What Your Child on the Spectrum Really Needs

The advice discussed here is easy-to-understand and immediately practical. This book is different from other autism parenting guides in that the advice mentioned has been generated solely from the autistic individuals themselves, and not from other neurotypical parents, medical professionals, or psychologists. The contributors have varied backgrounds and professions. They include writers, journalists, students, an IT professional, a stay-at-home mom, a hotel services employee, a relationship coach, a data architect, and analyst, and a Pulitzer- Prize-winning music critic. It attempts to teach neurotypical parents different ways of thinking about their autistic children, with instructions provided by the autistic contributors. The advice discussed here is easy-to-understand and immediately practical. This book does not attempt to catalog all the different types of therapy and medical interventions that exist. Instead, it prioritizes advice asserted by autistic individuals. Readers will learn a variety of easy-to-implement advice on communication techniques, addressing sensory issues, behavior correction, facilitating friendships, educational advocacy, teaching self-advocacy skills, supporting the transition to college and the workforce, and more. This information is especially important to parents and caregivers of autistic children who may not realize how their vigorous attempts to do what is best for their children are actually having a negative impact on their social/emotional development. It is based on the personal experiences of the contributors, divulging what has helped or hurt them as they navigated childhood and adulthood as autistic individuals.The tips offered in this book encourage parents to change the way they think about autism and to help their children develop into confident, independent adults with a positive autistic identity.