Has your child received a recent autism diagnosis? It is hard to know which way to go through the whirlwind of new appointments and changes! There is so much to figure out after a diagnosis; searching for extra resources shouldn’t have to be one of them! So, for all my book-loving parents like myself, I’ve created a list just for you! Check out these Top Reads for Parents of Autistic Children
Top Reads for Parents of Autistic Children
| This book is such a great read. With both humour and information, Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew was written by a mom whose child has both autism and adhd. She used her experiences with her child to help describe ten characteristics that help illuminate—not define—children with autism. |
| Autism is only one ingredient of who our children are. To often, the world has conditioned us all to see just the diagnosis and not the person. Uniquely Human offers a different way of seeing autism. This book offers is filled with wisdom and humanity. It explains that our children are not broken, but rather for us to seek to understand the their experiences and what underlies their behaviors. |
| If you only wind up reading one book on this list, this is the one to read. The Reason I Jump was Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism. This is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within. It is a small opportunity to understand the world through your child’s eyes. |
| This is one of those “What I have learned” books. Autism Every Day was written by an Autism Consultant who has three sons on the spectrum. She speaks from personal and professional experiences and covers a vast array of issues from picky-eating and echolalia to IEPs and The Woes of Walmart. Alyson’s ideas and interventions will inspire and inform all those who are connected to a person with autism. |
| Though you need to understand autism, more importantly you need to help your child where they are. One of the best ways for children with autism, Asperger’s, and sensory processing disorders to learn is through play. This book is an amazing resource for parents to do just that! There are going to be days where you just cannot think straight. That is when the 101 Games and Activities for Children with Autism, Asperger’s, and Sensory Processing Disorders will come in handy! |
| This one is technically for children, but it is a great read for parents as well. It gives you an insight into what your child will want to know. It is a positive, straightforward book that offers kids with Autism their own resource for understanding their diagnosis and finding ways to cope with every day challenges. The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders is a great resource for parents and great for helping children gain new self-understanding and self-acceptance. |
At the end of the day, we all could use a little extra inspiration. I have always loved Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and this is no exceptions! Raising Kids on the Spectrum has 101 stories from parents and experts, that will comfort, encourage, and uplift parents of children with Autism and Asperger’s. |
