Autism: Moondance at Midnight (Understanding Autism and Parenting)

" Being called a bad mother shot through my body like a burning bullet, destroying my already precarious psyche. Hurtful, cutting words so profound, so deep, so uncalled for they continue to drift in and out of my conscious mind, haunting me to this very day..." Moondance at Midnight is a raw emotional, and powerful true story. Written beautifully and designed to capture the reader's heart. Every detail has gone into the book to ensure an enjoyable and easy reading experience. Not just a book but something extra special when you really need it. Enjoy!

Moondance at Midnight by Juscelia

Amazon Review
... an emotional experience... I found it very powerful and felt that it was important reading for professionals who work with parents and their children (with Autism and/or other challenges). It gave me a strong sense of the isolation and desolation Celia felt, and of her heartbreak, but also of her great joy. I honestly felt that the strength of Celia' s love for her child could be felt on every page. Anita H. (Occupational Therapist 28 years experience working with children and families with Autism and other challenges.) --Anita H. Occupational Therapist

A totally engrossing story which comes from deep within the heart. It brings back memories of my son's earlier years with Autism. The attitude of "professionals" towards parents is daunting and frightening. I had never felt more like a stupid parent... --Alexa B (Parent)

Juscelia is not your everyday author, nor is her book Moondance at Midnight your everyday story.... Beautifully written and spacious Juscelia leaves plenty of room for the reader to join her on the journey. Events unfold and the drama while very real given it's based on the actual events leading to and following the official diagnosis of her autistic son, is discreet. As a reader you are not force fed anything and you come away with an insight into motherhood. Her fluent style and Juscelia's down-to-earth interpretation guide you into her world as she understands autism and how to provide for her beautiful son. --Alison Mooney Whitsunday Times

• ISBN-10: 0980571502
• ISBN-13: 978-0980571509

Moondance at Midnight by Juscelia

"Understanding Jason" by Marsha Rae Osborn (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

“Understanding Jason”, the new book written by Marsha Rae Osborn and illustrated by DeOnna Mills, tells the story of a group of typical students who learn from their teacher how to accept and help an autistic student, Jason, fit in with their class.

Told in playful rhymes with accompanying colorful illustrations, “Understanding Jason” delivers a powerful message to children about respecting people’s differences. The story begins in an average classroom, where the students notice that one of the boys, Jason, is a little different from everyone else. Osborn writes:

“We don’t understand,” kids say, “Why does Jason act that way? He is different from us all, He can’t even catch a ball.”

Their questions about why Jason won’t or can’t talk to them opens a dialogue with their teacher about the ways in which Jason is different and similar to them. The teacher points out that while Jason might find it difficult to talk to the other children, play games with them and do simple tasks like opening jar lids, he is also a kid who can do many other activities. She reminds them of how well he can climb, name animals and learn sign language and numbers.

Through their conversation as a group, the students begin to understand how to include Jason in their class activities. The teacher impresses upon her students the need for compassion and kindness with other children who may be different from themselves, asking them to appreciate those differences. Ideal for children between kindergarten and second grade, “Understanding Jason” offers young readers and listeners alike insights into the world of autism.

Marsha Rae Osborn is a Registered Nurse and the mother of two twin boys, one of whom has autism. She lives in Alabama with her husband and children. “Understanding Jason” is her first book.

For more information: www.authorhouse.com

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1438944039
• ISBN-13: 978-1438944036

Related:

• (Reuters) New Illustrated Book Helps Children Understand Autism

More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs

MORE THAN A MOM explores how women can lead rich, fulfilling personal lives while parenting a child with special needs. The authors' skillful blend of research, personal experiences, and feedback from over 500 mothers across North America results in a book that is jam-packed with practical strategies, advice, and reassurance for mothers trying to create more manageable and fulfilling lives.

MORE THAN A MOM addresses the universal concerns and questions of all mothers, coupled with the added intensity of raising children with disabilities. This how-to guide looks at the challenges mothers face at home, at work, and within themselves, with special attention paid to:

Staying healthy both physically and emotionally;

Keeping friendships;

Staying organized;

Maintaining your marriage;

Nurturing interests and goals;

Seeking flexible work options;

Changing careers or starting a business;

Rejoining the workforce;

Finding specialized childcare;

Advocating for your child.

The mothers who were interviewed for the book have diverse backgrounds and family dynamics. Given their differences and the fact that their children have such varied disabilities, it s striking that these mothers face such similar issues. MORE THAN A MOM provides mothers with many voices and solutions that will resonate with their own circumstances. Husbands, extended family, friends, support organizations, and service providers will also want to read this insightful and fact-filled book.

More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs

The Boy Who Loved Windows: Opening The Heart And Mind Of A Child Threatened With Autism

The Boy Who Loved Windows: Opening The Heart And Mind Of A Child Threatened With Autism (Paperback)

Key Phrases: doing floor time, sensory integration disorder, hypoallergenic formula, Darleen Corbett, Smith College, Bainbridge Cohen

Amazon.com Review
Any parent who has suspected something was off with their baby will empathize with the first chapters of The Boy Who Loved Windows, which recounts the familiar tale of medical practitioners refusing to run tests or offer diagnoses. You'll empathize even more when it turns out that mom (and author) Patricia Stacey was right: young Walker is autistic. It's partially the empathy that makes this such a compelling read. Some chapters are devoted to Walker's life at home; others mix his development with medical details. The facts are wrenching: an estimated 1 in 500 people has some level of autism, causes are unclear, and the expectation for a cure is microscopic. But midway through the book, the family meets up with Dr. Stanley Greenspan (The Child With Special Needs), who introduces new techniques that spread rapidly to Walker's assorted therapists. Progress begins, if at a glacial pace. Stacey lets readers into her emotional process over the years she details; her anger, frustration, and concern over the rest of her family and her wild joy at some seemingly minor events provide a roller coaster in contrast to the more methodical research explanation. As a complement to more direct parenting books on autism or simply as a fascinating look at the early development of an atypical child, this book makes good on the promise of its intriguing title. --Jill Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Former Atlantic Monthly staffer Stacey makes her debut with a sharply observed, deeply personal account of her son Walker's metamorphosis from a worryingly unresponsive infant to an intelligent, normally functioning child. Living in the leafy college town of Northampton, Mass., Stacey documents her harrowing experiences as a mother, as she and her husband, Cliff, quickly realize that Walker is not a normal, happy baby. Walker fails to respond to his parents, eats very little, is unable to express emotion and spends much of his time staring at windows. Stacey works night and day to try to reverse Walker's diagnosis of possible autism, trying every conceivable treatment and specialist and obsessively educating herself about new trends in the neuroscience behind the disorder. She realizes that Walker blankly stares out of windows not because his senses are dulled but because they are overwhelmed; Walker is hypersensitive to the world and cannot cope with the constant rush of stimuli. Child psychiatrist Stanley Greenspan recommends his controversial "floor time" strategy for Walker: several hours of rigorous playtime between parent and child per day, emphasizing interaction. The time, money and stress involved in maintaining an intensive schedule of treatments for Walker from his eighth to 20th month soon show their toll on the Stacey family, as funds run dry, the parents grow further apart, and less time is available for Walker's older sister, Elizabeth. Stacey in particular becomes increasingly nervous, obsessive and exhausted from her constant battle to improve her son's life, but the result is stage-by-stage breakthroughs. Some readers will want less personal and medico-historical detail and fewer in-depth treatments of the various therapies and sessions, but Stacey keeps the focus on her own understanding, which ultimately sustains the book.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (September 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073820966X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738209661

Mother Warriors by Jenny McCarthy

Stories of hope and recovery from a nation of parents of autistic children, by the high-profile, bestselling author of Louder Than Words.

When Jenny McCarthy published Louder Than Words, the story of her successful efforts to save her son, Evan, from autism, the response was tremendous. It hit #3 on the New York Times bestseller list; and Jenny and Evan were featured on the covers of several magazines, including People. But what she hadn’t anticipated was the overwhelming response from other parents of autistic children, who sought her out to share their stories.

No two autistic children heal in exactly the same way. And in her new book, Jenny expands her message to share recovery stories from parents across the country. Mother Warriors, shows how each parent fought to find her own child’s perfect “remedy of interventions” and teaches parents how to navigate safely through the many autism therapies.

Along the way, Jenny shares her own journey as an autism advocate and mother as well as the progress of her son, Evan. Emotional and genuinely practical, Mother Warriors will inspire a generation of parents with hope.

About the Author
Jenny McCarthy is the New York Times bestselling author of four previous books, including Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525950699
• ISBN-13: 978-0525950691