I discovered this book whilst trying to educating myself on a condition that my neighbour's son has been diagnosed with; a boy who happens to be a good friend of my son who spends a lot of time at our house. I typed in 'autism' into our local online library catalogue and up came this little gem.
To begin with I would like to announce how much of an emotional ride this 'story' and version of events has been. Due to not being personally 'clued-up' on autism spectrum disorders, I do not know if I truly believe that those with autism can be 'cured' [without conducting further research and reading], but this is purely because I am a beginner in all of this. Those with more knowledge and experience may have more to say on this matter.
The book itself, Autism Breakthrough, is a concoction of easy to understand scientific facts mixed in with the every day occurrences and behaviour of those with autism. It is easy to read and understand and is aimed at any parent of an autistic child (of any age) who is at whits end with the same old suggestions that have been given by their GP or specialist.
The author himself, claimed to be a formerly-autistic individual who was 'cured' due to the hard work and perseverance for his parents, who have set up their own autism program called the Son-Rise Programme of the Autism Treatment Centre of America. Kaufman explains that rather than control autistic individuals and abide by strict routines, as suggested by conventional doctors, the best approach to a fulfilling life is to join in with the repetitive actions of the autistic child/individual in a bid to gain trust; but he doesn't stop there! He follows various principles and has techniques for behaviours that are faced by parents. He also explains the workings of the establishment itself and the awards and support that they have gained.
Whilst reading the last few pages of chapter seventeen, I felt a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I quote:
'You're a human being who loves your child. That's enough. As you endeavor to implement the tools and techniques in this book, be gentle with yourself ... If you feel discouraged or down or afraid sometimes, that's okay, too. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the horse.'
(Kaufman, 2014)
A truly, personal and heartwarming message. The author doesn't just write the book, he speaks out to his readers. As someone who is due to start university, I found the book to be a fantastic start to what may lead to more reading around the topic, even if it is aimed at parents and care givers.
A highly motivational book that I would happily suggest to those who care for an autistic individual - which I have done already! :-)
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