Coping with / advice about physical impairments / disability Books

Book SynopsisIn Blind Spot, Maud Rowell challenges readers to think differently about what they may take for granted, carrying them on a whirlwind tour through time and space - from Japanese tube stations to the 18th century museum - to showcase what the world looks like for someone who does not see. She offers practical insights based on her own experiences, as well as spotlighting incredible blind pioneers - explorers, artists, scientists, and more - through history and the current day, unearthed through her own research and interviews. In educating us about the realities of sight loss, Maud shows us how to be aware of our own blind spots, offering the knowledge needed to become better, more tolerant members of diverse communities. Society needs to support everyone - it's time we caught up.

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Book Synopsis''Vivid. Eloquent. Offers insight as well as delight'' Guardian''An exquisite portrayal of the lonely dislocation of being deaf in a hearing world'' The Times''Absolutely brilliant. Ellen Lark is unforgettable'' Emilia Hart, author of Weyward''Illuminating... beautifully written'' Priscilla Morris, Women''s Prize Shortlisted author of Black Butterflies''Fantastic. Shines a light into a hidden corner of history'' Louise Hare author of This Lovely City and Miss Aldridge RegretsEllen Lark is on the verge of marriage when she and her fiancé receive an unexpected visit from Alexander Graham Bell.Ellen knows immediately what Bell really wants from her. Ellen is deaf, and for a time was Bell''s student in a technique called Visible Speech. As he instructed her in speaking, Bell also confided in her about his dream of producing a device which would transmit the humanTrade ReviewAn accomplished debut that excellently conveys the experience of being deaf in a hearing world. A Sign of Her Own gives a fascinating insight into a moment in history when the invention of the telephone was poised to connect countless people, yet deaf communities were being silenced by a movement against the use of sign language. Beautifully written, absorbing and illuminating. -- Priscilla Morris, author of BLACK BUTTERFLIESNot since reading Helen Keller's A Story of My Life have I read such an evocative description on what it is like to be deaf. Sarah Marsh's A Sign of Her Own is a passionate and uncompromising story of the difficulties Deaf people face, and it doesn't shy away from the sometimes challenging politics of Deafness and Deaf Community. -- Laura Shepperson, author of THE HEROINESSarah Marsh pulls off the difficult feat of showing the hearing reader how it feels to be deaf, in a fascinating and moving historical novel that cleverly intertwines history and fiction. Beautifully written, it stayed in my mind long after the last page was turned -- Frances Quinn, author of THAT BONESETTER WOMAN and THE SMALLEST MANAn absorbing depiction of a turning point in history, and a young deaf woman's discoveries within it -- Margaret Meyer, author of THE WITCHING TIDEBeautifully written and original, A Sign of Her Own shines a light into a hidden corner of history. Ellen Lark's story is one that will resonate with anyone who has struggled to fit in. A fantastic novel. -- Louise Hare, author of THIS LOVELY CITY and MISS ALDRIDGE REGRETSAbsolutely brilliant. An important story, so beautifully told. Ellen Lark is unforgettable -- Emilia Hart, author of WEYWARDA beautifully written tale of a woman's quest to find her own place in the world, and have her own voice heard; elegant, eloquent, and passionate -- Naomi Kelsey, author of THE BURNINGSA vivid, tender exploration of language and its power. In A Sign of Her Own, Sarah Marsh draws us into a hidden world of silence, capturing in the process something fundamental about our longing to be understood -- Emily Howes, author of THE PAINTER'S DAUGHTERSA fascinating, sensitive and beautifully written exploration of deaf identity, the isolation of the non-hearing, and the way deaf people have been treated in the past -- Anna Mazzola, author of THE CLOCKWORK GIRLMarsh's debut is an astonishing achievement, delving readers into the mind of a woman who lives in silence but whose mind bursts with a fierce intelligence and wit. A sobering look at the way people with disabilities were treated in the past, as well as an inside view of one of the greatest scientific achievements of our time. Remarkable -- Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of THE SPECTACULARIn this ambitious debut, Sarah Marsh paints a landscape of history that is unforgettable. Through the eyes of a deaf woman, we experience the isolation, confusion, and victories of living in a world of silence, while being given a story of one of the greatest scientists of our time. A triumph! -- Serena Burdick, bestselling author of THE STOLEN BOOK OF EVELYN AUBREY

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Book SynopsisWritten in response to the many requests for a practical and accessible guide to exercise for scoliosis sufferers, Curves, Twists and Bends combines the experience of Annette Wellings, who has major scoliosis, with that of Alan Herdman, the UK's leading Pilates teacher. This clear and concise book explains what scoliosis is, its symptoms, and its physical and psychological impact. It includes a series of Pilates exercises, designed by the authors specifically to promote flexibility, posture and muscle strength in scoliosis sufferers, and also vital information on what exercises to avoid. It offers basic strategies and practical tips for living with the condition, including useful advice on diet, rest, sitting, carrying and how to dress. Written with the full range of scoliosis sufferers in mind, Pilates for Scoliosis emphasises the importance and feasibility of gentle exercise for keeping the body as healthy and flexible as possible. Curves, Twists and Bends: A Practical Guide to Pilates for Scoliosis will be indispensible to individuals with scoliosis and their families as well as to physical therapists, Pilates instructors and other professionals who advise scoliosis patients on exercise and lifestyle options.Trade ReviewThis is a practical and accessible guide to exercise for scoliosis sufferers, including information about the condition, practical lifestyle tips, and a series of pilates exercises that promote flexibility, posture and muscle strength. Combining the experience of Annette Wellins, a pilates teacher with major scoliosis, and Alan Herdman, a leading pilates teacher to doctors, professional dancers and sportspeople, the book may be useful not only to individuals with scoliosis and their families, but also tho physical therapists, pilates instructors and other healthcare professionals. -- International TherapistThe book is a useful tool for addressing scoliosis through exercise, both for those who have the condition and for Pilates instructors with scoliotic clients... Wellings and Herdman have assembled a set of 34 exercises primarily focused on stretching and lengthening, that are appropriate for people with symptoms ranging from mild to severe scoliosis, and even for the general population. -- PilatesProTable of ContentsIntroduction. Part 1. Understanding and Awareness. 1.1 What is Scoliosis? Structural and Non-Structural Scoliosis. Symptoms. Idiopathic Scoliosis. Causes. 1.2. Wide Variation of Types. Location of the Curve. Shape of the Curve. Degree of the Curve. Vertebral Rotation. Rib Hump. Kyphosis, Lordosis, Flat Back. 1.3. Four Common Patterns of Curvature. 1.4. The Psychology of Scoliosis. Coping Mechanisms. 1.5. Mind and Body Link. The Bossy Muscle. The Spine Bends Under Physical and Psychological Pressure. Part 2. Exercises for Flexibility and Posture. 2.1. Introduction. 2.2. Principles of Exercise for Scoliosis. 2.3. Posture and Alignment. 2.4. Exercises. Preparation. The Basic Top Ten Exercises. Stretches. De-Rotation. Lengthening. Letting Go of Bossy Muscle. Teaching the Weak Side to Talk. Pelvic Stability. 2.5. Index of Exercises. 2.6. What Exercises to Avoid. 2.7. Possible Goals and Outcomes. 2.8. More About Pilates.

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Book SynopsisLuke Jackson's unabridged and sparkling sequel to his best-selling user guide to adolescence Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome is the must-read handbook for teenagers and young adults on the autism spectrum. With devastating clarity, Luke focuses on the pitfalls involved in navigating the transition to adulthood, and the challenges of adult life. He covers everything from bullying and drugs to socialising, sex, negotiating relationships, and finding and keeping your first job.Trade ReviewSex, Drugs and Asperger's Syndrome is one of my favorite books this year. Luke Jackson provides the reader with an in-depth understanding of many relevant issues regarding both Asperger's Syndrome as well as autism in general. This includes employment, bullying, sexuality, relationships, and much more. The autism community and society as a whole will benefit greatly from these much needed discussions. -- Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Autism Research Institute (autism.com), San Diego, CaliforniaI enjoyed reading Luke's book immensely and will be recommending it to the majority of my teen/young adult counselling clients in the hope that it will go some way towards assisting them through the years of 'storm and strife' that accompanies this particular passage of time. Luke has managed to cover many facets of 'growing up', including dating and sex among other things. However, his book is not for the parent who wishes to keep their 15-year-old wrapped in a blanket of innocence, for Luke tells it 'how it is', with a no holds barred approach. Using correct descriptors for body parts and various sexual acts, there is an absence of euphemisms. Luke writes from an autobiographical perspective, not claiming to be an expert. What is clear though is that he is an 'expert by experience' and conveys his knowledge deftly like a wise old professor! -- Elaine Nicholson * Action for Asperger's *Jackson wrote Freaks, Geeks and Asperger ­Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence at age 13. Now he returns at age 26 to share all that he has learned, both the good and the challenging, about becoming an adult, living with Asperger's, and finding his place in the world. With candid humor, the author shares his experiences in becoming an adult and what that means to him. He explores the difficulties he and many others with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deal with, such as finding work, social scenes, bullying, drug use, sexual relationships, and friendships. A consistent message throughout is the acceptance of differences in yourself and others. Jackson encourages those on the spectrum to embrace and own those qualities that make them unique and to use them to their advantage. VERDICT Jackson's personal and brutally honest take on being an adult with ASD is eye-opening and refreshing. A valuable read for teens and adults with ASD as well as parents, siblings, employers, teachers, caregivers, friends, and partners of those on the spectrum. Jackson's view that ­acceptance of oneself is the first hurdle; welcoming others is key as well -- Library JournalReading Sex, Drugs and Asperger's Syndrome feels like having a conversation with an older brother or cousin. He advises without preaching, explains without boring and throws in enough jokes to make the entire reading experience thoroughly enjoyable... From bullying to drugs, employment to nights out, and mental health to sex, it includes the entire spectrum of life without judgement, leaving no stone unturned and rendering no subject taboo... Powerful, honest, funny and friendly, Sex, Drugs and Asperger's Syndrome is a must-read. -- Penny Gotch * Disability Now *This is a brilliant book. Luke writes beautifully, engagingly and with wisdom. There is nothing he shirks, it is all there, all the drugs, all the pitfalls of relationships, all the social gaffes and mistakes, all described with humour and without judgement. -- Jude Ragan * Autistica *With wisdom beyond his years and the mastery of an expressionist artist, Luke guides the reader through the rocky shoals of successful transition from adolescence to adulthood as a person on the autism spectrum. A straightforward, honest must read for anyone seeking greater understanding of the coming of age of the human soul, autistic or otherwise. -- Stephen Mark Shore, Ed.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Special Education at Adelphi UniversityTable of ContentsForeword. Tony Attwood. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction. 2. Pitfalls of Adolescence and Beyond. 3. Work and Education. 4. Bullying. 5. Going Out and Staying In. 6. Drugs: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 7. Sex and Relationships. 8. Growing Up. 9. Another Final and Positive Note. Further Reading. Useful Addresses and Websites. Index.

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Book SynopsisA beautifully designed book (packed with photos) full of wise words and encouragement from successful dyslexics working in comedy, architecture, law, fashion and many other amazing (and achievable!) careers.Honest about the challenges of dyslexia (like problems or embarrassment at school), while showing how its strengths can be used to your advantage (for example how visualising and big picture thinking can make you shine at work), this is a book of colourful conversations with creative, motivated and successful people who are brilliant at what they do, and who achieve incredible things because of their dyslexia. There is also a section from people working to support people with dyslexia, who have researched the subject or work directly helping dyslexics on a day to day basis, who they share their top tips and advice gleaned from their years of experience.Read on to gain encouragement and inspiration in your own careers!Trade ReviewWhat's wonderful about this book is that it shows dyslexia from a range of personal perspectives. Dyslexia is not a generic experience -- it's as unique as the people who live with it on a daily basis. With this book Kathy and Kate have shown us how the perception of dyslexia has changed over time, and how those dealing with it have grown to see dyslexia as a strength rather than a weakness impacting on education. An inspiring read! -- Kenny Wheeler, Senior Consultant Teacher at Driver Youth TrustInspiring, insightful, and practical, this is a book for everyone, dyslexic or not. -- Deyan Sudjic OBE, Director Emeritus, Design MuseumA treasure box for the dyslexic mind to explore, to taste, to mull over and expand your horizon of possibilities using your gift. I want to shout about this book to the stars and back again! -- Jane Elson, children’s author and dyslexia mentorWhat a beautiful and inspiring book that highlights how the many role models mentioned have channeled any challenges related to dyslexia into strength across their lives. -- Lauren Brukner, MS, OTR/L, Author with Jessica Kingsley PublishersThis innovative and creatively laid out book includes stunning photographs and inspirational quotes. As a dyslexic, Eddie Izzard is one of my role models. In this book, he doesn't shy away from challenges faced by dyslexics (e.g. the letter C) but also gives good advice about how to achieve your goals. I love the idea of being helped by your future self. -- Alais Winton, JKP author and private tutor working with dyslexic children in WalesBoth inspirational and practical, this book celebrates the incredible talent that shapes our world. Hopefully it will act as a powerful reminder to us all that dyslexics and other diverse minds, must be supported and encouraged through our education system, so that the future doesn't miss the undoubted potential that this form of creativity brings to bare on our challenges and problems. -- Kate Stanners, Chairwoman & Global Chief Creative Officer, Saatchi & SaatchiWhat's wonderful about this book is that it shows dyslexia from a range of personal perspectives. Dyslexia is not a generic experience -- it's as unique as the people who live with it on a daily basis. With this book Kathy and Kate have shown us how the perception of dyslexia has changed over time, and how those dealing with it have grown to see dyslexia as a strength rather than a weakness impacting on education. An inspiring read! -- Kenny Wheeler, Senior Consultant Teacher at Driver Youth Trust

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Book SynopsisFrom the time he was three or four years old, John Elder Robison realised that he was different from other people. He was unable to make eye contact or connect with other children, and by the time he was a teenager his odd habits - an inclination to blurt out non-sequiturs, obsessively dismantle radios or dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother in them) - had earned him the label ''social deviant''. It didn''t help that his mother conversed with light fixtures and his father spent evenings pickling himself in sherry.Look Me in the Eye is his story of growing up with Asperger''s syndrome a form of autism at a time when the diagnosis simply didn''t exist. Along the way it also tells the story of two brothers born eight years apart yet devoted to each other: the author and his younger brother Chris, who would grow up to become bestselling author Augusten Burroughs. This book is a rare fusion of inspiration, dark comedy and insight into the workings oTrade ReviewJohn has a life that is humanity's version of extreme sport. Even without the Asperger's he would have had an appalling childhood ... This is no misery memoir, however. He is a gifted storyteller with a deadpan sense of humour and the book is a rollicking read * The Times *Of course it's brilliant; my big brother wrote it. But even if it hadn't been created by my big, lumbering, swearing, unshaven "early man" sibling, this is a sweet and funny and sad and true and heartfelt a memoir as one could find, utterly unspoiled, uninfluenced, and original -- Augusten BurroughsJohn Robison's book is an immensely affecting account of a life lived according to his gifts rather than his limitations. His story provides ample evidence for my belief that individuals on the autistic spectrum are just as capable of rich and productive lives as anyone else -- Daniel Tammet, author of BORN ON A BLUE DAYDeeply felt and often darkly funny, Look Me in the Eye is a delight * People magazine *It's a fantastic life story (highlights include building guitars for KISS) told with grace, humor, and a bracing lack of sentimentality * Entertainment News *

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Book SynopsisYoga can benefit every body, including yours! Discover how to take advantage of all yoga has to offer with this all-encompassing yoga guide. No matter who you are or what your abilities are, Yoga for Everyone includes a fabulous 50 poses proving something for everyone to love. From plus size yoga and pregnancy yoga, to yoga for the elderly or disabled, you can explore variations and modifications to much-loved yoga poses, from the comfort of your own home. Every exercise utilises the essential elements of yoga to ensure you can gain all the physical and mental benefits, and will also allow you to perform all 10 sequences, which combine different poses into one singular experience and focus on specific health benefits each pose has on your body. Dive straight in to discover: -A visually illustrated yoga guide showcasing diversity in people and their mixed fitness abilities -50 yoga exercises with a minimum of 3 modifications for varyinTrade ReviewGreat for first timers as the easy moves can be adapted for all shapes, sizes and abilities. * Woman's Own *This inclusive guide shows how to tailor yoga to the needs of your body, no matter what your shape, size, age or ability. * Country Living *

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive textbook provides occupational therapy and science students and practitioners with a complete overview of the key human occupation concepts, as well as a range of perspectives through which occupational therapy and occupational science can be viewed and understood.Comprising 40 chapters, the book is divided into five sections: Section 1: Overview of Human Occupation. Introducing the occupational therapy field and its conceptual landscape, including different models of therapeutic practice and practice reasoning Section 2: Contemporary Perspectives on Human Occupation. Including critical perspectives on disability and race and the philosophical foundations of occupational science Section 3: Principal Concepts. Explaining the conceptual language of human occupation across key person, social, psychological, physical, performance, and environmental issues Section 4: Human Occupation across the L

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Book Synopsis23 very well-known people from the arts, sport, and business worlds talk about how dyslexia affected their childhood, how they were able to overcome the challenges and use the special strengths of dyslexia to achieve great success in adulthood. Darcey Bussell CBE, Eddie Izzard, Sir Richard Branson, Meg Mathews, Zoe Wanamaker CBE, Richard Rogers, Benjamin Zephaniah, Steven Naismith, Lynda La Plante CBE, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Sophie Conran and others share their stories, and their advice.All reveal the enormous difficulties they faced, the strength required to overcome them, the crucial importance of adult support, and how `the different way the brain is wired' in dyslexia has enabled them to see something different in the world and to use their creativity in an exceptional way. They talk about `thinking sideways', and the ability to look at a bigger picture, the often strong visual strength, and the ability to listen, and to grasp simplicity where other people see only complexity. They also talk about how dyslexia continues to challenge them, and the ways they have found to work around this. An introduction, and final section that includes practical information about dyslexia, are written with the support of Dyslexia Action, and a percentage of profit from the book is going to The British Dyslexia Association. The book will be essential reading for teachers and other professionals, and for families affected by dyslexia, and inspirational for people with dyslexia.Trade ReviewThis book provides clear and inspirational hope for anyone with a dyslexic child. Like many excellent books it is written from personal experience. I strongly recommend it. -- Sian Griffiths, Education Editor, The Sunday TimesThis book shines a light on 23 successful people with dyslexia and demonstrates that having dyslexia should not hold you back from achieving your potential. With the right support and an inner determination, success can be within reach. These personal stories, generously shared, should be inspiring for all who live with dyslexia. -- Kevin Geeson, former Chief Executive at Dyslexia ActionI would recommend this to people diagnosed with dyslexia and their families. One invaluable message is that perseverance and determination can help people achieve. Another is that talents in the dyslexia profile may be underrated at school but are of tremendous importance to society afterwards. One interesting recurring theme was the importance of parents and the difference they could make in helping their children believe in themselves; more than one said "that costs nothing". -- Bernadette McLean, Principal of the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, UKShining through these highly personal accounts of difficult schooldays and the struggle for understanding is an overwhelming sense of optimism. Dyslexia has shaped these personal histories, but has not limited their ambition or ultimate success. For many, the role of parents is a central unifying feature, parents who believed their children could achieve, regardless of academic success, and who provided the confidence and encouragement they needed. This is a book for parents to buy for their young people, to read together and to find inspiration and encouragement, and it also provides a refreshing perspective for those working in education. -- Dr Teresa Regan CPsychol AFBPsS, Principal Educational Psychologist, Catalyst Psychology Community Interest CompanyIn my experience every person with dyslexia has amazing potential waiting to be untapped. Sadly, this potential is often missed by our exam focussed education system. But once dyslexic people find their passion and talent they can achieve extraordinary things, as this wonderful collection of interviews demonstrates. I hope this book inspires young people, educators and parents to focus on what dyslexic people CAN do, not just what they can't. -- Kate Griggs, Dyslexia Campaigner (Xtraordinary People) and Founder & CEO of Untap.itThis is a wonderful book. -- Dr Brock Eide and Dr Fernette Eide, authors of The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic BrainRooke, a writer and columnist in the UK, began to research dyslexia when her daughter was diagnosed at age 13. She found, through talking to physicians and other families, that dyslexia is more of a learning process style than a disorder and that there have been many high achievers (e.g., Albert Einstein, Agatha Christie, Steve Jobs, Steven Spielberg) who were able to learn around their diagnosis. To encourage dyslexic students, their parents, and their teachers, Rooke presents the stories of well-known peoples from the arts, sports, and business world who talk about how dyslexia affected their childhood, how they overcame their problems, and what special strengths they used to succeed in life. VERDICT This book will be an inspiration to all who work with children, especially those with special needs. -- School Library JournalThe examples in this book show us what dyslexia gives you: perseverance, determination, tenacity, patience, tolerance, empathy, creativity, problem solving skills, bravery, humour and an ability to think differently. Surely all qualities required to be successful in life. My son has all of these attributes in 'bucket loads' and, whilst I am still a long way from believing my son's dyslexia is a blessing, I think a book like this also helps me realise that it is far from a curse. I appear to have a creative, sure to be successful, dyslexic in my life. -- Louise Heron, mother of Alex HeronThis collection of very personal stories from such high profile dyslexic people brought together in one book will act as an inspiration for those who struggle daily with dyslexia and also as an eye opener to those that don't. It will help them to better understand the impact that a learning difficulty can have on everyday life and the importance of providing appropriate emotional and practical support. -- Stephen Hall, Chief Executive, Dyslexia ActionThis is an enlightening read...I have read this with a number of pupils with dyslexia, secondary school age, all of whom have either listened to it as it was read, or who have read it with minimal support...each individual was inspired in their own way and it has certainly helped them to look beyond the difficulties they currently experience, to the very real possibilities and opportunities for the future. -- Claire Hague * Patoss Bulletin, Summer 2016, Vol. 29 No. 1 *Table of ContentsForeword by Mollie King. Introduction. 1. David Bailey CBE. 2. Ed Baines. 3. Charley Boorman. 4. Sir Richard Branson. 5. Marcus Brigstocke. 6. Darcey Bussell CBE. 7. Brian Conley. 8. Sophie Conran. 9. Kelly Hoppen MBE. 10. Eddie Izzard. 11. Lynda La Plante CBE. 12. Kenny Logan. 13. Meg Mathews. 14. Nigel McCrery. 15. Steven Naismith. 16. Paul Nixon. 17. Theo Paphitis. 18. Chris Robshaw. 19. Richard Rogers. 20. Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. 21. Zoe Wanamaker CBE. 22. Zelda West-Meads. 23. Benjamin Zephaniah. About Dyslexia. Where to go for help.

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Book SynopsisYoung people with autism can be particularly susceptible to setbacks, often leading to depression and a sense of hopelessness. Using Social Stories™, this book introduces a different way of looking at common life setbacks, and offer tools to overcome these obstacles, build resilience and develop coping strategies for the future.Based on Carol Gray's highly effective Social Stories™ model, this new guide shows how to help individuals with autism deal with challenges specific to them, and how to bounce back from the negative experiences that they encounter. This book is an invaluable guide for learning to create personalised Social Stories™ that can be used to develop resilience in people with autism and help them to cope better with adversity.Trade ReviewWhat an absolute gem of a book, brimful of practical strategies for supporting children's resilience and mental health that can be immediately put into practice by both parents and teachers. -- Davida Hartman, Senior Educational Psychologist, Director at The Children's Clinic, Dublin, and author of Beating Anxiety: What Young People on the Autism Spectrum Need To KnowIt is important to build up resilience in young people with autism but Siobhan Timmins goes that one step further and explains clearly and simply exactly how this can be done. -- Kathy Hoopmann, author of All Cats Have Asperger’s Syndrome and All Birds Have AnxietyWithout resilience, there will be a fragmented sense of self and the risk of developing signs of depression. In this easy-to-follow and insightful book, Siobhan Timmins illustrates how versatile Social Stories can be, and contribute to a positive sense of self and the ability to cope with many aspects of autism. -- Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome and Exploring Depression, and Beating the BluesDr Timmins' ideas, approaches and strategies combined with actions have inspired change for her son and others. Mental health services, social care, educational settings and families will find this book a stimulating and informative read which could further improve their skills and practice. -- Lisa Parker, NHS Neuro-Developmental Mental Health Practitioner, Child and Adolescent Services and ASD & ID IAPT TherapistTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Dedication. Understanding the perspective of young people on the autism spectrum. How does a Social Story help? What is Resilience? What is resilience? (Social Story). 1. Positive thinking. 2. Plan B, building flexibility. 3. Past successes and proven strategies - learning self-reflection. 4. Personal best. 5. Positive self-talk. References.

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Book SynopsisUse this guide to weed out what dyslexia means for you and discover the tools you need to blossom! Dyslexia comes to life with visual imagery and colourful text in this new book on what dyslexia means, how it feels, what to do about it, and how to learn to embrace it. There are advantages to being dyslexic, including an aptitude for design literacy and innovative thinking, although these can be obscured by its challenges. This beautifully designed book, complete with stunning visuals and gentle humour, approaches the subject of dyslexia in a simple and encouraging way for all age groups. By showing what dyslexia is and asking the reader how it applies to them, this book offers a fun and engaging means of working out how dyslexia affects the individual specifically, with a multitude of learning tools and tips, and a gallery of inspirational dyslexics who have used their particular skills to do something amazing with their lives.Trade ReviewDyslexia is a learning difference NOT a difficulty. Use this book to really, authentically celebrate that difference. -- Mike Fleetham, www.thinkingclassroom.co.ukIt is a really imaginative book which manages to impart a lot of very good and accurate information in a way which will engage young people (and their parents too). -- Shirley Cramer, CEO of Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) & Ex-CEO of Dyslexia ActionThis is a novel, unique and highly informative illustrated guide to the disadvantages and very many advantages of those who possess the gift of dyslexia. -- Dr. Martin Phillips, School & Behavioural Psychologist, Former Chairman of Hornsby International Dyslexia CentreTable of Contents1. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Dyslexia. 2. What Gets You in A Pickle? 3. The Amazing People and the Jobs They Do. 4. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between siblings can be tough, and the sibling dynamic can be further challenged when one child has autism. This interactive workbook is designed for siblings of children with autism. Introducing the experience of autism in simple language, children are encouraged to complete activities that identify differences and strengthen relationships. This book is focussed on understanding and supporting a sibling while developing individual emotions and identity. The pages are designed to be drawn on and personalized by the child. Ideal for young children aged 8-12 who have a sibling with autism, the activities can be completed with a parent's guidance or on their own. Full of resources, strategies, and exercises, this workbook can support professionals working with children and facilitate healthy sibling relationships.Trade ReviewHaving a sibling with special needs does not define you for who you are. This journal unpacks the diagnosis of the reader's sibling, how it affects them, assists with strategies, and allows a sacred space to delve within. A great resource that acknowledges the important role siblings play. -- Josie Santomauro, Australia, Author, Presenter & Consultant, www.booksbyjosie.com.auLots of space to draw, write, paste, scribble and whatever else takes the fancy makes this useful in understanding one's own self as well as the brother or sister...The book covers an immense range of emotions and will give a child having difficulties accepting the autistic member of the family the empowerment he or she needs to be patient and loving. -- Healthy Books * healthybooks.org.uk *Table of ContentsHow to Use this Book. 1.Introduction. 2. The Sensory Experience. 3. Ways of Thinking. 4. Talent and Creative Expression. 5. People. 6. Understanding. 7. Thoughts. 8. Communication. 9. School. 10. Friends. 11. Feeling Upset. 12. Happiness - A Feeling of Well-Being.

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Book SynopsisComprised of the accounts of twelve heterosexual couples in which the man is on the Autism Spectrum, this book invites both partners to discuss their own perspectives of different key issues, including anxiety, empathy, employment and socialising. Autism expert Tony Attwood contributes a commentary and a question and answer section for each of the twelve accounts.The first book of its kind to provide perspectives from both sides of a relationship on a variety of different topics, Neurodiverse Relationships is the perfect companion for couples in neurodiverse relationships who are trying to understand one another better.Trade ReviewThis is a revolutionary book: it looks at each issue from the point of view of both AS and NT partners. So both gain, even more with Tony Attwood's comments. It is really really helpful. -- Susanna Todd, Director of Different Together, NT spouseOne of the most informative, realistic and useful books I have read on the topic of AS/non-AS relationships. This book is totally unique and unlike any other I have read. It offers the reader an insight into both perspectives of an AS/non-AS relationship as both partners share honestly and openly how they experience each other. In addition, Professor Tony Attwood offers his valuable experience, expertise and knowledge explaining and answering questions at the end of each couple section. It is guaranteed that any reader in a similar situation will find themselves identifying with the couples in this superb book. I highly recommend this book for couples, individuals and professionals who work in this area. Well done Joanna for putting this book together and thank you for making me smile with your humorous sketches! -- Maxine Aston, author of The Other Half of Asperger Syndrome, Aspergers in Love and The Asperger Couples WorkbookA treasure trove of experiences, perspectives and strategies to enlighten and inspire every professional's practice, Neurodiverse Relationships is a unique collection of relationship stories and a glimpse into the diversity of AS/NT relationships with invaluable insights on the most significant challenges neurodiverse couples are navigating together. -- Natalie Roberts, Asperger's Relationship Coach and MentorFinally a perspective on neurodiverse relationship dynamics for yourselves, family and friends! This book gives experiential description showing the impact of the array of inherent differences.I found Tony Attwood's comments at the end of each chapter immensely helpful because they put into context each partner's experience in a meaningful way.Highly recommended! -- Clare Hargrave, Early Childhood Education Specialist, NT spouseTable of ContentsForeword. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Asperger's and anxiety. 2. Asperger's and change. 3. Asperger's and communication. 4. Asperger's and diagnosis. 5. Asperger's and empathy. 6. Asperger's and employment. 7. Asperger's and family occasions. 8. Asperger's and finances. 9. Asperger's and intimacy. 10. Asperger's and meltdowns. 11. Asperger's and parenting. 12. Asperger's and socialising.

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Book SynopsisThis book combines moving accounts of the lived experience of dyslexic adults with tips and strategies for surmounting the challenges you or a loved one or family member may face. Drawing on in-depth interviews, Kelli Sandman-Hurley explores common themes such as school experiences; the impact of dyslexia on mental wellbeing; literacy skills; and being a dyslexic parent, perhaps to a child who is also dyslexic. Interviewees share what helped them (or didn't), the strategies they use daily to tackle literacy-based tasks, anxiety and low self-esteem, the advice they would give to the parent of a dyslexic child who is struggling, and reflect on how their experience has impacted their own parenting style. Whether you're dyslexic yourself or supporting someone who is, this book sheds light on an underrepresented topic, providing much-needed guidance and insight around what life is really like for an adult with dyslexia.Trade ReviewThrough intimate and, at times, heartbreaking interviews, Kelli Sandman-Hurley uncovers the frustrations, rage and shame that we dyslexics can experience. Yet through Sandman-Hurley's remarkable insight and understanding of the dynamics of dyslexia she offers a hope-filled path through the maze of institutional terminology and powerful emotions. Anyone who has a connection with a dyslexic needs to read this book. If you read one book about the challenges and hope of dyslexia, The Adult Side of Dyslexia is the one! -- Sprague Theobald, Author of “The Other Side of the Ice”Normal and typical are not synonyms. More and more, we're becoming aware of this truth, and The Adult Side of Dyslexia continues the conversation. Exploring thematic and personal journeys, this book is full of thoughtful empowerment, presented in ways that every reader will find engaging, usable, and accessible. -- Jennifer Cook, Author of "The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules"I loved being interviewed by Kelli Sandman-Hurley because she is passionate about how and what she wants to learn about other people. She asked all the right questions about my experience growing up and living with Dyslexia over the past 64 years and how that influenced raising my 24-year-old daughter who is also dyslexic. It's rare to meet someone who is so knowledgeable in the field but chooses to be an astute and thoughtful listener. By gathering together and sharing so many personal stories of adult dyslexics I truly believe she has created an eye-opening book. It delivers completely and compassionately, eradicating stereotypes and age-old myths about dyslexia. But it goes way beyond just challenging old ideas - The Adult Side of Dyslexia raises critical issues about inclusion and equity in general! The book helps us think about who Is getting support for Dyslexia and who isn't, and most importantly why. Kelli Sandman-Hurley does this with vivid anecdotes and a structure that helps you find the important questions to consider. She also lays out new information in a very accessible and helpful manner. For those of us who know dyslexia intimately and work in the field, this book is a triumph. If you're dyslexic, love a dyslexic, or if you're an educator or just a believer in equity, I urge you to make it part of your library and include it on that shelf with other books celebrating love, courage, and hope. -- Peggy Stern, founder of SuperDville.comTable of Contents1. How Would You Describe Your Dyslexia?2. Dyslexia Hurts3. Dyslexia-Induced-Distrust4. Traumatic Teaching Practices5. Is Spelling Important to You?6. Do You Think Dyslexia is a Gift?7. Has Dyslexia Affected Your Ability to Succeed? 8. Acknowledge, Advocate and Accommodate

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Book SynopsisThis reassuring guide explains prescribed ADHD medicines for children in clear, everyday language. Based on questions the author has received from countless families in his work as a Consultant Psychiatrist, the expert information in this book answers the most pressing questions a parent will have about ADHD medicines: how they work, what they do, what is available and how to talk about them to your children. This book sheds light on why not all medicines are easily available, the differences between certain medications and their level of effectiveness, all based on scientific evidence. This information will support parents in discussions with medical professionals, explaining the practicalities and demystifying the terminology around medication and treatments. The book also provides insights into the decisions behind prescribing certain medicines and how they should be taken. Armed with this guide, parents - as well as teachers and others working with kids with ADHD - can feel confident and assured when their child is prescribed treatments for ADHD.Trade ReviewEverything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask - this book provides the answers. Professor Peter Hill, an internationally recognised expert in the field, sits down with parents/carers and covers everything they want to know about pharmacological treatment for their ADHD child. -- Professor Susan Young, Registered Practitioner Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, BSc, DClinPsy, PhD, CSci, AFBPSThe absolute 'go to' book for parents and young people wishing to understand the facts about medication for ADHD. Clear, practical and honest, it is no surprise that Professor Hill has written this brilliant, step by step, conversational yet authoritative guide about ADHD treatment. A book designed to both dip into and read cover to cover. In the 20 years I have worked with families of children and young people with ADHD, this is the book I have longed to be written, and Professor Hill is the expert I hoped would author it. His experience, manner and ability to convey complex issues simply will ensure this book becomes a family compendium. -- Valerie A Ivens, ADHD REACH Coach

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Book Synopsis"Neurodiversity has helped me understand myself and provided a sense of relief that I'm a whole neurodivergent person functioning as my brain intends.""It's provided me with the language to advocate for myself.""I no longer hated myself. I no longer felt broken. I found a sense of community. A sense of belonging"This affirming and thoughtful guide outlines how and why we need to fundamentally shift our thinking about neurodivergent people. We need to accept differences rather than framing them as a problem, abnormality or disorder. Welcome to the neurodiversity paradigm.At times challenging and radical, Sonny Jane Wise explores the intersections of neurodivergence with disability, gender, sexuality and race. Through interviews, narratives, and the lens of their own raw experiences, they consider how current systems and structures that impact neurodivergent people are rooted in outdated capitalist and racist frameworks, and how these need to change and adapt to be neurodiversity affirming. Sonny Jane's words are a rallying cry to challenge the pathology paradigm. They offer nine principles for facilitating change, reflected in deeply personal stories from the neurodivergent community.Powerful and persuasive, this book is a clarion call for a kinder and more neurodiversity affirming society.Trade ReviewSonny has been such a huge part of my personal education around neurodivergence, and We're All Neurodiverse is an incredible addition to that. It's given me so much to think about (both personally and professionally), and is such a necessary book for both neurodivergent people and neurotypical allies to read. -- Ellie Middleton, Autistic ADHDer, content creator, speaker and writerSonny Jane's book is empowering and affirming, including personal experience, guidance and information on neurodiversity. The book addresses the 'pathology paradigm' around neurodivergence. It is an excellent addition to the literature on neurodiversity. Highly recommended. -- Yenn Purkis, Autistic and non-binary author and advocateThis is an utterly ground breaking read that anyone who is neurodivergent or interested in neurodiversity should be reading. Sonny Jane Wise has managed to explain so many difficult and often contentious concepts in an accessible manner, alongside giving incredible advice for neurodivergent people and allies alike. -- Charli Clement, neurodivergent activist & author

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Book SynopsisCertain characteristics of autism, such as difficulty understanding social cues, may make women vulnerable to potentially dangerous situations. Robyn Steward has written this supportive guide to help all women on the autistic spectrum live independently, make their own choices in life, and be safe whilst doing so.This book will provide you with the knowledge to recognise potential risks to your personal safety and the skills and strategies required to avoid and overcome them. Informed by a survey of, and interviews with, women on and off the autistic spectrum, it explores common safety issues encountered by women and offers practical advice to help you stay safe and supported in your independence. Topics covered include friendships, relationships and sex, alcohol and drugs, money and employment and staying safe outside the home and online.This handbook is your guide to super safe living as an independent woman and will help you to stay safe whilst living life to the full. It may also be of interest to your family, friends and carers, giving them insight into life on the spectrum and confidence that you will enjoy your independence in an informed and safe manner.Trade ReviewPacked with "autism alert cards" and references that will prove key to the safety of any woman struggling with autism and independence. -- The Midwest Book ReviewIt does not matter how bright a young person on the spectrum is, you cannot send them out into the world without skills for living, loving and resilience. Robyn's book comes framed with experience and the personal knowledge that autism does not stop with childhood… Knowledge keeps us all safe… This is a book everyone who works with teenagers and young adults with autism should have as a reference and it forms an essential resource for women with autism providing the kind of insight only a woman on the spectrum could provide. -- Lynne Moxon, Chartered Psychologist who teaches socio-sexual skills, Senior Lecturer, University of NorthumbriaRobyn has written a brilliant, no nonsense, straight-talking guide in how to navigate the daunting world of people and relationships - not just the obvious stuff, but the subtle things that women on the autistic spectrum are likely to stumble into trouble with. This is a useful book for women themselves and those looking out for them. -- Sarah Hendrickx, Hendrickx Associates, freelance trainer and consultant in autistic spectrum conditions, author of several books on Asperger syndromeA woman on the autism spectrum who lives in a big city such as London has perhaps an intensified need for clarity in the issue of safety, and an insight others might not possess. Like the underground system she loves, Robyn Steward has created the equivalent of a “color-coded tube map” to help you navigate a variety of situations. But this is more than just a list of dos and don'ts – Robyn's intelligent, yet clear and personable voice makes it a compelling and enjoyable read. -- Rudy Simone, author of Aspergirls, 22 Things a Woman Must Know If She Loves a Man with Asperger's Syndrome and 22 Things a Woman with Asperger's Syndrome Wants Her Partner to KnowThis book provides a how-to-guide for spotting unsafe situations while offering concrete tips for safer living for women on the autism spectrum. Spoken from the voice of a young woman with autism, readers will be given practical strategies for navigating socially vulnerable relationships and situations – a useful tool for helping independent women living on the spectrum stay safe. -- Dr Elizabeth Laugeson, author of The Science of Making Friends, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA, Founder and Director, UCLA PEERS ClinicRobyn has addressed the subject of safety for women on the autistic spectrum in a very creative way. She is open and honest when discussing sensitive topics and has collected together a wealth of practical, common sense information based on her experiences and of others on the autistic spectrum. Of particular interest is her chapter on the internet and digital information sharing which is currently very relevant for any woman, not just those on the spectrum. This book is a must read for helping woman navigate the social complexities of life. -- Dr Judith Gould, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of the NAS Lorna Wing Centre for AutismRobyn Steward covers important issues of daily life including friendship, sex, alcohol, the Internet, money, and mental health, providing information to help you make informed decisions about your actions...This is an excellent book for any woman on the autistic spectrum, and for anyone who loves or supports a woman with autism. -- Asperger UnitedSteward, a 26-year-old autistic woman, is an autism trainer, mentor, consultant, and artist. She begins her first nonfiction work with an explanation of her "nothing is too basic" approach, explaining that everyone learns differently. She discusses how certain characteristics of autism (literal thinking and difficulty reading social cues) can create vulnerability in potentially dangerous situations. Using an online survey, which questioned people both on the spectrum and not, she obtained information about matters pertaining to safety, such as friendship, relationships and sex, alcohol and drugs, money and employment, and staying safe outside the home and online. VERDICT To the nonspectrum reader, much of this work may seem painfully naive. But that, in essence, is Steward's point, and she succeeds admirably at educating her audience in matters of personal safety. An invaluable resource for autistic individuals as well as those who live and work closely with them. -- Library JournalTable of ContentsThe Purpose of this Book. Important Information. About Me (The Author). Introduction: How Does Being On the Autistic Spectrum Affect Safety Issues?. 1. Platonic Friends. 2. Sex. 3. Romantic Relationships. 4. Drugs, Alcohol and Other Substances. 5. Preparing to Go Out. 6. Internet, Mobile Devices and Digital Information Sharing. 7. Money. 8. Work. 9. Mood. 10. Useful Skills and Strategies for Multiple Situations. Appendix A: Record Sheets for Reporting Abuse. Appendix B: Erogenous Zones Diagram. Final Thoughts. References. Index.

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Book Synopsis*Gold Medal Winner in the Sexuality / Relationships Category of the 2011 IPPY Awards** Honorary Mention in the 2010 BOTYA Awards Women's Issues Category *Girls with Asperger's Syndrome are less frequently diagnosed than boys, and even once symptoms have been recognised, help is often not readily available. The image of coping well presented by AS females of any age can often mask difficulties, deficits, challenges, and loneliness.This is a must-have handbook written by an Aspergirl for Aspergirls, young and old. Rudy Simone guides you through every aspect of both personal and professional life, from early recollections of blame, guilt, and savant skills, to friendships, romance and marriage. Employment, career, rituals and routines are also covered, along with depression, meltdowns and being misunderstood. Including the reflections of over thirty-five women diagnosed as on the spectrum, as well as some partners and parents, Rudy identifies recurring struggles and areas where Aspergirls need validation, information and advice. As they recount their stories, anecdotes, and wisdom, she highlights how differences between males and females on the spectrum are mostly a matter of perception, rejecting negative views of Aspergirls and empowering them to lead happy and fulfilled lives.This book will be essential reading for females of any age diagnosed with AS, and those who think they might be on the spectrum. It will also be of interest to partners and loved ones of Aspergirls, and anybody interested either professionally or academically in Asperger's Syndrome.Trade ReviewRuby Simone's approach is hands-on, and her writing style is easy to read. The chapters are short and give good tips to woman and girls with AS and the people closest to them. I don't know that I believe all the holistic stuff, but I think this book should be required reading for woman and girls who have been diagnosed with AS. -- A Girl Walks into a Bookstore BlogEvery chapter deals with the everyday things that occur in life, explaining how you could feel when you're in love, when you fancy someone, to what you do and should do when going on a date. Sexual relationships and sexual activity are clearly explained, as are how they are affected by sensory issues and whether sex is painful and annoying -- Asperger UnitedIt is interesting the way temper meltdowns are described very accurately and are written just as I experience them, including crying, frustration, shouting, yelling, being sarcastic, becoming vicious, feeling faint or dizzy and that temper meltdowns often happen when we are hungry. -- Asperger UnitedThis is a very readable and enlightening book for all Aspergrirls, their family, friends and involved others... This thoughtful account enthuses the reader and builds their understanding of the specific needs of Aspergirls; a highly recommended book. -- Youth in MindIn the accessible and relevant 'Aspergirls', Rudy Simone takes the reader through the stages of life from childhood to old age, looking at issues such as the Aspergirl's 'meltdowns', 'stims' (self-stimulatory behaviour), literal thinking, socialising and sexuality. It is written in a touching, often humorous and very practical style, effectively providing a life manual for females with Asperger Syndrome. The anecdotes from Aspergirls she has interviewed broaden the reader's insight into what is must be like to live with this syndrome. -- Speech & Language Therapy in PracticeIn a lovely style, Rudy Simone covers every aspect of personal and professional life, from early recollections of blame, guilt and savant skills to friendships, romance and marriage...Rudy identifies recurring struggles and areas where Aspergirls need validation, information and advice. As they recount their stories, anecdotes and wisdom, she highlights how differences between males and females on the spectrum are mostly a matter of perception and empowers Aspergirls to lead happy and fulfilled lives. -- Human Givens JournalI can highly recommend this book to all Aspergirls and their parents, family, partners and professionals, as well as to all members of our community. With humour, love, liking and respect Rudy opens our eyes to the World of the Aspergirl, providing powerful insights on love, learning, sex, career, marriage, having children, friendships, puberty, diagnosis, emotions, health, aging and more...For too many years we have missed Aspergirls due to our current understanding of Asperger's syndrome being largely based on a male presentation. Rudy generously provides, through deep personal insight and her interviews with other Aspergirls, a broader definition and understanding, one that will help bridge the gap between Aspergirls and the non-spectrum population. -- Dr Michelle Garnett MPsych(Clin) PhD MAPS MCCP, Clinic Director and Clinical Psychologist, Minds & Hearts: A Specialist Clinic for Asperger's Syndrome and AutismRudy's book helps girls with AS to realize that they are not alone and lets them know that there are others who feel like thy do. But Rudy also does a thoughtful job of illustrating that not all girls with AS are the same. They have both talents and deficits and vary based on intelligence, level of imagination, and obsessions, just to name a few areas. -- Help! SOS for ParentsMany people, doctors and counsellors included, see AS (Autism Spectrum) as predominately affecting men. The Aspergirls is more often than not overlooked or diagnosed later in life. Rudy's book helps girls with AS to realize that they are not alone and lets them know that there are others who feel like they do. But Rudy also does a thoughtful job of illustrating that not all girls with AS are the same. They have both talents and deficits and vary based on intelligence, level of imagination, and obsessions, just to name a few areas.' - Help! S-O-S for Parents'Specialists' books are all very well, but what people really, really need are the 'case histories' told from the inside. And so far this is the best I've seen. Aspergirls is a mix between Rudy's own experience and that of other Aspergirls, as well as pure advice, both to other Aspies as well as to Neurotypicals. -- Bookwich blogThis book is a tremendous resource for Aspergirls, their parents, family, friends and professionals. Based on Ms. Simone's personal insight as well as her interviews of over 35 women on the spectrum, this book will serve as an inclusive reference manual. Each chapter is packed with information on sensory overload, guilt, dating, higher learning and career, medication, meltdowns and stomach issues to name only a few. At the end of each chapter are sections containing very practical suggestions for Aspergirls, and their parents for handling the multitude of issues that can accompany Asperger's syndrome. She also encourages Aspergirls to celebrate and cherish who they are and puts to rest some common myths about girls on the spectrum. She encourages us with statements such as, "Life is about making a contribution, not about being popular and fitting in." Ms. Simone is very candid and open about her own struggles and with bullying experiences. She also discusses the difficulties in identifying women on the spectrum. This book will serve as an excellent reference for the Aspergirl and those who love/work with her. -- Bonnie Kimpling-Kelly, teacher and behavior analystThis book is an easy to read, sensitive and funny at times while presenting some serious matters to consider. The concerns are focused on the individual but inclusive of the parents, educator and the community surrounding them. Whether you are a parent of a child with Asperger Syndrome or know someone who is, this is a must read as it will not only provide the reader with a good insight and look into the lives of girls with Asperger Syndrome, but also make you laugh as you develop more compassion aside faith. -- Oren Shtayermman * Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders *Table of ContentsForeword by Liane Holliday Willey. Introduction. 1. Imagination, Self-taught Reading and Savant Skills, and Unusual Interests. 2. Why Smart Girls Sometimes Hate School. 3. Sensory Overload. 4. Stimming, and What We Do When We're Happy. 5. On Blame and Internalizing Guilt. 6. Gender Roles and Identity. 7. Puberty and Mutism. 8. Attraction, Dating, Sex, and Relationships. 9. Friendships and Socializing. 10. Higher Learning. 11. Employment and Career. 12. Marriage and Cohabitation. 13. Having Children. 14. Ritual and Routine, Logical and Literal Thinking, Bluntness, Empathy, and Being Misunderstood. 15. Diagnosis, Misdiagnosis, and Medication. 16. Depression Meltdowns, PTSD, and More About Meds. 17. Temper Meltdowns. 18. Burning Bridges. 19. Stomach Issues and Autism. 20. Getting Older on the Spectrum. 21. On Whether AS is a Disability or a Gift, and Advice from Aspergirls to Aspergirls. Additional Tools for Parents. 22. Give Your Aspergirl some BALLS: Belief, Acceptance, Love, Like, and Support. 23. Thoughts and Advice from Parents of Aspergirls. Appendix. List of Female Asperger Syndrome Traits. Summary of Some Main Female/Male Differences. References and Resources.

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Book SynopsisLife with Asperger Syndrome can be a challenge at the best of times, and trials and tribulations that neurotypicals take in their stride can leave Aspies perplexed and unsure of how to solve problems and keep themselves safe, both physically and emotionally. Liane Holliday Willey explores the daily pitfalls that females with AS may face, and suggests practical and helpful ways of overcoming them. The focus throughout is on keeping safe, and this extends to travel, social awareness, and general life management. With deeply personal accounts from the author's own experiences, this book doesn't shy away from difficult issues such as coping with bullying, self-harm, depression, and eating disorders. The positive and encouraging advice gives those with AS the guidance to safeguard themselves from emotional and physical harm, and live happy and independent lives.This book will be essential reading for all females with Asperger Syndrome, their friends and families, and all professionals whose work brings them into contact with females with AS.Trade ReviewLiane has written another brave and informative book about her experiences as an adult Aspie....She gives all of us a piece of herself so that we can add to our own roadmap. It makes us better moms, therapists, friends, and people. Liane's new book is on my short list along with her first, Pretending to be Normal. -- Pat Schissel, On the SpectrumWilley (Senior editor, Autism Spectrum Quarterly) uses research and personal experiences as a sufferer of Asperger's syndrome to help "Aspie" woman meet the challenges of travel, social awareness, and life management. She talks about how Aspie woman are wired, how they can be manipulated, and how they often feel disconnected. Willey shares the challenges of taking on life and resisting the urge to run away. She offers practical suggestions on picking friends wisely, staying safely in hotels, expanding diets, and more. This is essential reading for woman with Asperger's syndrome, their families, and the professionals who work with them. -- Library JournalI read this attractively-covered book in one sitting. It is quick, touching, witty and enormously helpful... Holliday Willey has made a great contribution to the growing literature in this area, especially for girls and women with Asperger's syndrome.An excellent read. -- Learning Disability TodayThe book is clear, personal and easy to identify with... This is a book with plenty of common sense tips, covering keeping safe and emotionally whole is a comfort and a reminder that we are not alone. This is well worth getting for a teenage daughter or for newly diagnosed women because many of Willey's experiences will be mirrored in their own lives and some of her tips may be new and worth a try. -- ASTeensThe literary equivalent of a map, a first aid kit, a bullet proof vest and a nice cup of tea. Liane's strength is not the stoic sort, but shows itself through vulnerability, honesty and generosity. This is on the top shelf of 'must reads' in the category of female Asperger Syndrome and it shall remain there to arm, console, and inform readers for many years to come! -- Rudy Simone, author of Aspergirls and 22 Things a Woman Must Know: If She Loves a Man with Asperger's SyndromeLiane's wise and intimate account of how to recognise, disarm and distance oneself from those who might intend or not, emotional or social harm, connected me in ways I couldn't have otherwise imagined. Liane takes AS women into the heart of our issues with obsession, over attachment, broken bonds, mood issues, fashion, self-care, dreams and so much more. In this book I found myself identifying past wounds and experiences that I could finally put a label on, bury and move beyond. Thank you! -- Wendy Lawson, psychologist, qualified counselor, social worker and autism advocate, author of many books on topics relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders"'Who am I and what will I do to be who I want to be?" Safety Skills for Asperger Women is a powerful invitation to take a chance on life and on healing. At times gentle in its encouragement, at others, urging in its counsel, Holliday Willey's words are a beacon, a light in the dark for all women with AS who want to live life more fully but sometimes find themselves off the path. Her work is remarkable, courageous, and welcoming for a group of women who too often live lives misunderstood and mistreated. Safety Skills is an eye-opening account of the perils and also the victories of the female life on the spectrum. Beautifully written and powerful in its message of wellness, this book helps you to dance with your spirit when life feels too overwhelming.' -- Shana Nichols, Owner and Director of the ASPIRE Centre for Learning and Development and author of Girls Growing Up on the Autism SpectrumLiane Holliday Willey's book will help many women on the Autism Spectrum have a more fulfilling life. -- Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and The Way I See ItLiane writes of the agonies she has faced as she travelled the social world full of hazards. Some of the accounts are almost too scary to contemplate, yet her constant optimism has brought her through. Her deep introspection brings us all closer to understanding how an autistic mind experiences the world. She provides end of chapter support sections giving her ideas of things that she feels would be helpful to know. It is clear she hopes others may not have to face similar situations or ordeals unprepared. Liane longs for a world where AS is totally accepted, it is writ large on every page, it would address the extreme stresses many have to live with on a daily basis. Liane's book could help vulnerable women with AS live a safer, happier life. -- Rosalyn Lord, parent, advocate and trainer, UKIn the chapter titled Out and About or Traveling To and Fro, Liane Holliday Willey describes several challenging travel adventures - across the continent and around the block - in vivid Aspie detail. The wording of an informational sign at an airport, confusing pronunciations of her name over an airport loudspeaker, the resultant stressful interaction with an airlines representative, rearranged shelves in grocery stores that set off in a bad way the routine-bound author, all illustrate sensory and social situations that could make travel daunting, difficult and something to avoid for many living in the spectrum. Yet, Liane understands that the basic human desire to explore the world and the benefits of doing so, however difficult it may be, outweighs the dilemmas. This chapter alone makes Safety Skills for Asperger Women a must-read! -- Dennis Debbaudt, founder of Autism Risk & Safety Management and author of Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals[Liane's] personal explanations and advice will resonate with the reader and transform and even save lives. Why is this book so needed and so valuable? Primarily, because our understanding of Asperger's syndrome is based on the profile of abilities and developmental history of boys and men… Liane's new book enables greater recognition of the adversity experienced by girls and women who have Asperger's syndrome, and provides strategies to overcome or avoid "scary" moments. -- From the Foreword by Tony Attwood, Clinical Psychologist and author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's SyndromeWilley's newest book is a handbook of downright necessary information for women with Asperger's Syndrome. Titled Saftey Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good Female Life, it offers help overcoming problems that may not seem complicated for Neurotypicals but are common pitfalls for Aspies. These include being safe and aware in a variety of situations at work and while traveling. It also provides exacting advice for coping with depression, bullying, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and much more. The author's approach is accepting and inspirational. -- GeekMom.comSafety Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good Female Life discusses the underlying problems and daily challenges women with AS may face, using extensive accounts from the author's own experiences to highlight issues of safety under various situations. From travel to social situations or managing daily life, this offers everything from exercises for mood enhancing change to the special needs of an AS body. -- The Midwest Book ReviewI found this book informative, insightful and well written. Lianne covers a range of circumstances which may regularly leave the female with Asperger vulnerable to societal and individual demands and inconsistencies and provides straight talking methods, suggestions and personal anecdotes to guide the reader through such situations. There are a number of helpful lists to make life for the person with Asperger a little safer, more logical and hopefully less stressful... the main feeling throughout this book is that of optimism, the positivity that situations can be faced and tackled with improved know-how and confidence. -- ESPATable of Contentsi. Dedication. ii. Acknowledgements. iii. Foreword by Tony Attwood. iv. Introduction. 1. Healthy Relationships, Safe Socializing - Staying Safe and Well. 2. Falling Prey - But Not Falling Forever. 3. Broken Bonds - For When Something or Someone You Love is Lost Forever. 4. Mood Marauders - Or How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Day. 5. Out and About or Traveling To and Fro. 6. Body Beware - Keeping the Mind and Body Connected. 7. What's Looks Got to do with It? - More Than I Would Like to Admit. 8. Living the Life Easy - Juggling Life Vs. the Urge to Run Away. 9. Dance With Your Spirit - Tap Into Grace. 10. Red Flag Warnings - Could This Female Have AS?. Recommended Reading and Resources.

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Book Synopsis**NOW WITH AN AFTERWORD AND ADVICE FOR A NEW MOTHER**'A powerful, moving and inspiring story - it opens up a whole new world of understanding.' Esther Freud'This is wonderful. I urge you to read it. It is life enhancing and I defy you not to fall in love with Ben!' Natasha Poliszczuk, Books Editor, YOU Magazine'An honest and unflinching account of Jessica's journey as the mother of a child born with complex needs. Essential reading... and a source of solace for those who may find themselves on a similar path.' Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story'Jessica's beautiful words gave me a deeper understanding about embracing disability. I am inspired and will be recommending this book to parents as a testament to following your parenting instincts.' Arabella Carter-Johnson, author of Iris Grace'A gripping and vital insight into the lives of families trying to thrive in bureaucratic systems that all too often add to the challenges of providing disabled children with basic care and human rights. Impossible to put down.' Hannah Barham-Brown, deputy leader of the Women's Equality Party'Rooted in love and is a moving story about the transformative power of adapting, practically and emotionally to changing circumstances. As a disabled adult, it was a joy to join the parent of a disabled child as they embrace Disability Culture and allyship.' Jess Thom, Touretteshero'A courageous, heartrending story of grief, love and ultimately hope.' The Sun, 5 star review***Jessica thought she was prepared for the experience of motherhood. Armed with advice from friends and family, parenting books and antenatal classes, she felt ready.After giving birth, she found herself facing a different, more uncertain reality. Her son, Ben, was fighting to stay alive.Jessica shares her journey raising Ben. His disability means he will never be able to move or communicate without assistance. Jessica has to learn how to feed Ben when he can't eat, wrestle with red tape to secure his education and defend his basic rights in the face of discrimination. But the act of reading to Ben enriches both their lives and brings them joy.As Ben begins to thrive, alongside his two younger siblings, Jessica finds that caring for a child with unique needs teaches her about appreciating difference and doing things your own way.This uplifting story is about the power of family love, finding inner strength and, above all, hope.

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Book SynopsisHow can I help my child that has got dyslexia or dyspraxia? Perhaps you''ve just found out your child has dyslexia, or suspect your child may have dyspraxia. This can be a confusing time for any parent, full of worry and uncertainty. Author Sally McKeown gets right to the heart of the matter in How to Help your Child with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. She brings you expert knowledge of exactly what dyslexia and dyspraxia are and how they can affect your child’s life. Through the experiences of other parents, Sally dispels common myths and helps you to better understand and support your child. From getting a diagnosis to making sure you get enough support from your school this guide is packed with advice to make your life easier. It’s packed with practical ways to help your child, including: • how to build your child''s confidence if it has been knocked • how you can help with homework, without doing it • games, activities and hob

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Book SynopsisA moving, patient-centered portrait of the social importance of speech, from a medical expert known for his humanizing explorations of health.Language comes to us through culture, environment, and family. Words embed over time, as we use our minds to comprehend them and then our mouths to say, mean, and own them. Without the ability to speak, or when talking becomes difficult, we face a challenge like few others, forced to reconnect with a world which assumes its communicators are eloquent vocally. In Hard Talk, Jonathan Cole takes a necessary look at the privilege of speech so we can better accommodate those for whom it presents problems. Cole creates space for people with a variety of conditions, including cerebral palsy, vocal cord palsy, cleft palate, Parkinson?s, and post stroke dysphasia, to describe in their own words what the experience of difficult speech is like. No struggle is the same. Each develops along its own axis of factors?cognitive, social, and physical?that lead to unique vulnerabilities as well as extraordinary moments of adaptation and resilience. One person finds social chatter becoming more problematic than work speech. Another grows alarmed as changes in speech begin to constrain inner thoughts. Some lose the ability to find or make words though they retain awareness, while others lose self-awareness but maintain fluent speech bereft of meaning. One even loses the ability to speak with family while continuing to interact at work. Hard Talk reacquaints us with the social power of speech while affirming the humane value of listening. Cole also reflects on the neuroscientific advances we?ve made in understanding barriers to speech and how we might reduce them.

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Book SynopsisChris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to every complete an IRONMAN triathlon, inspires others to achieve their goals by getting better 1% at a time.Trade Review'Business coach Nik Nikic's motivational debut chronicles the remarkable journey of his son, Chris, the first person with Down syndrome to complete the IRONMAN triathlon. Nikic describes the physical, sensory, and cognitive challenges Chris faced as a child, revealing that concern for his son's future became the impetus to explore his capabilities. Growing increasingly frustrated by others' 'realistic' limitations for his son, Nikic became convinced that physical and community activity could improve Chris's quality of life. To help his son realize his potential, Nikic encouraged Chris to write down his dreams and began to implement the gradual improvement approach he used in business to coach his son--describing it as 'developing good habits as the building blocks for progress over time.' For instance, he began Chris's athletic training with only one squat, one sit-up, and one push up. By increasing the regimen by one repetition each training session, Chris was able to do 200 of each exercise only a year later. Nikic also provides insight into making the training with his son a shared adventure. Nikic's inspirational guide will appeal to those preferring to trade the popular 'no pain, no gain' philosophy for an effective, motivating alternative.' * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisHappily married to her husband with Asperger Syndrome for 25 years, Ashley Stanford is an expert on how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can affect a relationship and her bestselling book has helped thousands of couples.Brought fully up to date, this second edition clarifies the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and explains how, without a solid awareness of the condition, ASD behaviors can easily be misinterpreted. Stanford's book provides a wealth of strategies for living with the more uncompromising aspects of ASD, pointing out that ASD also brings enormous strengths to a relationship. It shows how understanding the intentions, motivations and reasoning behind ASD behaviors can lead to better communication, relief of tension, and ultimately to a happier, more mutually fulfilling relationship.Trade ReviewI cannot possibly make a list of all the things Ashley's book covers. There are too many! Good idea, after well-researched concept, followed by illustrative example and elaborated suggestions - pile one on top of the other until a tower strong and solid enough to withstand all sorts of interpersonal uproar stands smack bang in front of the reader.This book is a keeper. A must-have. It is the very book I would hand any adult involved in a relationship affected by Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder). It really is that good. -- Liane Holliday Willey, author of Pretending to be NormalI read Ms. Stanford's book some years ago as a graduate student training to be a Couples' Counselor. Now updated, she has created an insightful guide on the broad range of the Autism Spectrum as described in DSM-5. Based on numerous stories about Asperger's and long-term relationships, this book continues to serve as a valuable resource for clinicians, adults with AS and their partners alike. -- Eva Mendes, Couples' Counselor and Asperger/Autism SpecialistChock full of illustrative examples and suggestions backed by solid research, this book fills a yawning gap in the literature of understanding what goes into success in long-term relationships for individuals with Asperger Syndrome. Even more so with the 2nd edition, this important resource is a must read for anyone involved with or supporting a person on the autism spectrum to achieve a deep, meaningful, and loving relationship. -- Stephen M. Shore, EdD, internationally-known educator, author, consultant, and presenter on issues related to the autism spectrumHaving read Ashley Stanford's first edition of this book, I am pleased that she has maintained her encouraging and positive outlook. A really refreshing and well-structured read that will offer hope to all who are in a relationship with a partner who is on the spectrum. It is a book I would recommend to anyone who wishes to increase their understanding of Asperger Syndrome (ASD level one) and relationships. -- Maxine Aston, MSc, consultant, trainer and author of several books on Asperger syndrome and relationshipsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. Foreword by Liane Holliday Willey. Preface. 1. One Day I Woke Up. 2. What Does Asperger Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Look Like in an Adult? 3. The Full Realization. 4. Diagnostic Criteria A - Persistent Deficits in Social Communication and Interaction. What it May Look Like: Social Reciprocity. What it May Look Like: Emotional Reciprocity. What it May Look Like: Sharing Interests. What it May Look Like: Failure to Initiate or Respond to Social Interactions. What it May Look Like: Eye Contact. What it May Look Like: Body Language. What it May Look Like: Gestures. What it May Look Like: Facial Expression. What it May Look Like: Relationships. What it May Look Like: Sharing Enjoyment. 5. Diagnostic Criteria B - Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior. What it May Look Like: Repetitive Movements. What it May Look Like: Routines. What it May Look Like: Fixated Interest. What it May Look Like: Sensory Dysfunction. 6. Diagnostic Criteria C - Symptoms Must Be Present in Early Development. What it May Look Like: Language through the Lifespan. 7. Diagnostic Criteria D - Clinically Significant Impairment in Social, Occupational, or Other Functioning. What it May Look Like: Social. What it May Look Like: Occupational. 8. Diagnostic Criteria E - Not Better Explained by Intellectual Disability. What it May Look Like: Cognitive Development. What it May Look Like: Self-Help Skills/Adaptive Behavior. 9. The ASD-Linked Long-Term Relationship. 10. Help! Where to Look. Epilogue. Glossary. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisDon't you wish relationships came with a manual? Ashley Stanford has written a user's guide to relationships that adopts a practical troubleshooting approach to resolving difficulties that will greatly appeal to the logical minds of individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as offering valuable guidance to their partners.Troubleshooting identifies problems and makes them fixable. This book presents a three-step troubleshooting process that can defuse even the trickiest relationship dilemma. Specific problem areas are covered in detail including communication, executive functioning, mindblindness, attachment, intimacy, co-habiting, and raising a family. The book offers straightforward solution-focused strategies and additional help is given in the form of bulleted lists, summaries, scripts, and example scenarios.Trade ReviewAn excellent reference for any who would handle the dual challenges of a relationship and autism. -- Midwest Book Review"Too many variables", Ashley Stanford's husband declares about relationships in her opening paragraph of this different and very comprehensive "manual" to maintaining an autism spectrum relationship. He's so right! This guide takes those variables back to their individual components and helps the reader construct new ways to look and deal with issues that AS couples experience every single day. A thought-provoking book for couples and the professionals who work with them. -- Sarah Hendrickx, Hendrickx Associates, freelance trainer, and consultant in autism spectrum conditions, author of several books on Asperger syndromeTable of ContentsPreface. Part I: The Troubleshooting Process. 1. The Foundational Principles of Troubleshooting. 2. Why Troubleshooting Works – Top 10 Reasons. 3. The Troubleshooting Process – Identify, Test, Evaluate. Part II: Beginning with Correct Assumptions. 4. Fixing the Problem Versus Fixing Each Other. 5. Nearly Any Problem Can be Resolved When it is Small. 6. Using Binary Thinking to Your Benefit. 7. Assumptions – How to be a Partner (Not a Parent). 8. Troubleshooting Mindblindness – The Universe is Us. Part III: Troubleshooting Everyday Problems. 9. Troubleshooting Communication – Meta-Discussions. 10. Troubleshooting Executive Function – Planning and Scheduling. 11. Troubleshooting in the Bedroom – Sensual Sharing. 12. Troubleshooting Perfection, Aiming for Imperfections, and Making Your Life Lighter. 13. Troubleshooting Your Personal Attachment Style – Anxious, Avoidant, or Secure Attachment. 14. Troubleshooting Reciprocity – Tips and Tricks to Create Support, Appreciation and Respect in your Relationship. Part IV: Troubleshooting Big Problems. 15. Troubleshooting Blame and Avoidance. 16. Troubleshooting Monogamy and Faithfulness. 17. Troubleshooting Existence Together – Inside the Home. 18. Troubleshooting in the Wild – Outside the Home. 19. Troubleshooting Obsessions and Priorities – Choosing What to Do with Your Time. 20. Troubleshooting with Children – When a Couple Becomes a Family. 21. Troubleshooting Meltdowns. 22. Troubleshooting Complaints – Toxicity in Relationships. Part V: When Troubleshooting Does Not (Or Does) Work. 23. Rebooting. 24. Other Problem-Solving Methodologies that May Work for You. 25. Troubleshooting Whether to Stay or Go – The Decision Process. 26. When it Works - Identifying and Celebrating Improvements. Appendix A: How to Love. Appendix B: Signals of Love. Appendix C: Test for Co-Dependency in ASD-Linked Relationships. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisAged 16, Rachel Krentzman was diagnosed with scoliosis. At 32 she suffered a herniated disk and was told she would have to modify her activities for the rest of her life - instead, Rachel is now a walking testimonial for how yoga can be used therapeutically to heal your back pain. An easy and straightforward read, this manual contains step by step illustrated instruction for you to address the physical and emotional factors of your scoliosis. The exercises are easy to follow and perform, and no technical knowledge or prior experience of yoga is required. Foundational anatomy is carefully explained so that you can understand your body and your scoliosis before applying the exercises. Exemplary case studies will help you on the path to alleviating your back pain without surgery.Trade ReviewFull of resourceful wisdom, new and eternal. -- Loren M. Fishman, M.D. B.Phil., Assistant Clinical Professor, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, author, Healing Yoga: Yoga cures for 20 common conditions, and many moreThis book is a uniquely successful guide towards a deeper understanding of both the reader's own body dynamics as well as yoga in its fuller context. The book addresses the physical and emotional consequences of living with scoliosis through therapeutic poses, breathing techniques and intention-setting that the reader can easily adopt at home. I highly recommend this book to both patients and clinicians alike. -- Melanie R. Fiorella, MD – Center for Integrative Medicine, UC San Diego HealthTable of ContentsForeword. Matthew J. Taylor. Introduction. PART ONE: THE PRINCIPLES. 1. Understanding Scoliosis. 2. Understanding Yoga Therapy. PART TWO: THE PRACTICE. 3. Releasing Tension. 4. Elongation and Symmetry. 5. Traction. 6. Mind-Body Tools. PART THREE: SUMMARY. 7. The Ten-Step Practice to Unwind Your Spine. References.

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Book SynopsisDiagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) at aged 12 and writing this memoir at age 37, Julia Daunt depicts the ins and out of PDA and its symptoms, while maintaining a positive outlook on what is possible to achieve. Co-written with professional specialist Ruth Fidler, it covers how PDA impacts Julia's life, including meltdowns, sensory issues and communication in relationships.Including examples of school reports and handwritten letters, a chapter written from Julia's partner's perspective and even an example of Julia's favourite recipe, this warm and personal look at living and thriving with PDA is informative and inspiring.Trade ReviewThis is a unique personal insight into PDA, following Julia and her family from early childhood to present day adulthood and relationship with her partner Paul. Julia is honest about the challenges throughout, with the benefits of a positive approach and acceptance shining through. PDA individuals, family members and professionals will all benefit from reading this book. -- The PDA Society trusteesBeing Julia is a hugely insightful and eye-opening account of living with PDA. Honest, from the heart and with humour, this book is very informative and will give hope to parents who are wondering what happens when their children become adults. Being Julia is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand more about PDA. -- Steph Curtis, parent of a PDA girl and blog writer at www.stephstwogirls.co.ukThis biography has been put together so it describes PDA like a text book whilst simultaneously telling Julia's individual story, making clear that it's her personal experience, and other PDA experiences will be different. Being a fellow adult PDAer, I had been excited to read Julia's biography, and quickly discovered astounding similarities between us, as well as differences, revealed in her honest account. I think this is what makes Being Julia so important: it shines a clear light, from the inside outwards, onto what PDA is. -- Sally Cat, adult PDAer author and illustratorTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. What is PDA?; 2. Childhood - the younger years; 3.Childhood: Growing up; 4. Making sense of my PDA; 5. My avoidance; 6. Sensory differences; 7. Language and communication; 8. Friendships and relationships; 9. Meltdowns; 10. Events and Appointments; 11. Julia through Paul's lens; 12. Now and next; References

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Book SynopsisUnderstanding sensory issues can be the key to overcoming them. Using this practical guide, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) can begin to understand their sensory difficulties and learn how to create a tailored plan for overcoming specific everyday challenges.Learn how the senses work and how sensory systems can function differently for people with ASD, leading to sensory perceptual issues. What are the difficulties that can arise at work, college, home, or in public or cyber spaces? Practical strategies and creating a unique 'sensory plan', based on frequently encountered environments and situations, will help any adult with ASD to overcome these sensory difficulties.Trade ReviewFar too often, adults with autism and their experiences seem to be ignored or misunderstood. This book is refreshingly different, bringing interesting new perspectives to the under-explored area of sensory issues in adults. It is written in a way that makes complex topics accessible and, perhaps more importantly, conveys a sense of respect for adults on the spectrum (which is sorely lacking in many texts!). A must-read for adults on the spectrum and those who support them. -- Kirsten Hurley, Programme Coordinator, Autism Studies, University College CorkDiarmuid has been one of the biggest impacts on my life. Having Asperger's has affected me in different ways, ranging from the sensory aspects to the social aspects. My life has completely changed for the better, and the help I have received from Diarmuid has been outstanding. I would recommend this book for anyone on the autism spectrum. -- Cian Hutt, student with Asperger's syndromeIn his book, Diarmuid manages to explain a hugely complicated subject area in a way that is eminently readable and informative. He bridges the gap between science and the lived experience extremely well, with a healthy dose of suggested ways in which individuals might be supported. -- from the foreword by Dr Luke Beardon, The Autism Centre, Sheffield Hallam UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. The Sensory Systems. 2. Sensory Difference in ASD. 3. The Sense Memory Emotion Paradigm. 4. School and College Spaces. 5. Public, Social and Work Spaces. 6. Private Spaces and the Home. 7. Intimacy and The Senses. 8. Cyber Space. Conclusion. Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisAdults with Asperger Syndrome (AS) often have difficulties acquiring relationship skills due to the defining characteristics of the syndrome, experiences with peers during childhood and adolescence, and the expectations of their partners. However, an increasing number do go on to achieve happy and successful long-term relationships with non-spectrum (NS) partners. This supportive book will give NS partners a better understanding of NS/AS relationships, and of what other NS partners have found to be helpful in terms of better understanding themselves and their partners, and enriching their relationships. Drawing on interviews with over 100 people in NS/AS relationships, as well as on their own experiences of having family members on the autism spectrum, the authors explore the key differences which may impact upon AS/NS relationships, such as communication, social skills, and sensory issues, and offer tried-and-tested advice on how to surmount difficulties and make things work. The book includes chapters on coping with stress and meltdowns, parenting, positive AS qualities and how to use them to their full advantage in a relationship, as well as advice on how the NS partner can ensure that their own needs are met. This book will provide support and encouragement to those in a relationship with someone who has been diagnosed with AS, or who is suspected of having AS, and will also be a useful resource for counsellors and other professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of AS/NS relationships.Trade ReviewI enjoyed the book tremendously and found it an effortless read. I would recommend it for all mixed marriages/relationships (AS and non-AS), for the grown up children reared in these marriages, for there is a price paid, It should also be read by all marriage guidance counsellors and therapists who will more than likely encounter people on the spectrum (or their partners) and can do much harm if they do not understand the uniqueness of these relationships. -- asteensMoreno, founder of an autism non-profit, along with social worker Marci Wheeler and communication coach Kealah Parkinson, interviewed over 100 couples in which one partner has ASD and the other is nonspectrum (NS). Their aim: to provide insight and guidance to NS partners who want to create a successful relationship for both parties. While most of the advice is directed at the NS partner, there are also tips for parents, friends, and professionals on how to support the couple in maintaining a positive relationship. Each chapter ends with a list of "lessons learned" from the couples interviewed. The authors cover communication, social skills, and sensory processing and provide many real-life examples drawn from the experiences of the interviewed couples. Tony Attwood’s foreword highlights potential relationship problems that individuals with ASD typically encounter. VERDICT: Excellent insight and tips for anyone in, or considering, a relationship with a person with ASD, as well as the friends and families of couples with an ASD partner. -- Library JournalThis very clear book deepens our experience of autism and Asperger syndrome in adults, where it can be harder to detect and where partners may be managing and even camouflaging it. It is a valuable contribution, laden with advice that will make such couples feel less alone and know where to turn for help. -- Simon Baron-Cohen, FBA, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, Director, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, UKMany individuals with Asperger syndrome have a desire to establish and maintain relationships with others. As with most couples, finding a balance between their own personality and character and meeting their partners' needs and expectations is challenging. This complex balance is explored in The Partner's Guide to Asperger Syndrome. The valuable information and tools provided in this book will help partners better understand one another, respect their differences, and work together to achieve fulfilling and long-lasting relationships.The book explores topics of communication, intimacy, and parenting along with other types of interpersonal relationships with regards to individuals with Asperger syndrome. This book will be useful for partners and professionals but mostly, its positive outlook will bring inspiration and encouragement to the entire AS community. -- Isabelle Hénault, author of Asperger's Syndrome and Sexuality: From Adolescence through AdulthoodPart of me cried when I read this book. I wish my mother had been able to read it when she was a young non-spectrum woman married to my father, a much older Aspie. It would have fundamentally changed her life - for the better. The Partner's Guide to Asperger Syndrome is more than a guide, it is a lifeline for any marriage mixed with AS. In fact, it is the lifeline this Aspie woman, married for 26 years to a man with many AS traits, absolutely needed to finally understand the complexities of our interpersonal dynamics. -- Liane Holliday Willey, Ed.D, author of Safety Skills for Women with Asperger Syndrome and Pretending to be NormalAdults with Asperger Syndrome (AS) have traditionally had difficulties with relationships but today more and more of them are getting involved in long-term commitments. Although this is a positive development and a real sign of how far so many have come, these relationships are not without their challenges for both the people with AS and also for their partners. Until now there have been few guidelines or resources for partners to help them understand some of the differences that they observe daily in their partners and to know how to respond to them. This book is an important step toward helping those partners to understand and live more comfortably and happily with their partners who have AS... Readers trying to manage these relationships, those trying to help them, and others who just want to understand what it is like to be involved with these charming, but often challenging partners, will find the insights of the authors and the partners to be intriguing, thought provoking, and a remarkable learning experience. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in intimate relationships involving individuals with AS. -- Gary B. Mesibov, PhD, Professor Emeritus, The University of North CarolinaTable of ContentsForeword: Relationship Problems of Adults with Asperger Syndrome by Tony Attwood. Acknowledgments. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Internal Issues for Non-Spectrum Partners. 3. Communication Differences. 4. Social Skills Differences. 5. Sensory Processing Differences. 6. Executive Function Skills and Challenges. 7. Coping with Stress. 8. Parenting. 9. ASD and Illegal Behaviors. 10. Positive ASD Qualities vs. Negative Experiences. 11. Successful Partnerships. 12. Meeting the Needs of the NS Partner. 13. Final Thoughts. Appendix I: Ten Considerations for Non-Spectrum Partners. Appendix II: Advice from NS Spouses for Family and Friends. Appendix III: Couples Profiles. Useful Resources. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisRate your pain on a scale of one to ten. What about on a scale of spicy to citrus? Is it more like a lava lamp or a mosaic? Pain, though a universal element of human experience, is dimly understood and sometimes barely managed. Pain Woman Takes Your Keys, and Other Essays from a Nervous System is a collection of literary and experimental essays about living with chronic pain.Trade Review"If this isn't the book that we in the pain community need in 2017, I don't know what is."—Matt Mendenhall, Pain-Free Living Magazine"The theorist Elaine Scarry, in her magnum opus The Body in Pain, writes, 'The utter rigidity of pain itself is that its resistance to language is not simply one of its incidental or accidental tributes but is essential to what it is.' One can see Sonya Huber's Pain Woman Takes Your Keys, and Other Essays from a Nervous System as a glorious refusal of what Scarry puts forth. With ardor and valor, Huber renders the lived experience of chronic pain and all that attends it in a language all her own, written—as she so wonderfully phrases it—using 'pain's alphabet.' These essays make imprecision their enemy as they comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Pain Woman further establishes Sonya Huber as one of the most exciting voices writing creative nonfiction today." —Vincent Scarpa, Electric Literature "Sonya Huber has restored my faith in chronic illness narratives. . . . Now, if I have my way, this book will sneak its way into the lives of many future readers, regardless of their personal experience with chronic illness."—Taylor Wilke, Rumpus“Sonya Huber works magic by articulating the indescribable. With her lyrically written and witty account, she better describes her own pain experience than a patient rating scale of 1 to 10 ever could.”—Paula Kamen, author of All in My Head “This is an important book, a necessary book, a book that, in the right hands, could change how our medical establishment deals with pain. These essays are at once vulnerable and fierce, funny and smart, unflinching and dappled with stunning metaphor.”—Gayle Brandeis, author of Fruitflesh “Huber has captured what it is to be a woman who lives with chronic pain in all its nuanced complexity.”—Sarah Einstein, author of Mot: A MemoirTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments I. Pain Bows in Greeting What Pain Wants The Lava Lamp of Pain Welcome to the Kingdom of the Sick The Alphabet of Pain Prayer to Pain II. Side Projects and Secret Identities My Alternate Selves with Pain in Silver Lamé Bodysuits The Cough Drop and the Puzzle of Modernity From Inside the Egg Cupcakes Amoeba Girl III. My Machines The Status of Pain Peering into the Dark of the Self, with Selfie Augmentation Interstate and Interbeing Pain Woman Takes Your Keys IV. Bitchiness as Treatment Protocol On Gratitude, and Off Life Is Good1,2,3 Dear Noted Feminist Scholar V. Intimate Moments with the Three of Us A Pain-Sex Anti-Manifesto The Joy of Not Cooking Kidney Stone in My Shoe If Woman Is Five A Day in the Grammar of Disease VI. Measuring the Sky Vital Sign 5 Alternative Pain Scale In the Grip of the Sky Between One and Ten Thousand Inside the Nautilus Sources

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Book SynopsisQigong massage has been used in China for thousands of years as a means to achieve health and wellbeing, and to treat a wide variety of ailments. This book teaches parents a simple qigong massage programme that has been developed specifically for the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).With step-by-step instructions and accompanying downloadable video content demonstrating the technique in action, this book offers parents clear guidance on how to adopt qigong massage into their child's daily routine successfully. The program is based around a core 15 minute massage that, when performed regularly, has been shown to greatly improve mood and behavior, sleeping patterns, and language and social skills. Also included is information on diet, advice on reading a child's body language during massage, and helpful progress checklists.Qigong massage is the ideal therapy for parents looking for an alternative way to strengthen the mind, body and sensory abilities of their young child with autism aged 6 and under. Previously published with a DVD, this material is now available online from www.jkp.com.Trade ReviewComplete with step-by-step instructions and accompanying online content with visual demonstrations, Qigong Massage for Your Child with Autism takes a relatively unconventional practice and provides a practical tool for parents and caregivers. Backed by multiple studies and developed by the director of the Qigong Sensory Training Institute, the book will give parents the confidence to embark on a new practice that will hopefully make for happier, healthier families... Silva excels at keeping her message realistic and never loses sight of the fact that she's addressing actual parents. She clearly lays out expectations for and limitations of the program, and provides the necessary tools to track progress and behavioral changes. She refutes skeptics by simply saying "seeing is believing," instilling the confidence so vital for motivating parents to stick with the program. The difficulties of having an autistic child and parenting in general are openly acknowledged without judgment, and she offers a truly empathetic, yet encouraging voice...The book's structure also seems to be designed for parents, with the intention that they can easily pick up the book and find what help they're looking for, as common troubles and solutions are reiterated in multiple chapters... Educational, realistic, and reassuring, Qigong Massage for Your Child with Autism offers parents a non-invasive, prescription-free supplement to managing autism, and with further studies being conducted now about the effects of qigong on children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, tradition Chinese medicine will hopefully become helpful to an even wider population. -- Foreword ReviewsIf you have an autistic child, Dr. Louisa Silva's Qigong Massage for Your Child with Autism probably is the best gift that you can give to both him and yourself. -- Examiner.comIn her book, Dr. Silva uses plain English to explain why and how the QST program works. There are 12 movements in the massage routine. Dr. Silva gives very clear instruction with illustrations for each one. Each child is different, so is his condition. She provides troubleshooting guidance and a check list. She offers extra techniques for transitioning. She lays out the details of the healing process, so parents can have proper expectation. The best part of this book is that it also comes with additional online content. -- Examiner.comComplete with step-by-step instructions and an accompanying online content with visual demonstrations, Qigong Massage for Your Child with Autism takes a relatively unconventional practice and provides a practical tool for parents and caregivers. Backed by multiple studies and developed by the director of the Qigong Sensory Training Institute, the book will give parents the confidence to embark on a new practice that will hopefully make for happier, healthier families. -- ForeWord MagazineTable of ContentsForeword by Dr. Anita Cignolini. Preface: Welcome! Introduction: Making the Most of This Book. 1. An Eastern Explanation and Treatment for Autism. 2. Is the QST Home Program Right for You and Your Child? 3. Getting Ready to Give the Home Program. 4. The Massage. 5. The 12 Movements and Your Child's Body Language. 6. Troubleshooting. 7. Extra Techniques to Help Your Child Get Through the Day. 8. The Healing Process: What to Expect. 9. Understanding Toxicity in Children with Autism: - Prevention. 10. A Diet for Children with Autism. 11. Your Child's Program After the First Five Months. Appendix A: Movement Troubleshooting Checklist. Appendix B: Sensory and Self-Regulation Checklist. Appendix C: My Child's Developmental Milestones. Appendix D: Parent Stress Index. About the Author. Additional Resources. Online Video/Movement Chart. Important Changes to Look For. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe first book to look seriously at the practical issues facing older adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), Wenn Lawson's groundbreaking handbook offers support, advice, and sensible ways in which to look at the issues.Informed by current research, interviews with older people diagnosed with ASC and his own experience, the author covers a multitude of issues including dealing with transitions and changes to routine, communicating an individual's particular needs and wishes to care home staff, the social and financial impact of retirement, mental health, and sensory and physical changes and challenges. Older people with ASC and their family and friends, as well as the professionals supporting them, will find this an indispensable and accessible book.Trade ReviewWenn Lawson is a gifted investigative writer, who masterfully weaves research with narratives and pragmatism. This is a talent particularly well used in Older Adults and Autism Spectrum Conditions. Thanks goes to Lawson for providing a comprehensive and very handy book that eases the concerns and uncertainties that typically circle aging and autism. -- Liane Holliday Willey, author of Safety Skills for Asperger Women and Pretending to be NormalWe need a map for the uncharted territory of aging and autism. Parents, professionals and especially those who have an Autism Spectrum Condition, will now be able to navigate through this territory, absorbing the clear explanations, rationale and wise advice, and be better prepared for the future. -- Tony Attwood, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Minds & Hearts Clinic, Australia, and author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's SyndromeA visionary, intelligent and compassionate book. Wenn Lawson's understanding of autism is firmly based on a lifetime of personal experience on the spectrum and years of academic scholarship. His book should be on the shelf of anyone interested in ageing, autism and the distinctive needs of each one of us. There is a long way yet to go in this field - Dr Lawson once again clearly and thoughtfully points us in the right direction. Future generations will look back and say, "He was a pioneer." -- Paul Jennings, AuthorTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Taking the road well-travelled. Foreword. Carol Povey. Introduction. Ageing and ASC: The definition of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and ageing. 1. Ageing in ASC: Stress Support needs due to memory changes and changes in daily living. 2. Ageing in ASC and building appropriate communication strategies. 3. Ageing in ASC: Working with personality. 4. Ageing in ASC: supporting seniors to identify their own feelings, thoughts and actions. 5. Ageing in ASC: Support for seniors in transition. 6. Ageing in ASC: preparing our future, ameliorating/avoiding loneliness. 7. Ageing in ASC: Dual diagnosis and Mental Health. 8. Ageing in ASC: Ageing comfortably. Creativity and Spirituality.

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Book SynopsisThe English language can be extremely confusing and illogical, especially for people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who interpret meaning in a very literal way. Why should an announcement that cats and dogs are falling from the sky indicate heavy rain? And what have chickens got to do with being a coward?It's Raining Cats and Dogs is a witty and stylish insight into the mind of someone with an ASD. It beautifully illustrates why people with ASDs have problems understanding common phrases and idioms that others accept unquestioningly as part of everyday speech. The quirky drawings will entertain and inspire those on the spectrum, giving them the confidence to recognise figures of speech, feel less alienated and even use idioms themselves.The drawings will form instantly memorable references for those with ASDs to recall whenever they need to and will be helpful for anyone curious to understand the ASD way of thinking. They will enable people on the spectrum and their friends, families, teachers and colleagues to better understand and communicate with each other.

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Book SynopsisIlana Estelle grew up not knowing she had a disability, not knowing she had cerebral palsy... and it took forty-six years for her to find out. Spirituality has helped Ilana on her journey and in her new book, Spirituality, Healing and Me, she uses her experience of mental and physical disability in the healing process, to create positivity and healing for others. Packed with inspiring messages and real-life vignettes, Ilana's book shows how spirituality can help us cope with the modern world and reset our moral compass. Based on her own experiences of spirituality and healing, she shows how focusing on values such as understanding, compassion, tolerance, creativity and acceptance can help us find our inner calm. This book will help you to: - Improve emotional balance and wellness - Boost confidence and self-esteem - Stay self-aware, grounded and patient - Appreciate life and each other - Accept changing circumstances - Enhance positive emotions and personal healing

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Book SynopsisThe first book showing how, in easily followed steps, you can treat your own back pain. Unlike the author''s previous book Back In Action, which gives information on the range of treatments available for different back problems, The Back Sufferer''s Handbook places emphasis on the contribution the sufferer can make putting the problem right.In language that every back pain sufferer will find completely understandable, it describes each spinal disorder and what causes the pain. It gives helpful back exercises with information about what they will achieve and how frequently they should be done. There is also advice on back pain management, the role of medication, the use of bed rest and how to return to work. This book is essential reading both for the patient confined to bed with acute back pain, and for someone with less severe back problems, but still having to cope with back pain or discomfort on an everyday basis.Trade ReviewSarah Key's exercises really do work -- HRH the Prince of Walesphysiotherapist to The Royals * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFrom getting started choosing a career, tips on job interviews to information on life in employment, starting from induction onwards, daily management of a workload, selling strengths, and even guidance on how to build a good balance between work and home life, Amanda Kirby identifies the best strategies to use for success, both professionally and personally.While being in a new job can be exciting, it can also provoke anxious feelings of not being quite sure what to do and when to act. The information in this book is the ideal preparation for the challenges, and new opportunities, ahead.Drawing on decades of practical experience, as well as her academic expertise, Amanda Kirby provides a comprehensive range of helpful information built from contributions from many people with specific learning difficulties who have gone through this experience, and professionals working in the field. This is an easy to use guide that will prepare anyone for all aspects of life in employme

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Book Synopsis''GORGEOUS, VIVIDLY ALIVE'' NEW YORK TIMES''BOLD, HONEST AND SUPERBLY WELL-WRITTEN'' ANDRÉ ACIMAN, AUTHOR OF CALL ME BY YOUR NAME''GRACEFUL AND SOUL-BARING'' MELANIE REID, THE TIMES''WHAT A GIFT . . . HAS THE RIGOR AND PRECISION OF JOAN DIDION AND MAGGIE NELSON AND A FORTHRIGHT HUMOR AND NAKED TRUTH ALL OF ITS OWN.'' SARAH RUHL, AUTHOR OF SMILEI am in a bar in Brooklyn listening to two men, my friends, discuss whether or not my life was worth living.So begins Chloé Cooper Jones''s bold account of moving through the world in a body that looks different than most. Born with a rare congenital condition called sacral agenesis, she must contend not only with her own physical pain, but the emotional discomfort of others.It is only when she unexpectedly becomes a mother that she confronts the demand to live life fully, propelling her on a journey acrossTrade ReviewEasy Beauty is bold, honest, and superbly well-written. Chloé Cooper Jones is ruthless in probing our weakest and darkest areas, and does so with grace, humor, and ultimately, with something one seldom finds: kindness and humanity. * André Aciman, author of Call Me By Your Name *Graceful, soul-baring * Melanie Reid, The Times *Gorgeous, vividly alive... In rejecting the dismissive gaze of others, Jones stands in the light of her own extremely able self -- Books of the Year * New York Times *What a gift of a book ... Easy Beauty has the rigor and precision of Joan Didion and Maggie Nelson and a forthright humor and naked truth all its own. * Sarah Ruhl, author of Smile *Perceptive, stylish, and darkly funny, Easy Beauty is an act of grace, and a reckoning. Chloé Cooper Jones is a remarkable writer - I would follow her mind anywhere. * Anna Wiener, author of Uncanny Valley *Chloé Cooper Jones is a writer whose work I don't read, but enter: she weaves her brainy, crackling interior into the sinews of a reality that is forever reminding its participants of the difficulty of living inside a body. Easy Beauty is the most humane book I have read in a long time: in her insistence that we bear witness to each other, Jones calls forth a better, and indeed more beautiful world. I loved this book. * Kristen Radtke, author of Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness *I recommend Easy Beauty to anyone who has wanted beauty badly, even without knowing quite what it is, but who could never seem to access it. At least, I'm that sort of anyone, and I could feel and recognize parts of myself in every moment of this book. Chloé Cooper Jones' writing pierces right through and lets a light in. * Mitski, singer-songwriter *In this ambitious and elegant book about seeing and being seen, Chloé Cooper Jones invokes thorny, theoretical material about identity, the social order, and how we measure human value, but her clarity and compassion invite all readers in. She has created a forceful and fresh point of view from which to anatomize power, access, and perception in her precise, unsparing prose. A necessary, relentlessly honest book that feels both of the moment and timeless. * Whiting Foundation Judges citation *Jones is a magnificent guide, fiercely sharp and fiercely human. This book is for anyone who wants to immerse into a world of beauty, who wants to get real about the roots of their desire, and who can't quite kick the habit of admiring the structures-and humans-who harm them. The questions she raises will resound in your head for a long time to come. * Lulu Fisher, author of Why Fish Don't Exist and host of Radiolab *This book is utterly remarkable. I was spellbound by the style, the ideas, the vulnerability, the talent. * Lydia Kiesling, author of The Golden State *Dazzling . . . Chloe Cooper Jones challenges society's rules of attraction with razor-sharp wit and intellect . . .[and) makes a brilliant case for the beauty of complexity * Starred Publishers Weekly *Exquisite. Here Pulitzer finalist Jones reflects on our standards of beauty from the perspective of a disabled woman whose rare congenital condition affects her stature and gait, and leaves her in constant pain. But it's ultimately motherhood that liberates her, and prompts her to re-examine the limitations she has accepted as givens. * O Magazine *Jones challenges the unspoken social taboos about the disabled body, unpacking myths of beauty and our complicity in upholding those myths. Blending journalism, philosophy, and memoir, it's a book that everyone will be talking about. * Lit Hub *A memoir full of insight as the author tries to wrestle understanding and ownership of herself from a world still eager to assert its sovereignty over the female body. * Jarred McGinnis, author of The Coward *A soul-stretching, breathtaking existential memoir chronicles her reclaiming of body, mind, and self . . . Superlative writing, rendering complex emotion and unparalleled insight in skilfully precise language. Her debut is a game-changing gift to readers. * Booklist, starred review *Despite doctors' dire predictions that she wouldn't live, walk or have children, she has done these things and more. Here, she probes the ways a culture determines a person's value and embarks on a journey to understand the myth of beauty and her own unintentional complicity in it. * Washington Post *The multiple depths that Jones plumbs in Easy Beauty results in a memoir that can't easily be classified. The same can be said for the book's author. Jones is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a philosophy professor and a writer, who delves into her journey as a daughter, mother, wife and her search for a new way of seeing the world. In other words, her story is about the complexity of the human experience and the questions of identity and belonging that plague us all. * People Magazine *Inspired in part by the shift Jones saw in others' perceptions of her during her pregnancy, Easy Beauty challenges deep-seated assumptions about who gets to be capable, trustworthy, and desirable. * Bustle Magazine *Candid and truth-seeking, this memoir charts the act of refocusing and realigning the ways we view and interpret ourselves * NB Magazine *Achingly felt, Jones's writing is a revelation * Publishers Weekly, Best Books of 2022 *Easy Beauty is an exquisite exploration of disability, identity, and the human capacity to do (and be) more than we've ever dreamed * Time *Touching and often humorous... explores life from the perspective of those who don't conform to conventional beauty standards -- Charlotte Heathcote * Daily Record *Genius... Shifted my understanding of a world I've only experienced while able-bodied -- Best Memoirs of 2022 * Vulture *Moving, incisive... Jones resists sentimentality and is as unsparing of herself as she is of other people, and yet she writes with such graciousness. A wonderful debut -- Tomi Obaro * Buzzfeed News *Gorgeous, concise and often very funny... a gripping memoir about parenting, disabilities and figuring out what to do next... a philosophical masterpiece, written in the tradition of those who see philosophy not as a dry academic subject but as a way of life * Coachella Review *A masterpiece ... Cooper Jones uses the particulars of her own experience to formulate ideas that are at once universally applicable and genuinely profound * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisA resource of fun games for parents or teachers to help young children learn social and motor skills Barbara Sher, an expert occupational therapist and teacher, has written a handy resource filled with games to play with young children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other sensory processing disorders (SPD).Table of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1 Understanding Sensory Processing Issues 9 CHAPTER 2 How the Games Help Sensory Processing Challenges 19 CHAPTER 3 Social Gross Motor Games 51 A Kid Sandwich 51 Are You My Mummy? 54 Balloon Baseball 55 Blanket Ride 57 Boat Ride 59 Box Ride 61 Going Through the Tunnel of Legs 63 Hammock Swing 65 Hit the Homemade Piñata 67 “I’m Here!” 69 Jump to Colors 71 Leap the Shoes 73 Massages 75 Name Game 77 Obstacle Course 79 Races 82 Rolling Children 83 RurRurRurRurRUN! 85 Sausage Roll (or Sushi Wrap, Hot Dog,Burrito . . . ) 86 Scarf Toss 89 Shape Targets 90 Stack the Cans 92 Stop and Go 94 Target Games 96 Throw the Balls into the Box 98 Throwing into the Tubes 101 Throwing Through the Tube 103 Tug-of-War 105 Walk with Rhythm 106 We Are Rocking 109 Who Is This? 111 Who’s in the Box? 112 Wiggling Snake 114 CHAPTER 4 Social Fine Motor Games 117 Bingo Game 117 Bubble Blowing 119 Cereal Box Puzzles 121 Cereal Necklace 123 Colored Slots 125 Drawing Faces 127 Dump and Fill 128 Eyedropper Squirts 130 Feather Blowing 132 Listening Game 134 Lost in Rice 135 Penny Flick 137 Point to the Cup 139 Pudding Party 141 Secret Message 142 Sink the Boat 144 Smelling Game 146 Sound Makers 147 Straw Sucking 149 Styrofoam Hammering 151 Tile Painting 153 Toothpick Treats 155 What’s in the Sock? 156 Yes-No Game 158 CHAPTER 5 Water Games 161 Blow Bubbles and Hum 162 Boogie Board Ride 164 Bury the Body 165 Catch a Fish 167 Choo-Choo Train 169 Fill the Bucket 171 Floating on Your Back 174 Gecko Walking 176 In and Out Crash 178 Into the Hole 179 The Kids in the Water Go Splashy Clap 182 The Little Dutch Boy 185 Little Jumps, Big Jumps 186 London Bridge 188 Make a Pond 190 Monkey Walking 192 One, Two, Three—Change 194 Parallel Swim 196 Ping-Pong Play 198 Ready? Set. Jump! 200 Riding the Horse Noodles 202 Ring-Around-a-Rosy 203 Save Your Life 205 Shark Attack 207 The Sponge Pass 209 The Squirting Game 212 Tug the Tube 214 Wa-Wa-Wa-Water! 215 Appendix I Index of Games by Sensory System or Skill Stimulated 219 Appendix II Additional Resources 227 The Author 231 Bibliography 233

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Book SynopsisAffecting one in every ten people, dyslexia is the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. This friendly guide shows parents how to identify the signs of dyslexia, choose among dyslexia treatment options, and find an individualized education program for their child.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 3 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organized 3 Part I: Figuring Out What Dyslexia Is All About 4 Part II: Determining When to Get a Diagnosis 4 Part III: Exploring Your Options for Schools and Programs 4 Part IV: Taking Part in Your Child’s Treatment 5 Part V: Moving beyond the Childhood Years 5 Part VI: The Part of Tens 5 Part VII: Appendixes 5 Icons Used in This Book 5 Where to Go from Here 6 Part I: Figuring Out What Dyslexia Is All About 7 Chapter 1: Understanding the Basics of Dyslexia 9 Defining Dyslexia in Plain Terms 10 Zeroing In on the Symptoms of Dyslexia 11 Deciding When to Have Your Child Tested 12 Exploring Different Schools and Programs for Your Child 13 Helping Your Child with Activities at Home 14 Watching Your Dyslexic Child Grow 16 Chapter 2: Pinpointing What Dyslexia Is (And Isn’t) 17 Understanding the Real Meaning of “Dyslexia” 17 Looking at the straight facts 17 Moving away from common misconceptions 18 Classifying dyslexia as a “learning disability” 19 Investigating the Causes of Dyslexia 20 Weighing up brain research 20 Getting into genetics 22 Breaking Down Dyslexia into Different Types 23 Looking at Other “Dys” Conditions Related to Dyslexia 24 Dysgraphia: Difficulty with writing 24 Dyscalculia: Difficulty with math 25 Dyspraxia: Difficulty with motor skills 25 Comparing Dyslexia to ADD and ADHD 26 Examining ADD 27 Checking out ADHD 28 Chapter 3: Being Alert to Symptoms of Dyslexia at Any Age 29 Understanding Why It’s Important to Look for Signs 30 Appreciating that dyslexia is unexpected 30 Being savvy about screening tests and what one teacher can do 31 Avoiding the “wait awhile” trap 32 Noticing Your Preschooler’s Late Development 32 Watching Your School-Age Child Fade 33 Recognizing Signs of Dyslexia at Older Ages 35 Seeking out signs in teenagers 35 Acknowledging adult symptoms 36 Referring to Your Family’s History 37 Part II: Determining When to Get a Diagnosis 39 Chapter 4: Watching Your Child Carefully at a Young Age 41 Keeping a Close Eye on Early Skills 41 Talking late and unclearly 42 Battling ear infections 43 Seeing a range of vision problems 44 Having trouble with playing and dressing 46 Displaying weak pre-reading skills 47 Engaging in Pre-Reading Activities at Home 48 Developing print awareness 48 Zeroing in on phonemic and phonics skills 48 Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten 51 Stirring up good feelings about school 51 Helping your child with language skills 52 Nurturing other academic skills 52 Encouraging fine motor skills 53 Showing your child what’s sociable 54 Putting your child in charge of his personal information 54 Chapter 5: Acting Quickly with Your School-Age Child 55 Understanding Why a Quick Response to Reading Problems Is Critical 55 Noticing Dyslexic-like Behaviors at Home 57 Struggling with written words 57 Feeling unhappy 58 Being disorganized 58 Asking Your Child’s Teacher to Look for Dyslexic-like Behaviors in Class 59 Laboring with reading 60 Writing with difficulty 61 Making predictable spelling errors 62 Coping with other classroom tasks and issues 63 Behaving unusually 63 Chapter 6: Testing Your Child for Dyslexia 65 Deciding When to Get a Diagnosis 66 Examining Different Kinds of Tests 67 Looking at language tests for preschoolers 67 Making sense of vision and hearing tests 68 Surveying early screening tests 69 Understanding IQ tests 70 Picking out performance tests 71 Charging up for a test battery 73 Choosing Your Test Administrator Wisely 74 Selecting a specialist within your child’s school district 74 Investigating independent testers outside your child’s school district 75 Preparing Your Child (And Yourself) for Testing 77 Receiving Test Results and Putting Them to Work 78 Breaking down terminology in test results 79 Finding out that your child has an LD 80 Discovering that your child won’t be recognized as having an LD 81 Looking at Your Options When You Decide Not to Test 85 Part III: Exploring Your Options for Schools and Programs 87 Chapter 7: Choosing the Best School for Your Child 89 Questioning the Kind of School Your Child Needs 90 Looking at What a Traditional Public School Offers 92 Supplying assessment services 92 Homing in on school programs 92 Giving help above and beyond the classroom 96 Providing sensitivity to your child’s needs 97 Meeting the Staff in a Traditional Public School 99 Familiarizing yourself with the classroom teacher 99 Acquainting yourself with the resource teacher 101 Checking out school specialists 102 Paying special attention to the support staff 103 Taking note of the principal 103 Getting the Scoop on Alternative Schooling 104 Finding out about charter schools 104 Feeling the pull of magnet schools 105 Choosing a private school 105 Examining Montessori schools 106 Walking the Waldorf (or Steiner) path 106 Deciding on a school for dyslexics 107 Thinking about home schooling 108 Chapter 8: Investigating the Individualized Education Program 113 Probing into the Basics of an IEP 113 The nuts and bolts of an IEP meeting 114 The fine print of an IEP document 115 Ensuring a Successful IEP Meeting 117 Preparing yourself 117 Making the meeting work for you 119 Surveying the Services That Your Child Receives with an IEP 120 Looking at the Legal Nitty-Gritty of IEPs 121 Examining the acts governing IEPs 121 Knowing your rights — and your child’s 123 Chapter 9: Securing Help without an Individualized Education Program 125 Making the Most of Choices in School 125 Looking for Help Outside School 126 Scoping out specialized dyslexia therapies 126 Considering dyslexia clinics 127 Paying an individual tutor 128 Opting for a general learning center 130 Giving Academic Support at Home 134 Letting your child take the lead with homework 134 Setting up homework management methods 135 Using technology 137 Steering clear of a math meltdown 141 Chapter 10: Working Productively with Your Child’s Teacher 143 Requesting and Preparing for a Conference 144 Asking the teacher to meet 144 Assembling important info 145 Determining whether to bring your child 145 Keeping a Conference on Track and Following Up Smartly 146 Creating a positive mood 146 Emphasizing your child’s needs 147 Pushing your points firmly 148 Adhering to the teacher’s goals 149 Taking action after a conference 149 Coming Up with Cool Accommodations 150 Understanding oral instructions clearly 151 Reading large amounts of text 151 Comprehending text 152 Writing large amounts of text 152 Copying from the board with ease 153 Spelling successfully 153 Finishing classroom work and homework on time 154 Avoiding Dyslexic Land Mines with a Teacher’s Help 154 Being graded, tested, and (worst) retained 154 Learning in parrot fashion 158 Part IV: Taking Part in Your Child’s Treatment 159 Chapter 11: Putting Memorizing, Visualizing, and Rhyming to Good Use 161 One by One: Starting with Single Letters 161 Drawing pictures into vowels 162 Knocking b and d into shape 163 Putting P in its place 165 Letters Joining Forces: Getting on Top of a Few Good Spelling Rules 165 Blatantly Bossy e 166 Extroverted and introverted vowels 168 An old favorite: “i before e except after c” 169 I Know You! Having Fun with Sight Words 171 Ten at a time 172 Picture this 173 Bang! 174 Word roll 174 Five up 175 Bingo 175 Do You See the Sea? Distinguishing between Sound-Alike Words 176 The Hard Stuff: Remembering Especially Tricky Words 178 Chapter 12: Playing with Phonics 179 Emphasizing Single Letters 179 Cozying up with consonants 180 Taking a long look at short vowels 181 Introducing letters by name 182 Building Three-Letter Words in Word Families 182 Putting together “at” 183 Moving on up with “bat,” “cat,” “fat,” and more 183 Running through additional word families 184 Mixing It Up with Blended Consonants 184 Blends at the beginning 185 Blends at the end 185 Delving into Digraphs 187 Mastering Tricky Vowel Sounds 189 Opening up to long vowels 190 Hearing “y” sound like a vowel 190 Surveying schwa vowels 192 Singling out sound-alike chunks featuring vowels 193 Partnering vowels with “r” 196 Lopping vowels off the ends of words 197 Bringing Consonants under Control 198 Unmasking consonants in disguise 198 Sounding out the softies 199 Spotting the silent types 202 Doubling up 203 Chapter 13: Sprinting Ahead with Reading Basics and Practice 205 See Jane Read: Looking at Reading Fundamentals 205 Being quick to recognize sight words 206 Feeling good about phonics 207 Understanding about comprehension 207 In the Habit: Establishing a Happy Reading Routine 209 Page after Page: Using Special Strategies for Reading Success 211 Choosing the right books 212 Reading to your child first 215 Pairing up to read 216 Running through multiple readings 217 Nice and Gentle: Handling Your Child’s Difficulties with Kindness 219 Knowing when to give a quick answer 219 Having your child figure a word out when the time is right 220 Helping your child find contextual cues 220 Chapter 14: Taking Advantage of Multisensory Methods 223 Bringing the Term “Multisensory” Down to Earth 223 Distinguishing multisensory teaching from traditional methods 224 Fitting together “multisensory” and “structured and sequential” teaching 225 Setting the Stage for Multisensory Success 226 Making Homework Multisensory 227 Setting up a happier homework environment 227 Helping your child understand new information 228 Having Practical Stuff for Playing at Your Fingertips 229 Modeling clay 229 Gummy mixtures 229 Sandpaper 230 Laminate 230 Scissors 231 Flashcards 231 Board games 233 Computer games 234 Other great tools to have on hand 234 Working Physical Activity into Your Child’s Routine 235 Experimenting with Alternative Multisensory Treatments 236 Coloring pages of text 236 Reading a new font 237 Listening to different messages in each ear 237 Eating fish 238 Chapter 15: Handling Everyday Activities and Difficulties 239 Talking Your Child into Feeling Good 240 Understanding your child’s feelings 240 Listening carefully 241 Empowering your child 243 Responding calmly to your child’s mistakes 244 Helping Your Child with Space, Time, and Sequence 245 Spacing out 246 Timing is everything 250 Following a sequence 252 Maintaining Harmony in the Home 254 Sharing the load 254 Toeing the line 254 Strengthening bonds between siblings 255 Part V: Moving beyond the Childhood Years 257 Chapter 16: Assisting Dyslexic Teens 259 Instilling New Life Skills 259 Aiming for high self-esteem 260 Fostering more independence at home 261 Making time for rest and play 262 Getting behind the driver’s wheel 262 Facing School Challenges Head-On 263 Moving toward self-reliance with schoolwork 263 Enforcing order on those files 264 Staying on top of all the reading and writing 264 Taking notes 266 Studying the right foreign language 268 Giving great speeches 270 Planning for college and jobs 270 Encouraging the Development of Work Skills 271 Keeping up with extracurricular activities 271 Doing some good with community service 272 Finding a part-time job 272 Chapter 17: Heading Off to College 275 Keeping a Well-Stocked Portfolio 275 Providing proof of dyslexia 276 Gathering academic results 277 Giving evidence of school and community involvement 281 Researching Majors and Schools 282 Deciding on potential fields of interest 282 Examining different types of colleges 282 Focusing on Target Schools 284 Touring campuses 284 Asking about disability programs 285 Handling the Application and Interview Process 285 Completing applications with ease 286 Impressing interviewers 287 Picking the Winning School 288 Finding Help with Financing 289 Successfully Keeping Up with Grades 291 Chapter 18: Succeeding with Dyslexia in Adulthood 293 Benefiting from a Late Diagnosis 293 Looking at Helpful Programs and Treatments for Adults 295 Heading to the classroom 296 Improving your reading skills at home 296 Knowing Your Workplace Rights as a Dyslexic Adult 297 Making small accommodations for big results 298 Receiving reliable advice 299 Keeping Family and Friends in the Frame 299 Part VI: The Part of Tens 301 Chapter 19: Ten Tools for Making a Dyslexic’s Life Easier 303 A Pencil Grip 303 Pens with Erasable Ink 303 Colored Files and Other Handy Items 304 A Wristwatch 304 A Pocket Spell Checker 304 A Cell Phone and a Personal Organizer 305 Books on Tape (Or CD) 305 A Photocopier 305 A Word Processor and the Internet 306 Speech-to-Text Software 306 Chapter 20: Ten Well-Known Dyslexia Programs and Treatments 307 Orton-Gillingham and Other Phonics-Based Reading Programs 307 Treatments That Tune into Sounds 308 Berard Auditory Integration Training (AIT) 308 Fast ForWord Language 309 Earobics 310 Tomatis 310 Treatments That Focus on Vision 311 Davis Dyslexia Correction 311 The Irlen Method 311 Treatments That Get Physical 312 Balametrics 312 Brain Gym 312 The DORE Program 313 Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes 313 Audiblox 314 PACE 314 All Kinds of Minds 315 The Feingold Program 315 Levinson Medical Centers 316 Part VII: Appendixes 317 Appendix A: An Informal Assessment of Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Skills 319 Picking Out Pre-Reading Skills 320 Visual discrimination 320 Auditory discrimination 321 Phonemic awareness 323 Examining Early Reading Skills 324 Knowing single letters 325 Trying three-letter words with short vowels 325 Blending letters 326 Diving into digraphs 327 Testing for Independent Reading Skills 327 Looking at long and short vowels 328 Getting the hang of y endings 328 Sorting out vowel combinations 329 Spotting soft and hard letters 330 Watching out for silent letters 330 Placing vowels before r 331 Appendix B: Contacts and Resources 333 Getting General Information Online or by Voice Mail 333 Five general Web sites to start you off 333 Five big organizations 334 Talking to Someone Directly 335 Checking Your Child’s Eyes, Ears, and Mouth 336 Surveying Self-Tests 336 Focusing on Alternative Schooling and School Reading Programs 337 Schools 337 School reading programs 338 Laying Down the Law 339 Finding Independent Programs, Therapists, and Learning Centers 339 Dyslexia treatments 339 Therapists and tutors 340 Dyslexia clinics 341 General learning centers 341 Trying Technology 342 Lending a Hand to Teens, College Students, and Adults 343 College entrance exams and other tests 343 College and general education information 343 Financial aid and scholarships 344 Jobs and other life skills 345 At-home dyslexia programs 345 Index 347

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Book SynopsisAS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4A searingly honest depiction of raising a disabled child . . . Intimate, sometimes heartbreaking and often funny, this letter of love is essential reading.' Mail on SundayIt's so good a beautiful piece of writing that really did have me gripped from the first page. What an achievement.' Cathy Rentenbrink, bestselling author of The Last Act of LoveHeartbreaking . . . beautifully written . . . in equal measure, admirable, uplifting, terrifying.' Louise Doughty, ObserverThis is a memoir about hope hope in others, hope in systems, and hope for the future.I've never quite known where to begin when someone asks me what I've been up to. I've never quite known how to explain what our daily life is like. I wanted to write how it is in order to give others a greater understanding of disability and caring. And to be totally honest, I wanted to write something t

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Book Synopsis''Urgent, compelling and lyrically, luminously beautiful . . . a brilliant, heart-rending read.'' Psychologies MagazineBrown constellates the subjects that define her inside and out: a disabled and conspicuous body, a religious conversion, a missing twin, a life in poetry. As she does, she depicts vividly for us not only her own life but a striking array of sites and topics, among them Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the world's oldest anatomical theater, Eugenics, and Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Throughout, Brown offers us the gift of her exquisite sentences, woven together in consideration, always, of what it means to be human: flawed, potent, feeling.Trade Review'These remarkable essays invite us to look long and hard at our own interior landscapes, and to negotiate exterior ones with as much grace and gratitude as we can muster.' - Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize winning author of AMITY & PROSPERITY'Her writing is sensitive, intelligent, and above all, clear-eyed and curious about her own experience as a writer, a traveler, and a disabled person. This is an important and beautiful rethinking of how bodies move through the world.' - Claire Dederer

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Book SynopsisJust the facts for coping with the after-effects of a brain injuryAcquired Brain Injury (ABI) usually refers to people who have suffered a head injury or stroke but also includes those who have had brain tumours, an anoxic injury (where the brain has been starved of oxygen) or brain illnesses like encephalitis and meningitis. After an ABI, the brain undergoes a very slow healing process before improvements slow down and eventually plateau. This is different to other forms of brain conditions where the journey is more of a deteriorating one over time.ABI is commonly called ''a hidden disability'' as it can easily be missed or misunderstood by others. Also it can significantly affect those close to the person and therefore it is frequently called ''a family affair'' too. As the issues are often hidden, complicated and affect patients and families alike, this book can act as a roadmap to help y

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Book SynopsisA Groundbreaking New Perspective of Princess Margaret by Renowned Biographer Meryle Secrest Meryle Secrest, distinguished biographer in the arts and humanities, and recipient of a White House Medal, has turned her focus to royalty. In Princess Margaret and the Curse, she has put the conventional view of a much-reviled Princess on its head. Her latest study, which she considers more of an investigation than a biography as such, proposes that nobody knows the truth about the fabled, doomed Princess. She is the first person to have looked at Princess Margaret in a particular family context. That is to say with reference to her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the daughter of a famous, hard-drinking Scottish family that had inhabited an ancient dwelling, Gamis Castle, for centuries. Her older brothers were already renowned for their prowess in alcohol consumption. Decades later, once she became Queen Mother, this Elizabeth would begin to imbibe by eleven in the morning. She was already lamenting the loss of her drinking powers when, because of severe bouts of morning sickness during her first pregnancy with the future Queen Elizabeth in 1926, she could not drink. Four years later, while pregnant with Princess Margaret in 1930, she was not so handicapped. Doctors believed it was perfectly safe for a mother-to-be to drink, so she drank. The doctors were wrong. But it took another forty-three years, until 1973, before new studies established that alcohol in any amount was poisonous to the developing human being. The effect is lifelong. We now know that victims' growth is stunted (Margaret stopped growing at five feet), and their skeletal structures are fragile. They get sick sooner and age faster. There are characteristic emotional differences, too. They never develop maturity of mind. They remain subject to sudden tantrums, rages, are poor judges of character, and particularly prone to run and hide, as Princess Margaret tried to do all her life. They may be as intelligent and gifted as she was, but mulish and fly into a rage. They are, it turns out, exactly like the person she became. None of this has ever been recognized, let alone understood. With this study, the author places Margaret's life in its proper perspective. It seems particularly sad that someone expected to be perfection itself in her manners and behavior should have been born in the one situation where perfection was, in fact, impossible. It is time we looked at this public figure from a new and more forgiving frame of mind, and with a new understanding.

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Book SynopsisFOODS TO HELP AND HEAL ARTHRITIS - EAT BETTER, FEEL BETTERHundreds of thousands of people with arthritis have been helped by the Margaret Hills Clinic and by Margaret's bestselling book, Treating Arthritis: The Drug-free Way. This companion title, completely updated with all-new recipes, offers a full range of nutritional resources to bring about an improvement for anyone struggling with pain and mobility.Embracing the simple principles that make this drug-free protocol so effective, this book offers hundreds of recipes and dietary plans, as well as an overview of why diet is so important for managing arthritis. It caters for vegetarians and vegans, and has recommendations for those managing auto-immune conditions such as coeliac disease, or food allergies. There are clean, contemporary and delicious meals for every season, as well as such essentials as smoothies, juices, bone broth and healthful bread recipes. With an emphasis on fresh, raw, local ingredients, the recipes in this book complement the Treating Arthritis programme to offer gentle, natural and manageable steps to reduce pain and improve mobility.

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Book SynopsisA Vulture 2023 Best Book of the Year“I was in the car the first time music seemed strange: the instruments less distinct, the vocals less crisp.” John Cotter was thirty years old when he first began to notice a ringing in his ears. Soon the ringing became a roar inside his head. Next came partial deafness, then dizziness and vertigo that rendered him unable to walk, work, sleep, or even communicate. At a stage of life when he expected to be emerging fully into adulthood, teaching and writing books, he found himself “crippled and dependent,” and in search of care. When he is first told that his debilitating condition is likely Ménière’s Disease, but that there is “no reliable test, no reliable treatment, and no consensus on its cause,” Cotter quits teaching, stops writing, and commences upon a series of visits to doctors and treatment centers. What begins as an expedition across the country navigating and battling the limits of the American healthcare system, quickly becomes something else entirely: a journey through hopelessness and adaptation to disability. Along the way, hearing aids become inseparable from his sense of self, as does a growing understanding that the possibilities in his life are narrowing rather than expanding. And with this understanding of his own travails comes reflection on age-old questions around fate, coincidence, and making meaning of inexplicable misfortune. A devastating memoir that sheds urgent, bracingly honest light on both the taboos surrounding disability and the limits of medical science, Losing Music is refreshingly vulnerable and singularly illuminating—a story that will make readers see their own lives anew.Trade ReviewPraise for Losing Music"An acute and very beautiful book."—Teju Cole, author of Known and Strange Things: Essays“Understatedly elegant [. . .] In articulating what is now gone, Mr. Cotter vibrantly evokes the sensations of life before the beginning of the end of his hearing [. . .] Notwithstanding the personal catastrophe that deafness represents, it did give Mr. Cotter the ideal subject, transformed through literary grace, for a book. [. . . ] Losing Music comes closer to expressing the transcendent sensation by nearly being music itself. Its author turned adversity into quiet triumph. Evidence that Mr. Cotter's ear is still keen for the melodies of language sings from every page.”—Wall Street Journal “In his moving memoir, John Cotter anticipates a world without sound. Losing Music offers a compelling portrait of how deafness isolates people from even those closest to them. [. . .] More broadly, he also challenges us to better understand how any disability radically alters a person's sense of self."—Washington Post“In this bracing memoir, essayist Cotter recounts his experience with an incurable inner ear disorder….The result is a poignant reflection on disability.”—Publishers Weekly“Cotter writes about the embodied experience of hearing loss vividly and within a network of contexts: that of caregiving and that of medical science’s many unsolved mysteries.”—Maddie Crum, The Vulture"Losing Music explodes an individual experience of illness into a cultural and medical reckoning; with a sociologist’s rigor and a poet’s lyricism, Cotter takes readers on an odyssey through the social history of disability, the brutal bureaucracy of the American healthcare system, and the intimate violence of living in a volatile body. But this memoir is just as much a love letter to sound itself as it is a chronicle of loss; your world will sound different after reading it."—Charley Burlock, Oprah Daily "More than about Ménière's, Losing Music is a powerful addition to the memoir canon—hard-hitting, beautiful, profound—a story of finding safe ground in a world regularly buffeted by very rough seas."—The Millions“Cotter makes clear in his remarkable memoir, Losing Music, one of Ménière’s cruelest elements is its imprecision [. . .] It’s unclear to Cotter—and any of us—how much time we have left to consume, love, and share art. Through describing that uncertainty, Cotter reveals its value.”—On the Seawall“What happens when something you’ve loved your whole life becomes something that causes you pain? That’s a question at the center of John Cotter’s new memoir, which chronicles his diagnosis with a condition that’s likely Ménière’s Disease—and the physical and psychological effects that it had on him. It’s a harrowing and insightful look at a challenging time in its author’s life.”—Inside Hook“In an affecting debut memoir, novelist and essayist Cotter recounts the health crisis that transformed his sense of self and connection to his world [. . .] A gracefully rendered, candid chronicle of trauma.”—Kirkus Reviews“Devastating and beautiful. Losing Music is pieced together in a particularly uncanny way, like scraps of conversation that gradually coalesce into an immensely powerful and meaningful whole.”—Sam Sacks, editor, Wall Street Journal“John Cotter’s memoir examines hearing loss, challenges with the American healthcare system, adaptation to disability, and questions of fate, coincidence, and making meaning from misfortune. This is a moving and vulnerable story.” —Kathy Baum, 5280 Magazine"[Losing Music] deepens our understanding of sound, human connection, and what it means to be (and remain) alive."—Shelby Smoak, Washington Independent Review of Books“Lighthouse writing instructor John Cotter’s memoir examines loss, challenges with the American health care system, adaptation to disability, and questions of fate, coincidence, and making meaning from misfortune. This is a moving and vulnerable story.”—Kathy Baum, Tattered Cover, Denver, CO“Cotter first notices that music sounds off, and then he’s plagued by vertigo. A memoir about dramatically changing one’s life and dealing with a mysterious illness. I highly recommend!”—Caitlin Luce Baker, Island Books, Mercer Island, WA“This is a memoir about the loss of an important sense—hearing. It’s also about what was gained as Cotter was compelled to contemplate his short personal history, his goals and the meaning of life. The diagnosis came quickly and at a young age—a rare disease, origins not understood and for which there is no known treatment. Quitting his work, he travels cross-country in search of help. Meanwhile, he has to come to grips with the loss of so many strengths he had become accustomed to, and to learn about the language and other taboos related to disability. And to think about the many, many people who have suffered their own similar losses, through war, accidents or just plain happenstance. This short memoir is moving, in some ways frightening, but also hopeful. There is life after loss. It’s a matter of perseverance, bravery and accepting change.”—Linda Bond, Auntie’s Book Shop, Spokane, WA“I read Losing Music in part to examine my own ailments, which are similar to John Cotter’s: tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, and the anxiety that can accompany them. I was relieved that my symptoms pale in comparison, but Cotter’s story tracking the severity of his condition is both enlightening and a bit terrifying. Throughout his memoir, Cotter describes the impacts to his personality, the challenges of communication with others, and the marital stress he and his wife have dealt with. The search for medical treatment led him through the long history of Meniere’s disease. He found that many attempted ‘cures’ were horrific failures, and that in fact, little or no progress has been made over the last one hundred years. His journey laced all the way back to Jonathan Swift and Beethoven, who is also hearing impaired. This story is deeply reflective and moving, full of sorrow, hope and how to cope after being humbled by a crippling disease. I’m grateful that Cotter was able to overcome his obstacles to tell his story.”—Todd Miller, Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI“Heart-wrenching . . . When the mysterious symptoms that turn out to be Meniere’s disease encroach upon up-and-coming college professor and writer John Cotter’s soul-satisfying work and domestic life, its degrading effects on his hearing and sense of balance slam down an unwanted wall between his aspirations and the world beyond . . . An ill-understood condition, Meniere’s drives the dispirited Cotter to pursue any number of clinics across the country for help in dealing with this isolating ‘new normal’ of greatly diminished hearing and unpredictable bouts of vertigo. Cotter is a grounded and reflective narrator of these struggles, and he envelopes the reader in grieving for the losses, little and big, as well as rejoicing in his numerous hard-won but successful adaptations, and concurrent optimism for what is to come. An added bonus: his historical anecdotes about changing attitudes and outlooks toward Meniere’s can be as entertaining as they are, at other times, flummoxing. Losing Music is the outstanding work of a straightforward memoirist with a wry sense of humor who feels very much like a good friend.”—Susan Braunstein, New Rochelle Public Library, New Rochelle, NY“This memoir by John Cotter has made me think more about disabled people, homeless people, suicidal people, and lonely people, and I want to learn more—a lot more about Jonathan Swift—and how to help more people and be more compassionate. How many books can you say that about?”—Mollie Mitchell, HearthFire Books, Evergreen, CO“Losing Music is a stunning, expansively beautiful book. Not just because of John Cotter's precise and vivid language on a sentence level, but also because of how it moves so tenderly through the vanishing of sound, and not just sound, but songs—points of connection that can be taken for granted. And even beyond this reality, Losing Music is not solely a sad book. It is also a book of comforts, of joys, of closeness. I am thankful for all of its movements.”—Hanif Abdurraqib, author of A Little Devil in America“John Cotter brings sound to the page as something tactile: abrasive, elusive, fluid, textured, a current between body and mind. He fashions language into a velvety pocket in a harsh world. Losing Music is a phenomenal book about what it's like to be sick and suffering, and in it, I recognize not only the isolating nature of illness, but also a powerful intimacy with one's own changing self.”—Elissa Washuta, author of White Magic“Losing Music is a vertiginous journey of loss and discovery triggered by the onset of an unpredictable and mysterious disability. With poetic energy, John Cotter describes the roaring and swirling particulars of Ménière’s disease, while he grapples with universal questions of meaning and suffering. The memoir effortlessly blends personal stories with delightful deep dives into sound dynamics, inner-ear anatomy, and eighteenth-century author Jonathan Swift, who becomes a much needed friend—‘articulate, accessible, free with his time,’ and, I might add, darkly funny, dramatic, and brilliant, not unlike Cotter himself.”—M. Leona Godin, author of There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness“I’m not sure what I’d do if my body became a seemingly unsolvable mystery, and I can’t know how I’d handle the fear, frustration, and despair, but I doubt I’d have either the fortitude or the imagination to do what John Cotter has achieved in this book. Losing Music is a remarkable memoir: unsettling, insightful, and gorgeously written. I’ll be pressing this book into many people’s hands.”—Maggie Smith, author of Goldenrod: Poems“I think the hardest thing for a personal writer to do is think well and feel well at the same time. John Cotter’s writing is bursting with as much intellect as heart. It’s as clear-eyed and incisive as it is moving. It’s what nonfiction should be.”—Lucas Mann, author of Captive Audience and Lord Fear“Losing Music is a fascinating, heartbreaking, deeply personal story from one of the most talented essayists around. It’s a book about art and illness, the betrayals of the body, and what is kept and what is lost as time goes by.”—Justin Taylor, author of Flights and Riding with the GhostPraise for Under the Small Lights“John Cotter’s prose is lyric, his images unforgettable, his characters richly complicated. From the first sentence to the last, I was captivated by this story and the characters that call out to the reader with mystery and beauty and terror, like voices in the night. Under the Small Lights is a book to be savored, and John Cotter is an exciting new voice in contemporary fiction.”—Laura van den Berg, author of The Third Hotel“John Cotter has a way with words. He has a way with dialogue, with setting a scene, with crystallizing description and insight into just a handful of words. He has a way of wrapping his observations about lost generations, about the charade of the Bohemian lifestyle, about the fragility of ideals when they crash into immovable objects, into the characters themselves. . . . Cotter treats these themes with a rare intelligence and subtlety and a certain warmth for these characters who are charming and contemptible by turns. Cotter is going to be a writer to remember, and this is a great book. You should read it.”—Tampa Bay (FL) Creative Loafing“Under the Small Lights is the kind of book I always look for and rarely find: a mellow meditation on friendship and romance and the romance of friendship told in prose straightforward and lovely. [Cotter’s] characters are urbane and articulate, foolishly impulsive, and heartbreakingly earnest. It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered a bildungsroman this successful, let alone a novella this bighearted.”—Josh Russell, author of Yellow Jack“[Cotter] writes with insight, nuance, and respect for the complexity of these young people’s lives. The prose is lyrical and lucid; the scenes are powerful and vivid.”—The Rumpus“One of the strongest aspects of [Under the Small Lights] is Cotter’s ease with natural-sounding dialogue, which sparks, shambles, and darts along—the rhythm of you and your friends goofing on each other. . . . The book also has the substantial advantage of having a great atmospheric beginning, excellent action-packed climax, and a poignant ending. Under the Small Lights is a very good read.”—New Pages“[Under the Small Lights] moves through a series of scenes that surface like memories, wandering the way our attention spans and affections will, from friend to friend until our rash decisions blast everything away, or until we have to make new friends or risk the inevitable outcome that accompanies emulating / lusting after / emphatically loving your friends …What might otherwise be construed as a group of selfish kids is instead a group of self-aware kids, who are easier to relate to and easier to love.”—Lit Pub Table of ContentsIPrelude 5A New Life 15Sound Shadow 35On the Beach 61The Polar Vortex 85No Satori 113INTERMEZZOFour Music Lessons 137IIThe Trauma Test 151Lost Things Dreams 177The Hundred Oceans of Jonathan Swift 201 Other Lives 231Shocked Quartz 253Coda 263Notes 275Acknowledgments 283

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