Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity

Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity

  • Downloads:3548
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-22 16:31:47
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Emily Paige Ballou
  • ISBN:0807025682
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A rare and diverse collection of autistic voices that highlights to parents the unique needs of girls and nonbinary people who are growing up with autism。

Most resources available for parents come out of the medical model of disability--from psychologists, educators, parents, and doctors--offering parents a narrow and technical approach to autism。 Furthermore, it is widely believed that many autistic girls and women are underdiagnosed, which has further limited the information available regarding the unique needs of girls and nonbinary people with autism。

Sincerely, Your Autistic Child represents an authentic resource for parents written by people who understand this experience most, autistic people themselves。 From childhood and education to gender identity and sexuality, this anthology of autistic contributors tackles the everyday challenges of growing up while honestly addressing the emotional needs, sensitivity, and vibrancy of autistic girls and nonbinary people。 Written like letters to parents, the contributors reflect on what they have learned while growing up with autism and how parents can avoid common mistakes and overcome challenges while raising their child。

Sincerely, Your Autistic Child calls parents to action by raising awareness and redefining "normal" in order to help parents make their child feel truly accepted, valued, and celebrated for who they are。

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Reviews

Kristan

I feel like the book’s title is very misleading, and they should have gone with the original title, “What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew。” As a mom to boys, I really wanted to hear stories from the male perspective (or at least a balance of both)。 I’m sure my review would be very different if I had a daughter, and I’d still recommend it for parents of girls (or kids who identity as girls)。

Danielle Rodriguez

Finally a book that has to do with girls with autism! Each chapter is written by a girl or woman with autism。 This is a great read and resource for parents of girls with autism or anyone wanting to better understand how autism affects girls。

Wanda

Book was very informative。 I passed it along to a cousin whose son is autistic。I am sure it will be treasured。 Thanks

Katie

This book is a great read for anyone with an autistic person in their life especially a child。 It is insightful and eye opening。 It includes essays from a diverse group of autistics。 This book is a reminder that we should embrace our children for all of the beautiful things that come along with their autism。

Amina

Read it over the weekend。 So moving。

Cherie

Read this just in time for Autism Awareness Month, This book made me cry multiple times。 In a good way mostly because you could feel the concern and the love pouring out from the pages。 It was nice to read something that didn't devolve into a lot of the extremism that is online these days (autistic adults who seem to think all autism parents are abusive and terrible on one side and autism parents who dismiss autistic adults because they think they are all snowflakes on the other)。 For once, this Read this just in time for Autism Awareness Month, This book made me cry multiple times。 In a good way mostly because you could feel the concern and the love pouring out from the pages。 It was nice to read something that didn't devolve into a lot of the extremism that is online these days (autistic adults who seem to think all autism parents are abusive and terrible on one side and autism parents who dismiss autistic adults because they think they are all snowflakes on the other)。 For once, this wasn't about who knows best or which side has the right to say they're the child's voice。 Instead, it was about how can this information be combined - what the autistic people know from their own experiences combined with the knowledge and the love of autism parents who are doing their best to help their kids。 Like a real team effort between autistic adults who want the future generation to avoid the suffering they went through and autism parents who truly love their children even if they don't understand the way their kids' minds work。 I also like that the book had nonverbal autistic writers in it because we need to hear from all parts of the spectrum。 In fact, the book was really diverse in general with people from all kinds of groups。There were lots of good chapters, but I think my favorite is a tie between "It's Us Against the World, Kid" and "Perfect in an Imperfect World。" The authors in those chapters speak so highly of how much their parents have helped them to become successful adults。 Even though their parents were not autistic they taught them not to be ashamed of being different, and now as adults they are passing that message of acceptance on to the world。 。。。more

Dr。 Pepper Ex-Fan

I think this is just a "how to be great parents" guide, and it seems to be targeted at middle-class parents who can afford to have their kids diagnosed to begin with and have the energy and time to advocate for them。 It's definitely written with the assumption that the audience is fairly open-minded and progressive。Some good insights, but there are alao eyebrow-raising ones。 I guess my expectation is for members of a marginalized community to be especially thoughtful, considerate, and inclusive I think this is just a "how to be great parents" guide, and it seems to be targeted at middle-class parents who can afford to have their kids diagnosed to begin with and have the energy and time to advocate for them。 It's definitely written with the assumption that the audience is fairly open-minded and progressive。Some good insights, but there are alao eyebrow-raising ones。 I guess my expectation is for members of a marginalized community to be especially thoughtful, considerate, and inclusive of other marginalized communities。Still an OK book, but not one I'd give to a sibling whose daughter looks obviously autistic to me but remains undiagnosed。 。。。more

akacya ♡̷̷ˎˊ

This is a book everybody should read。 I learned so much about the A/autistic community, what they (especially those who aren’t boys) go through, and how I can be a better ally。 It’s amazing that so many people collaborated to help make this book the best possible by giving different perspectives。Completed for 2021 Popsugar reading challenge; prompt #18—a book about a subject you are passionate about

Maria

—I received a complementary review copy of this book from Edelweiss+

Nic

Insightful

Lucas

One of the best books on autism I’ve ever read。

Jessica

“Therapies that value compliance and normalcy or sameness amongst peers are not respectful of your [client’s] dignity, individuality, and autonomy” (Lei Wiley-Mydske, “Change the World, Not Your Child,” p。 57)。 “Understand what acceptance really means。 It does not mean no supports or accommodations。 It does not mean no help or therapies。 Acceptance means you accept your [client’s] Autistic neurology as valid。 When we value Autistic and disabled lives, we understand that love and acceptance are c “Therapies that value compliance and normalcy or sameness amongst peers are not respectful of your [client’s] dignity, individuality, and autonomy” (Lei Wiley-Mydske, “Change the World, Not Your Child,” p。 57)。 “Understand what acceptance really means。 It does not mean no supports or accommodations。 It does not mean no help or therapies。 Acceptance means you accept your [client’s] Autistic neurology as valid。 When we value Autistic and disabled lives, we understand that love and acceptance are critical。 This idea is not controversial [in regards to] allistic children。 When it comes to Autistic lives, however, we get frightening messages that who we are is broken and that we need to be fixed。 Do not get caught up in those messages of fear。” (Lei Wiley-Mydske, “Change the World, Not Your Child”)“Autism has a coherence。 It’s certainly a different way of experiencing the world, but the problem and the disorder happens because non-autistic people aren’t listening to actual autistics。”- Karen Lean, “A Different Way of Being” 。。。more

Christian

This book hit me right in the heart。

Julie

A book for parents and teachers, as well as autistic girls and women。 Autism is different in girls, though many people's ideas about autistic children are based on how it appears in boys。 Girls are underdiagnosed, their needs often unmet at home and at school, rewarded for compliant behavior, and taught to squelch their natural interests and methods of communication。This book, written mostly by autistic women, provides guidance for parents on what their daughters need: love, acceptance, support, A book for parents and teachers, as well as autistic girls and women。 Autism is different in girls, though many people's ideas about autistic children are based on how it appears in boys。 Girls are underdiagnosed, their needs often unmet at home and at school, rewarded for compliant behavior, and taught to squelch their natural interests and methods of communication。This book, written mostly by autistic women, provides guidance for parents on what their daughters need: love, acceptance, support, and the freedom to become their best neurodivergent selves。 。。。more

Patience Virtue

This *is* the book I wish my parents had had when I was younger。 This is the book I wish every parent would read, those who are our parents, our friends parents, our relatives and teachers and neighbours。 This is the book I hope every autistic girl can get her hands on so they know they are not alone, they are not wrong, and we love them and have their backs。 This is a book I will be returning to again and again for affirmation and encouragement and love and support。 Autistic is beautiful。