Author: Norm Ledgin

Publishing Info: May 2002
Reviewed by Maureen Bennie
Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Norm Ledgin successfully puts to rest the negative connotations an Asperger’s diagnosis usually has. He’s devoted his literary energy into seeing the positive aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome. Society generally looks upon people with different or unusual traits as abnormal, but Ledgin sees the Asperger’s traits as great gifts. He uses famous role models to emphasize the point of what these unusual traits have contributed to society and have made us richer for it. 

Author: Teresa A. Cardon

Publishing Info: 2004

Reviewed by Maureen Bennie

Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Children with social cognitive deficits (SCD) have difficulty identifying emotions in other people and themselves. Author Teresa Cardon, director of the Speech and Language Department at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, has put together activities to teach emotions and empathy. The activities, aimed at ages 3 – 18, are designed to help those with Asperger Syndrome, high functioning autism, and non-verbal learning disability. Children with these diagnoses do not read non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, tone and voice inflections. Since 90% of communication is non-verbal, it is easy to see why these children do not read other people’s emotions. This deficit results in these children being labeled as rude, at risk for false friendships because they don’t see when they are being taken advantage of, and are thought to have a lack of empathy because they do not interpret the words and actions of others. They also have difficulty understanding their own emotions. Their nonchalant attitude makes them seem outwardly defiant and disrespectful which stems from having missed or misinterpreted the non-verbal cues.

Author: Lori Ernsperger, Tania Stegen-Hanson

Publishing Info: March 2004

Reviewed by Maureen Bennie

Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc. 

One of the common complaints from parents of children with autism spectrum disorders is their children have picky eating habits. Some children eat only a few foods or foods from only two food groups such as meat and grains/carbohydrates, others refuse to try anything new, and some go on food jags eating the same food in the same manner over long periods of time. Parents are bewildered what to do; they worry about their child’s nutrition, health and development.

Author: Kathy Labosh\

Publishing Info: 2004

Reviewed by Maureen Bennie

Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.  

A handy, easy to read booklet with tips on how to make community outings run more smoothly. Full of detailed, helpful hints, you'll find advice on going to the playground, movie theater, mall, grocery store, doctor and more! The Child with Autism Goes to Town By Kathy Labosh, Labosh Publishing 2004 

Author: Michelle A. Dunn, Ph.D.

Publishing Info: November 2005

Reviewed by Maureen Bennie

Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Individuals on the autism spectrum have social deficits which affect their ability to interact with peers, converse, and make friends. Because our children spend most of their day at school, social skills need to be addressed in the school setting. Michelle Dunn's new book S.O.S. Social Skills In Our Schools is a social skills curriculum designed for verbal children on the spectrum in grades 1 to 6 and their typical peers. This is a program the entire school follows. Including typical peers in a social skills program is critical to developing fairness, tolerance and fostering initiation to children with ASD. Inclusion and understanding reduces the risk of bullying and teasing.

Author: Laurie Eckenrode, Pat Fennell, and Kathy Hearsay 
Pubishing Info: July 2004
Reviewed by Maureen Bennie
Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Tasks Galore for the Real World teaches domestic, vocational, and other independent living skills to the adolescent and young adult. Applicable to home, school, community and training sites, this book uses a functional approach to tasks. Tasks are created using multi-modal presentations, which use visual, tactile and motor movement...

Author: Brenda Smith Myles, Melissa L. Trautman, and Ronda L. Schelvan; Foreword by: Michelle Garcia Winner
Publishing Info: 2004
Reviewed by Maureen Bennie
Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

The Hidden Curriculum: Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations is a book about the hidden social curriculum that occurs in everyday situations at home, school, and in the community. What is the hidden curriculum? It is items that impact social interaction, school performance and safety. It includes the use of idioms, metaphors and slang. Neurotypical children learn this curriculum with little effort through social observation or subtle cues such as body language. Most children know to raise their hand in class before they speak, to wait their turn at the water fountain, to listen when someone else is talking.

Author: Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
Publishing Info: 2003
Reviewed by Maureen Bennie
Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

The world was first introduced to Tito last year on a 60 Minutes segment. He wowed viewers with his remarkable talents and abilities. Tito is no ordinary boy – he has autism and is able to articulate quite well what it is like to live in the autistic world. His book The Mind Tree was just released in Canada this fall.

Reviewed by Maureen Bennie
Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Music can be a powerful tool for helping children who are experiencing sensory integration dysfunction. It can help with self-regulation, body awareness, and alertness as well as relaxation. Its rhythms, melodies and harmonies can focus attention and calm the mind. Australian occupational therapist Genevieve Jereb has created two CD’s entitled Say G’Day and Cool Bananas that are favorites for young children...

Author: Glenda Fuge and Rebecca Berry
Publishing Info: 2004

Reviewed by Maureen Bennie
Director, Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

Authors Rebecca Berry, a physical therapist, and Glenda Fuge, an occupational therapist, have created Pathways to Play - 40 activities for children ages 4 to 12 that explore sensory integration strategies within the context of the Integrated Play Group, created by Pamela Wolfberg. Integrated play groups of three to five children include typical peers who are the expert players and a child with autism spectrum disorder.