Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People with Autism, and Professionals Share Their Wisdom

In this book I was so pleased to read about other people being married to a person with autism. They talk about how the spouse with autism did many things that they didn't understand but they still stayed in the marriage and I feel that is because being married to a person with autism is being married to a very unique and caring person.I have survived 49 years of life with autism.In this book I read so much that was similar to my own life. I highly praise the people who have helped and got so deeply involved with the children with autism. I unfortunately never had that kind of help when I was a child. All the stories in this book should be read by anyone who wants to understand the beauty of autism.

good book!

This book is a great idea... parents, grandparents, siblings, people with autism, and professionals share their wisdom... or at least their feelings and memories. Admittedly wisdom sounds much better.I would recommend this book to anyone apart from myself... it is useful and relevant and with over 60 personal accounts from a diverse range of people it is a handy and good value guide to the range of perspectives that can be found on this subject... but it just wasn't my thing. Strictly speaking I avoid books written by parents of kids on the spectrum. As an adult with Asperger syndrome who can remember what it was like to be a kid with Asperger syndrome, most parents attitudes just make me cringe.It's not that I don't think what they have to say is valid, it's just if they don't make me nauseous with their saccharin sweet melodrama they usually offend me with their subtle and misguided bigotry. I have to say though, most of the ones in this book weren't that bad, but it is still not my first choice of reading matter.I was always going to be a tough audience to appeal to for this book, which is 60% from the family's perspective, 22% from a professional perspective, and just 18% from an autistic perspective. Overall though it was sensitively and thoughtfully done, so even though this was just a 3 star experience for me, it gets a recommendation of 4.

We have climbed that mountain and seen the valley...from up high, you get a wonderful panoramic view. I want everybody to join us on this mountain and lift up your voices and shout about autism!Shout about the challenges of having autism; living with someone who has it or about the reaction that those uninformed about autism express. Shout out a celebration of having autism as well because people with autism make life much more interesting. Shout about the injustices towards those with autism and stupid prejudices about autism such as that tired "R*** M***" (which is a slur in the autism world) cliche. Shout out about what autism means to you personally. Do an autism dance if you need to. Add your voice and be heard!This is an excellent book. Relatives of people with autism as well as professionals get to add their voices to the chorus about autism and its affect on people at large. Readers get treated to the personal insights of those who contributed to this wonderful book.This is a book that I feel everybody will benefit from and come away with a larger store of tolerance and acceptance of autism. I like the wide range of voices and experiences that are heard and shared in this book. That makes for a richer chorus. As for adults with Asperger's, make this book a new friend and join in the Mountain Top Chorus!

This book gives a great view of autism as a spectrum from parents, siblings, gandparents, providers, and from ASD individuals themselves. Their collective experience moves as much as it educates. The editors have selected these essays not to elicit pity, but understanding for what it means to be on the spectrum or love and care for somebody who is autistic.There are plenty of myths about what it means to be on the autism spectrum; Naseef, Ariel, and their cadre of writers dispel the conjecture and illuminate the truth.

Reading Voices from the Spectrum was like talking with friends who knew and loved my son. The Autism spectrum is so varied, but the majority of entries had something I could relate to. While reading I started taking notes, I found new ways to explain my sons' needs, in IEP meetings as well as to friends and relatives. I highlighted supports to implement and ideas for his future. From sibling entries I gained an added appreciation for how my other children might be feeling.There are many books on the Autism Spectrum with valuable facts and research information, but this is the only one I've found written by people who actually live the facts and research.

There are many great resources directed at families and now, more than ever, there are many choices for those on the spectrum. In this book, we have a bit of both-- this resource is appropriate for many different audiences and allows the reader to learn from many who are connected to life with autism. This is an excellent choice for "introducing" someone to autism but also for those who are well versed but want to expand their understanding.

After reading Voices from the Spectrum, I purchased 20 copies for each member of our Board of Trustees. Their uniform response was, "I never realized that. . . ." The public needs to be educated and informed about the effect of ASD on various members of society, and this book depicts that very well. Thanks to the editors for presenting such comprehensive, varied experiences.