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  • Autism Council of Utah

Books About Autism

Updated: Jun 3




Blessed in Weakness: How a Mother Found Hope, Healing and Devine Purpose Raising a Disabled Child. Blessed in Weakness is the tender account of how a mother found spiritual joy and divine purpose amidst the heartache and hardship of raising a severely disabled child. When Eugenie's son was diagnosed with low-functioning, non-verbal autism she wanted to understand God's purpose for his disability. From a near-death experience to the ordinary activities of day-to-day living, she shares how she has learned: Disability is a part of God's plan, and this is a plan of happiness; Each disabled person has a unique mortal mission; Those with disabled minds remain pure and have a special connection with heaven; Mothers don't need to be perfect, just good enough; By reaching out, you manifest the works of God.


The Mind Tree: Eloquent. Philosophical. Introspective. These are not the words usually associated with an autistic child. But in a remarkable display of courage and creativity, a boy named Tito has shattered stereotypes, and in The Mind Tree makes us question all of our previous assumptions about autism. For Tito is severely autistic and nearly nonverbal, and this is his story.






Population One: Autism, Adversity, and the Will to Succeed is a groundbreaking book that offers readers the ability to see life through the eyes of a young man with autism. Written by Tyler McNamer at the age of 17, Tyler not only details his challenges, but he also offers hope and encouragement to others who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Whether you re an educator, a family member of someone with autism, or simply looking for inspiration, you ll appreciate the opportunity to step inside this remarkable young man s mind.



The Reason I Jump: Naoki Higashida was born in Kimitsu, Japan in 1992. Diagnosed with severe autism when he was five, he subsequently learned to communicate using a handmade alphabet grid and began to write poems and short stories. At the age of thirteen he wrote The Reason I Jump, which was published in Japan in 2007. Its English translation came out in 2013, and it has now been published in more than thirty languages. The subject of an award-winning Japanese television documentary in 2014, he continues to give presentations throughout the country about his experience of autism.  



Everybody Is Different: Many brothers and sisters of young people have a hard time understanding what autism is and why their siblings with autism spectrum disorder do what they do. This book gives answers to the many questions brothers and sisters have about their siblings. In addition to explaining in basic terms the characteristics of autism, this book is full of helpful suggestions for making family life more fun and comfortable for everyone.




A Full Life with Autism: A guide for helping our children lead meaningful and independent lives as they reach adulthood. Parents want to know ~ What happens to my child when I am no longer able to care for or assist him? This book offers real solutions to a host of difficult questions, including how young adults of different abilities and their parents can: navigate, cope, find, create and sustain fulfilling relationships.





Hopes and Dreams ~ An IEP Guide for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: With an emphasis on preparation and collaboration, this practical resource shows parents step-by-step how to become truly active members of the IEP team, thereby achieving their child's and family's hopes and dreams.





The Art Of Making Friends: As staff at ScenicView, we searched for tools to help our students learn social skills. Finding limited resources, we decided to make our own! Building on our first edition titled Why Is It So Hard to Make Friends? we have revamped this amazing little tool to now include: A new section on how to get the most out of this book Contains 90+ pages of tools for facing social fears, using empathy, resolving conflict, improving your table manners, and over 35 additional topics. More images to help teach each skill The book is 4.25 x 6 inches making it the perfect size to carry with you on the go.


Taking Care of Myself ~ A Hygiene, Puberty, and

Personal Curriculum for Young People with Autism: Puberty can be especially tough when young people have autism or other special needs. Through simple stories similar to Social Stories, this book teaches you what to say and no say. It show how to create helpful stories of your own. This book addresses hygiene, modesty, body growth and development, menstruation, touching, personal safety, and more. Young students can benefit from self-care skills such as using the toilet, brushing teeth, and washing hands.


1001 Great Ideas for Teaching & Raising Children with Autism or Asperger's: This book presents parents and educators with over 1800 ideas try-it-now tips, eye-opening advice, and grassroots strategies. More than 600 fresh ideas join tried and true tactics from the original edition, offering modifications for older kids, honing in on Asperger's challenges, and enhancing already-effective ways to help your child or student achieve success at home, in school, and in the community.


The Autistic Brain: Temple Grandin is one of the world's most accomplished and well-known adults with autism. She is a professor at Colorado State University and the author of several best-selling books, which have sold more than a million copies. The HBO movie based on her life, starring Claire Danes, received seven Emmy Awards.







Parent Survival Manual ~ A Guide to Crisis Resolution in Autism and Related Developmental Disorders: This practical guide offers effective solutions to various behavior problems such as aggression, communication, preservation, play and leisure, eating and sleeping, and toileting and hygiene.








Autism Spectrum Disorders: What Every Parent Needs to Know is an invaluable resource for parents & caregivers of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prepared under the editorial direction of 2 distinguished pediatricians who are autism experts—one of whom is also the parent of a son with autism—this book helps you understand how ASDs are defined and diagnosed and provides you with information on the most current types of behavioral and developmental therapies. It helps parents understand what they can do to help promote a smooth transition from adolescence through the teen years and into adulthood.


Happy Kids Don't Punch You In The Face: When there’s a nuclear meltdown happening in your classroom, this book is your trusted guide on what to do in the heat of the moment, and how you can prevent future incidents. These field-tested strategies integrate principles of behavioral intervention with the best practices of positive psychology.





Sir George: The Quest To Find His Grandfathers Sword:

This is the tale of a knight's adventure!

Seven heroes are born and raised to unite to save their land from the clutches of an evil lord.

Can the heir to the throne, the brave knight James, lead the new protectors through the dark forest mountains, hidden swamps, and valleys to face the heinous villain, the evil Lord Dragon, head on in an effort to reclaim his grandfather's sword? They will never give up. This is their adventure.


A Friend Like Henry: The remarkable true story of an autistic boy and the dog that unlocked his world. Dale's autism was so severe that the smallest deviation from his routine could provoke a terrifying tantrum. Family life was almost destroyed by his condition, and his parents spent most of their waking hours trying to break into their son's autistic world and give him the help he so desperately needed. But after years of constant effort and slow progress, the Gardners' lives were transformed when they welcomed a new member into the family.


Rules: Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public" -- in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?


Fall Down 7 Times Get up 8: Naoki Higashida wrote The Reason I Jump, by a nonverbal Japanese child. Now, shares his thoughts & experiences as a young man living each day with severe autism. He explores school memories, family relationships, the exhilaration of travel, & the difficulties of speech. He allows readers to experience profound moments we take for granted, the thought-steps necessary for him to register that it’s raining outside. Aware of how strange his behavior can appear to others, he aims to foster a better understanding of autism & encourage society to see people with disabilities as people, not as problems.


My Brother Otto: A child-friendly, endearing, and fun picture book for children about the love, acceptance, and understanding a sister, Piper, has for her little brother Otto, who is on the autism spectrum. The book provides explanations for Otto’s differences and quirkiness in an easy-to-understand language, and highlights Otto’s desires for adventure and love just like his peers. A story about a sister and a brother who engage in common, everyday experiences in their own unique way with the idea that kindness and understanding always win!


Thinking In Pictures: Here, in Temple Grandin's own words, is the story what it is like to live with autism. Temple Grandin's

unique ability describe the way her visual mind works and how

she first made the connection between her impairment and

animal temperament that is the basis of extraordinary gift and

phenomenal success.







Look Me in the Eye: Life with Aspergers: Ever since he was young, John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes—had earned him the label “social deviant.” It was not until he was forty that he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way he saw himself—and the world. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account—sometimes alien yet always deeply human.



Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew: Offers a one-of-a-kind exploration into how ten core characteristics of autism affect our children's perception and reaction to the surrounding physical, sensory and social environments.







Through The Eyes of Asperger's: What are people who have Asperger's Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder experiencing?

Do you know what it's really like and how it feels to have Asperger's Syndrome? Have you been diagnosed with Asperger's and are struggling with social demands each day? Are you wondering how to help people with Asperger's/ASD lead normal, fulfilling lives?



 


All information provided on the ACU Web site is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between the ACU and any person or entity unless otherwise specified. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the ACU. Information on the ACU website is subject to change without prior notice. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, the ACU makes no guarantees of any kind.

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