Autism

I am always a little suspicious of books claiming to show mere mortals how to emulate other, more successful people. There is a great tendency to think that if only someone would only do X, Y, and Z, they too could be a great success. The reality is, that many of us cannot replicate what others have done because we are not them and do not necessarily have their assets, traits or brain wiring. ..read more

Brian King is a Cinical Social Worker who is himself on the autistic spectrum, as are his three children and wife. He is therefore ideally placed both professionally and personally to write a book about how to relate to people on the spectrum.

The book offers ten strategies which King has devised after years of struggling to find a way of coping with life. His suggestions are just as relevant to those on the spectrum as they are to neuro-typicals.

My copy of ‘Trueman Bradley' is very dog eared because it has been read by all my family and many of my friends and we all love it. Sadly my 4 month old puppy loves the book too which is why half of the cover is missing!

This book is intended for young people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and everyone trying to help and support them. Whether the OCD is in a mild form or has escalated to totally debilitating, the books has much to offer. It is written by four experts in the field who all specialise in OCD and children/young adults. It is written in a very approachable, non-threatening tone without being patronising or over-simplified.

This book is a wonderful tome of knowledge on neurobiological , developmental and genetic diseases which any parent or professional dealing with atypical children or indeed adults, should have at their fingertips. Many hours can be wasted on the internet trying to find a disorder that fit's a particular person's unique set of problems and assets. Many parents have come up with countless possible diagnoses only to find that none fit exactly. This book highlights how many conditions can co-exist, one even masking another and shows how interconnected many problems are. ..read more

This book is introduced by Luke Beardon who is a senior lecturer in autism. In the introduction he wisely differentiates between inherited mental health problems and those caused by prolonged stress and inappropriate environments. It is an anthology of short accounts by adults who are on the spectrum, talking about their mental health experiences. Throughout there is a strong appeal to accept Aspergers as a healthy difference rather than something to be changed and cured.

Bromfield is a faculty member of Harvard medical school and has over 30 years experience.

There are 18 short chapters, many of which can be viewed in isolation.

Stanford runs a computer company in Silicon Valley. She has readily employed people on the spectrum believing them to have qualities and assets which contribute to the success of her company. She accepts that people with aspergers may lack some social skills but in her experience this is more than compensated for by their strengths.

Lipsky is an author who is herself a high functioning woman with Aspergers so perhaps is best placed to guide us through what it feels like to have Aspergers and why anxiety and sensory overload are behind meltdowns. She also travels around the US giving talks and trouble shooting.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a very good story with strong characters, easy to read and get involved in, and a real page turner. I couldn't put it down at night and wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next, it is also great to read on a kindle or iPad. The story is totally entertaining and very informative (but not in a boring patronising way). ..read more