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

Autism: Recovery Against All Odds by Kristi Chrysler

Autism: Recovery Against All Odds by Kristi Chrysler

Book By N. Texas Mom Details Son's Autism Recovery

NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21)It was a diagnosis that a Burleson mother just wouldn't accept. Doctors said her five-year-old son was so severely Autistic, that she should send him to an institution. Today that son is 12-years-old and, according to his doctors, shows no signs of the disorder.

Kristi Chrysler is a single mother who has had her share of challenges raising a family. Her son, Richie, began to regress in his abilities at 12 months. It took nearly four years for doctors to diagnose Richie with Autism. By then, the signs were unmistakable. "He was very aggressive, he had major breakdowns, 10 times a day," explained Chrysler. "Each one could last from 10 minutes to 60 minutes where I would have to hold him to prevent him from banging his head, hurting himself or running after and hurting someone else."

Doctors told Chrysler there was no hope for Richie. "Every night, I'd put him to bed and sit there and he'd have to rub my arm to fall asleep and I'd sit there with tears streaming down my face just thinking, 'Who in an institution is going to do this for him?'"

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"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

Autism: Heartfelt Thoughts From Fathers

Fathers from all over the world share their honest, most heartfelt thoughts regarding what it really feels like to raise a child (or children) with autism, Aspergers or PDD.

You will truly be touched by these wonderful, inspiring, dedicated dads! A great resource for family and friends! Photos and favorite resources included.

* Paperback: 148 pages
* Publisher: HighView Publications Autism Enhancement; 1st edition (2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1883175127
* ISBN-13: 978-1883175122

AutismLearningFelt: Three Times The Love Book Review and Giveaway

AutismLearningFelt

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

Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows ... Special Needs

Candid, passionate, personal, and heartbreakingly funny, a view from within the whirlwind of parenting a child with special needs

Three years ago, magazine editor Denise Brodey’s precocious four-year-old son, Toby, was diagnosed with a combination of sensory integration dysfunction and childhood depression. As she struggled to make sense of her new, often chaotic, often lonely world, what she found comforted her most was talking with other harried, hopeful, and insightful parents of kids with special needs, learning how they coped with the feelings they encountered throughout the day.

In The Elephant in the Playroom, moms and dads from across the country write intimately and honestly about the joyful highs and disordered lows of raising children who are "not quite normal." Laying bare the emotional, medical, and social challenges they face, their stories address issues ranging from if and when to medicate a child, to how to get a child who is overly sensitive to the texture of food to eat lunch. Eloquent and honest, the voices in this collection will provide solace and support for the millions of parents whose kids struggle with ADD, ADHD, sensory disorders, childhood depression, Asperger’s syndrome, and autism—as well as the many kids who fall between diagnoses.

Offering readers comfort, community, and much-needed perspective, The Elephant in the Playroom is sure to become essential reading for parents of special needs kids. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows of Raising Kids with Special Needs

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594630356
• ASIN: B00149NX8C