Understanding Autism For Dummies [Paperback]

Autism affects more than 1 million children and adults in the United States, and parents may be confused by the behavior of autistic children. This book provides help-and hope-by explaining the differences between various types of autism and delivering the lowdown on behavioral, educational, medical, other interventions. Featuring inspiring autism success stories as well as a list of organizations where people who support those with autism can go for additional help, it offers practical advice on how to educate children as well as insights on helping people with autism use their strengths to maximize their potential in life.

Stephen Shore, EdD (Brookline MA), serves on the board for several autism spectrum-related organizations and he has written Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (1-931282-00-5) and edited Ask and Tell: Self Advocacy and Disclosure For People on the Autism Spectrum (1-931282-58-7).
Linda G. Rastelli (Middletown, NJ) is a veteran journalist who specializes in health and business.
Temple Grandin, PhD (Fort Collins, CO) is the author of the bestselling Thinking in Pictures (0-679-77289-8) and Emergence: Labeled Autistic (0-446-67182-7).

Foreword xvii

Introduction 1

Part I: Understanding Autism 9

Chapter 1: Autism: The Big Picture 11

Chapter 2: From Classification to Treatment: Scanning the Autism Spectrum 27

Chapter 3: Causes, Clusters, and Clues: Where Does Autism Come From? 39

Chapter 4: Getting a Diagnosis 53

Chapter 5: Asperger Syndrome and Autism 71

Part II: Addressing Physical Needs 93

Chapter 6: Injecting Yourself with Knlƒ]