Robert Parish 
Embracing Autism [EPUB ebook] 
Connecting and Communicating with Children in the Autism Spectrum

‘The voices here confirm what I’ve always suspected: everyone is
part of one large continuum, and the approaches and insights
recounted here can help any parent, any educator, any person deal
with any child–or, for that matter, any other
person–more effectively and with more compassion. I only wish
I’d encountered earlier this cadre of experienced and caring
individuals whose humor and resourcefulness represent clearly how
best to love and nurture a child.’–Cynthia Nitz Ris, J.D.,
Ph.D., University of Cincinnati

Through sensitive, sometimes humorous, experienced-based writing
from teachers, clinicians, and parent activists in the Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community, this book will help educators
and others to better understand the world inhabited by ASD
children. The stories contained in the book will inspire and inform
readers who are working day-to-day with children in the autism
spectrum, providing valuable insights into what makes these kids
tick and useful information on how they communicate, learn, and
succeed.

Robert Parish (Cincinnati, OH) is an award-winning
journalist with four nationally broadcast public TV documentaries
about Autism Spectrum Disorders to his credit, as well as more than
100 digital video projects about ASD for the educational
market.

Table of Content

Acknowledgments xi

About the Editor xiii

About the Contributors xv

Foreword: The ‘Secret’ Key to Connection xix
by Susan Senator

Introduction xxiii
by Robert Parish

Chapter 1 My Journey with Jacob 1
by Diane Bayer

Chapter 2 Relating to ASD Children 15
by Arnold Miller

Chapter 3 Three Special Kids–No Apologies Necessary 22
by Kim Stagliano

Chapter 4 Patience–The Least Important ‘Super Power’ 31
by Kristin Kaifas-Tennyson

Chapter 5 North of the Border 49
by Gay and Dennis Debbaudt

Chapter 6 Getting to Know You 61
by Stephen Shore

Chapter 7 Life with Shawn 73
by Jeanne Lyons

Chapter 8 The Freedom to Be Odd 100
by Cammie Mc Govern

Chapter 9 Just a Little Autism 105
by Teresa Becerra

Chapter 10 Acceptance in Waves 118
by Robert Becerra

Chapter 11 Everyone Has a Chance to Grow 123
by Jackie Marquette

Chapter 12 Grass in the Wind 134
by Kristina Chew

Chapter 13 Now for Our Feature Presentation 139
by Robert Parish

Chapter 14 The Big Question 157

Resources 163

Index 167

About the author

The Editor

Robert Parish is an award-winning journalist with four nationally broadcast public TV documentaries about autism spectrum disorders to his credit. He has produced more than one hundred digital video projects about ASD for educational distribution and hosts a bimonthly program on Autism One Radio (www.autismone.org). Parish’s son Jack has been an inspiration to him, his family, and many others. Thousands visit his educational website each month at www.comebackjack.org.