The best books and DVDs on autism,
Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Asperger's Disorder. To suggest a book,
email us.
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Could It Be Autism?: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps
by Nancy Wiseman
tells you how to find out if your child is developmentally delayed as early as
four months of age. The book provides checklists, discusses screening tests, and, if
your child has
autism, tells you how to design an effective treatment program to help
him reach
his potential. Wiseman says action is better than "wait and see."
Overcoming Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform
a Child's Life by
Lynn Koegel Ph.D. (who was featured on The Supernanny) and Claire LaZebnik. Teaches how to use behavior modification,
from both a clinician's and a parent's perspective. Koegel uses a form of
behavior treatment called Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). PRT targets certain
pivotal skills, such as motivation, that affect development in
many other areas.
Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew. Ellen Notbohm,
parent and autism columnist, expands on her popular article that
swept email groups several years ago. This book seeks to empower
parents, encourage them to trust their instincts, and find
balance in their lives. Uplifting book, with lots of practical
advice from a parent who's "been there."
Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues by Maria Wheeler. Children
with autism and PDD can be especially hard to toilet train. This popular guide has
many
tips and examples of how to teach children, through repetition, rewards,
picture schedules and reducing sensory problems.
New edition
Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reason for Hope and Guidance for Help
by Lynn M. Hamilton. Hamilton, whose son essentially recovered from
autism, summarizes information on Applied Behavior Analysis, special
diets, vitamins and biomedical treatments. A great first book for
parents of young children who don't know where to start. Good index of
resources.
The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet.
A popular book by two Defeat Autism Now practitioners,
developmental pediatrician Pamela Compart M.D. and nutritionist Dana
Laake. Advice for feeding picky eaters, and a good
explanation of how and why the diet can work. Recipes include information on calories, protein, fiber, etc.,
per serving.
Special Diets for
Special Kids Two by Lisa Lewis Ph.D. A sequel to her first book (above) with more than
175 new gluten-free, casein-free recipes for peanut butter bread, bananaberry shake, oven
fries, barbequed chicken pie and other foods that kids will eat.
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders
by Kenneth Bock M.D. and Cameron Stauth. They say that a child's genetics "load the gun,
and environment pulls the trigger." Environmental assaults on the developing
immune system may include heavy metals, viruses, vaccines and poor nutrition.
Dr. Bock uses a detective approach in presenting case studies. Broader in scope
than Children with Starving Brains, with a focus on allergies and other
conditions.
Enzymes for
Autism and other Neurological Conditions. Author/parent Karen L. DeFelice
discusses the role of enzymes in helping people with autism digest foods that create
problems for them. Many parents use enzymes in addition to a gluten-free, milk-free diet,
while some use them instead of the diet.
Updated edition
Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Specrum Disorderby Jacquelyn McCandless M.D. Outlines treatments based on the theory that autism
is a biomedical illness resulting in brain malnutrition. Genetics, in combination with
exposure to pesticides and heavy metals in vaccines, can lead to immune system problems,
gut dysfunction, and yeast and viral infections, says Dr. McCandless. Easy-to-read, for a medical book.
Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians
by Bryan Jepson M.D. with Jane Johnson. Foreward by Katie Wright, whose parents
founded Autism Speaks. Discusses immune system and detoxification problems in
autism, brain inflammation, the effect of mercury, and autism as an
environmental illness. Dr. Jepson is medical director of Thoughtful House,
an autism research and treatment center in Texas. "Changing the Course of
Autism was written with physicians in mind. It contains over 50 pages of
references to published scientific studies supporting the information and
treatment options provided by Dr. Jepson," said Unlocking Autism, which asked
parents to buy the book for their pediatricians.
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Sourcebook
edited by Sandra J. Judd. An easy-to-read guide to getting an autism diagnosis,
assessments, educational methods, behavioral interventions, the effect
on family life, adolescence, handling dental visits, safety tips, IEPs,
and more. AutismWeb.com was a minor contributor to a section on TEACCH.
Pervasive Developmental
Disorder: An Altered Perspective by Barbara Quinn and Anthony Malone. "Written
principally for parents, this is a book which explains what it means for your child to be
diagnosed with PDD-NOS, autism or Asperger Syndrome, and where you go from there. The
authors describe the symptoms of PDD, what a diagnosis means, how a child fits into the
diagnostic terminology and the diagnostic procedures involved."
Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin, an animal
scientist who has autism, offers fascinating
insights into how she thinks and sees the world: "Language and words
are alien ways of thinking for me. All my thoughts are like playing different tapes in the
videocassette recorder in my imagination."
Emergence: Labeled Autistic
tells the true story of Dr. Grandin's transformation from an anxious,
isolated child to a highly successful professional.
Parent
Survival Manual: A Guide to Crisis Resolution in Autism and Related Developmental
Disorders, edited by Eric Schopler, Ph.D., founder, Division TEACCH at University of
North Carolina. The TEACCH method is used in many schools. Based on interviews with
parents and behavioral experts, this book provides solutions to common problems
involving aggression, communication, hygiene, social skills, eating, and sleep.
Let Me Hear Your Voice:
A Family's Triumph Over Autism by Catherine Maurice. Maurice writes a personal and
emotional account about discovering that two of her children had autism and how both
children recovered through ABA therapy. Though the experience of recovery is not
universal, her book is a powerful testimony to the benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Behavioral
Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals,
edited by Catherine Maurice, Gina Green and Stephen C. Luce. An excellent how-to manual
for families starting a home teaching program using Applied Behavior Analysis.
Includes a chapter on how to pay for ABA, which can be costly, and samples of data
collection sheets and programs.
Right from the Start: Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with
Autism
by Sandra L. Harris and Mary Jane Weiss, ABA experts at Rutgers. A guide
to Applied Behavioral Analysis methods and how they can be used to teach
speech, language, social skills and self-help skills through repetition and
rewards. Harris and Weiss help parents evaluate school programs, home ABA
and center-based ABA.
New, updated edition
Educate Toward Recovery: Turning the Tables on Autism
by Robert Schramm, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. This book
is an easy-to-read teaching manual for parents who are new to
the concepts and "language" of Verbal Behavior therapy. He includes information on
children who don't respond to conventional ABA methods, and on
how VB can be used along with the Relationship Development
Intervention method.
Triumphs in Early Autism Treatment,
edited by Ennio Cipani PhD, documents the cases of seven
children who achieved "best outcomes" (being indistinguishable
from other kids) after ABA. All ABA isn't equal, nor is ABA a
guarantee of reaching best outcomes, but this 2008 book helps a
parent see what an excellent ABA program should look
like.
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide.
A must-read for every parent trying to get the best program possible
from the school system. Lawyer Peter Wright and psychotherapist Pamela
Wright explain special education law, how to interpret and and use test
scores, how to write letters to school officials, and how to be an
effective advocate. Easy to understand.
The National Research Council has published Educating Children with Autism, which identifies the
characteristics of an effective educational program and ways to better prepare teachers,
schools and parents to teach children with autism and PDD.
Examines the research and claims behind the most popular teaching methods.
Baby Babble - Speech-Enhancing DVD for Babies and Toddlers.
Created by speech pathologists, this DVD uses sign language, facial exercises,
and speech sounds and words to promote speech development in babies, late
talkers and kids with delays.
Bee Smart
Baby Vocabulary Builder videos on VHS and DVD. Five volumes.
Words are introduced through simple scenes that show different types of the object being
taught. Great for children with speech delays due to autism, PDD or other causes.
Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew
by popular author Ellen Notbohm.
"Chapter
One, 'Learning is Circular,' all the way through chapter ten,
'Teach Me How to Fish,' fills those of us who love someone with
autism with hope and encouragement. We can do this," says Nancy
Cale of Unlocking Autism.
Model Me Kids: Videos For Modeling Social Skills. Time For School DVD features a child narrator and elementary
school children modeling conversation and behavior at school. Topics include
saying hello, listening to the teacher, showing interest in others and playground
behavior. Time for a Playdate DVD shows how to greet your guest, talk about a topic and more. A second-grader with
ASD loved this DVD. Model Me Kids also has DVDs for teens, teaching
manuals, and student workbooks.
The Autism
Social Skills Picture Book by Jed Baker Ph.D. A
great book for elementary and
middle schoolers, it teaches skills such as how to maintain and end a conversation,
how to greet someone, how to interrupt someone, how to accept "no" for an
answer, and what to do when feeling frustrated by an assignment. Kids will like the photos
showing the right and wrong ways of handling common social situations.
Autism/Aspergers: Solving the Relationship Puzzle by Dr. Steven E.
Gutstein. Psychologist Gutstein sought to discover why children with
autism lack the social skills that come so easily to others. The result
is his Relationship Development Intervention program for teaching social
skills.
The New Social Stories: Illustrated Edition by Carol Gray. Gray
helps parents and teachers write stories that help children with autism,
PDD and Asperger's to better understand how to act in different social
situations. Includes stories to help children learn to give a gift, use
the phone, eat new foods, play quietly, ride the bus and eat in
restaurants. You can adapt them to meet your child's needs.
Do-Watch-Listen-Say:
Social and Communication Intervention for Children with Autism. Kathleen Ann Quill "presents educators, clinicians, and parents
with a guide to assessment and intervention ... along with hundreds of creative ideas to
promote social and communication skills." Includes guidelines for designing
intervention plans and forms for collecting data.
Join In and
Play and other children's books by Cheri J. Meiners are for
kids who need help with social skills. They explain what children should do and
say in common social situations. Other books in this series include Listen and
Learn, Understand
and Care and Be Polite and
Kind. Siblings will like these books too.
The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by
Carol Kranowitz. Does your child spin, fear swings or refuse to eat certain textures of
food? This popular book explains sensory integration dysfunction in children who may or
may not have another diagnosis. Includes suggestions for sensory experiences you can
provide at home to help your child learn to regulate his senses. Also comes in a
DVD version.
The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz.
A companion to her first book, this edition includes many ideas for parents who
want fun and educational activities for a child with sensory problems. Siblings
may enjoy these activities, too. Includes "recipes" for fun activities (such as
Shaving Cream Car Wash or Paper Bag Kick Ball) for various ages and sensory
systems.
Autism
Through a Sister's Eyes: A Young Girl's View of Her Brother's Autism by Eve Band Ph.D.
and Emily Hecht. Dr. Band, a psychologist, writes this book in the voice of Emily, a real
fifth-grader who explores her questions about autism and her feelings about her brother
with high-functioning autism.
The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone With Autism by
Ellen Sabin. An interactive and character-building book about the
challenges of autism. It focuses on respecting everybody's differences
and treating others the way you would want to be treated. For ages 9 to 12.
Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
by Cynthia Lord. A wonderful book about a 12-year-old girl who feels mixed
emotions about her autistic brother and the amount of attention she gets
from their parents. She creates rules for her brother to follow to help him
conform, but eventually comes to a realization about the nature of "normal"
and acceptance. For ages 9 to 12.
AutismWeb ™
y Nancy Wiseman
tells you how to find out if your child is developmentally delayed as early as
four months of age. The book provides checklists, discusses screening tests, and, if
your child has
autism, tells you how to design an effective treatment program to help
him reach
his potential. Wiseman says action is better than "wait and see." 
by
Lynn Koegel Ph.D. (who was featured on The Supernanny) and Claire LaZebnik. Teaches how to use behavior modification,
from both a clinician's and a parent's perspective. Koegel uses a form of
behavior treatment called Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). PRT targets certain
pivotal skills, such as motivation, that affect development in
many other areas.
. Ellen Notbohm,
parent and autism columnist, expands on her popular article that
swept email groups several years ago. This book seeks to empower
parents, encourage them to trust their instincts, and find
balance in their lives. Uplifting book, with lots of practical
advice from a parent who's "been there."
by Maria Wheeler. Children
with autism and PDD can be especially hard to toilet train. This popular guide has
many
tips and examples of how to teach children, through repetition, rewards,
picture schedules and reducing sensory problems. 
.
A popular book by two Defeat Autism Now practitioners,
developmental pediatrician Pamela Compart M.D. and nutritionist Dana
Laake. Advice for feeding picky eaters, and a good
explanation of how and why the diet can work. Recipes include information on calories, protein, fiber, etc.,
per serving.
by Kenneth Bock M.D. and Cameron Stauth. They say that a child's genetics "load the gun,
and environment pulls the trigger." Environmental assaults on the developing
immune system may include heavy metals, viruses, vaccines and poor nutrition.
Dr. Bock uses a detective approach in presenting case studies. Broader in scope
than Children with Starving Brains, with a focus on allergies and other
conditions.
by J
by Bryan Jepson M.D. with Jane Johnson. Foreward by Katie Wright, whose parents
founded Autism Speaks. Discusses immune system and detoxification problems in
autism, brain inflammation, the effect of mercury, and autism as an
environmental illness. Dr. Jepson is medical director of Thoughtful House,
an autism research and treatment center in Texas. "Changing the Course of
Autism was written with physicians in mind. It contains over 50 pages of
references to published scientific studies supporting the information and
treatment options provided by Dr. Jepson," said Unlocking Autism, which asked
parents to buy the book for their pediatricians.
by Stephanie Cave M.D. with Deborah Mitchell. Dr. Cave discusses the risks and
benefits of each vaccine, and recommends steps to take to immunize your child as
safely as possible.
by Ellen Notbohm and Veronica Zysk. Practical tips and strategies for
helping a child with his learning problems, sensory integration,
communication, behavior and social skills. Books by Notbohm (author of
by Patricia Bashe and Barbara Kirby. One the of best books on Asperger's,
from the founder of the popular Asperger web site.
edited by Sandra J. Judd. An easy-to-read guide to getting an autism diagnosis,
assessments, educational methods, behavioral interventions, the effect
on family life, adolescence, handling dental visits, safety tips, IEPs,
and more. AutismWeb.com was a minor contributor to a section on TEACCH.
by Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin, an animal
scientist who has autism, offers fascinating
insights into how she thinks and sees the world: "Language and words
are alien ways of thinking for me. All my thoughts are like playing different tapes in the
videocassette recorder in my imagination."
tells the true story of Dr. Grandin's transformation from an anxious,
isolated child to a highly successful professional.
by Sandra L. Harris and Mary Jane Weiss, ABA experts at Rutgers. A guide
to Applied Behavioral Analysis methods and how they can be used to teach
speech, language, social skills and self-help skills through repetition and
rewards. Harris and Weiss help parents evaluate school programs, home ABA
and center-based ABA.
New, updated edition
by Mary Lynch Barbera, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and
parent of a child with autism, and Tracy Rasmussen. One of the
few parent-oriented books about using Verbal Behavior to teach
communication, speech, self-help skills, potty-training and
more.
by Robert Schramm, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. This book
is an easy-to-read teaching manual for parents who are new to
the concepts and "language" of Verbal Behavior therapy. He includes information on
children who don't respond to conventional ABA methods, and on
how VB can be used along with the Relationship Development
Intervention method.
,
edited by Ennio Cipani PhD, documents the cases of seven
children who achieved "best outcomes" (being indistinguishable
from other kids) after ABA. All ABA isn't equal, nor is ABA a
guarantee of reaching best outcomes, but this 2008 book helps a
parent see what an excellent ABA program should look
like.
.
A must-read for every parent trying to get the best program possible
from the school system. Lawyer Peter Wright and psychotherapist Pamela
Wright explain special education law, how to interpret and and use test
scores, how to write letters to school officials, and how to be an
effective advocate. Easy to understand.
, which identifies the
characteristics of an effective educational program and ways to better prepare teachers,
schools and parents to teach children with autism and PDD.
Examines the research and claims behind the most popular teaching methods.
by Diane Twachtman-Cullen Ph.D. and Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly. This book
helps parents make sure their children with autism have measurable goals
and objectives, key to an effective Individual Education Plan at school.
.
Created by speech pathologists, this DVD uses sign language, facial exercises,
and speech sounds and words to promote speech development in babies, late
talkers and kids with delays.
.
Stanley Greenspan M.D. and Serena Wieder Ph.D. discuss the use of "Floortime,"
a way of playing with a young child that teaches social interaction and
communication, and encourage a broader view of autism than traditionally
used.
by popular author Ellen Notbohm.
by
Carol Kranowitz. Does your child spin, fear swings or refuse to eat certain textures of
food? This popular book explains sensory integration dysfunction in children who may or
may not have another diagnosis. Includes suggestions for sensory experiences you can
provide at home to help your child learn to regulate his senses. Also comes in a
by Carol Kranowitz.
A companion to her first book, this edition includes many ideas for parents who
want fun and educational activities for a child with sensory problems. Siblings
may enjoy these activities, too. Includes "recipes" for fun activities (such as
Shaving Cream Car Wash or Paper Bag Kick Ball) for various ages and sensory
systems.
by Julia Moor. Contains lots
of ideas for how to use play to help your child, focus his
attention, handle sensory problems, and, importantly, have fun. This
updated edition includes advice on using the internet and digital
cameras to make resources and for activities.
.
The author, art therapist Fiona Bleach, promotes acceptance of autism. For ages
4 to 8. 
by Jude Welton, illustrated by Jane Telford. A boy named Adam, who has Asperger Syndrome, explains AS to his friends from his point of view. For
children ages 7 to 15.
by
Ellen Sabin. An interactive and character-building book about the
challenges of autism. It focuses on respecting everybody's differences
and treating others the way you would want to be treated. For ages 9 to 12.
by Cynthia Lord. A wonderful book about a 12-year-old girl who feels mixed
emotions about her autistic brother and the amount of attention she gets
from their parents. She creates rules for her brother to follow to help him
conform, but eventually comes to a realization about the nature of "normal"
and acceptance. For ages 9 to 12.