This book is a helpful resource for parents and carers of newly diagnosed young people on the autistic spectrum. The author is the parent of a child with autism and has had 13 years of first-hand experience of working with people with learning difficulties. This creates a very personal and factual resource, and gives the reader confidence in the book's information.
It is easy to read: there is minimal jargon and its colloquial tone really engages the reader. The book follows a simple structure of 16 chapters, which are broken down into sub-sections with bullet points and images, making the information more accessible.
The author, Julia Moor, includes a wide range of ideas about how to interact with children on the entire autistic spectrum, from profoundly affected children through to high functioning, and includes ideas for children with additional learning difficulties. Many of the practical ideas are backed up with real-life examples. For example, the chapter on structured play looks at why children with autism need structure, how to break down tasks, and how to introduce flexibility and choice. It concludes with an example that brings the information to life and gives the reader actual tasks to try with their children.
Excellent resources are signposted at the end of the book, including further reading, useful websites and toy suppliers. There is also a wonderful collection of picture prompts for the reader to use. The book acts as a practical tool, offering a variety of learning techniques for parents who may be feeling helpless or overwhelmed by their child's diagnosis of autism.- Reviewed by Samantha Boyle, marketing officer, TreeHouse
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