grandin returns to tell her life history with great depth, insight, and feeling. "Grandin's clear exposition of what it is like to "think in pictures" is immensely mind-broadening and basically destroys a whole school of philosophy (the one that declares language necessary for thought).

Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism and Related Disorders, by Maria Wheeler,1998, Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc. 800-489-0727Book Description This book guides the parent/educator through the special difficulties encountered when toilet training a child with autism.

Turning Lead into Gold: How Heavy Metal Poising Can Affect Your Child and How to Prevent and Treat It, Nancy Hallaway, Zigurts Strauts, 1996, New Star Books. Nancy Hallaway's life was turned upside down when her infant twins were diagnosed as hyperactive with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and severe autistic tendencies. While searching for answers, and help for her children, she never imagined that the cause of their condition lay in their own pleasant suburban backyard.

Russell Is Extra Special: A Book About Autism for Children Child’s Book, by Charles A., III, 1992. New York: Bruner Mazel. Amenta describes the daily life, likes and dislikes, and habits of Russell Amenta, who is a happy boy despite being severely autistic.

The Yeast Connection, William G. Crook, 1989. Professional Books.