Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore

NEW! From the makers of the 4 book TASKS GALORE series!

2010-03-30T11:23:00.004-04:00

NEW! From the makers of the 4 book TASKS GALORE series comes this new book on literacy enhancement!

We are excited to introduce to you the newest title published by our friends at Tasks Galore, Literacy Enhancement Strategies by Thomas Daly.
This book’s premise is that students with high functioning autism typically have deficits in perspective taking and interpreting others’ emotions and these deficits lead to deficits in reading comprehension. To promote gains in both social and reading comprehension the author has devised lesson plans that work on both simultaneously. This book’s lesson plans are also built on the foundation of instructional methods found in research-based interventions like TEACCH. These methods include, predictable expectations for group discussion, use of visual strategies and consistent routines. Each lesson includes Goals, Teacher Directions, Tasks, Discussion Topics and Handouts. This straightforward book is useful for both teachers and therapists in a variety of settings and grade levels. A CD is also enclosed with all of the reproducible handouts. (Softcover; 157 pages)

This book is now available on our website www.autismbookstore.com and comes highly recommended to therapists and teachers, both in inclusive and autism only settings.

When you buy from us you help people on the spectrum!

March 2010 Top 10 Bestsellers

2010-03-30T11:14:00.002-04:00

March 2010 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

February's Top 10 Best Sellers!!!

2010-02-24T13:16:00.007-05:00

February 2010 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Books on autism make great Holiday gifts!

2009-12-03T14:23:00.002-05:00

There are 1000's of books these days about autism, from children's stories, to teenage novels, to informational materials on how to teach your child with autism, to personal accounts written by adults on the autism spectrum. The variety is endless! There are so many books to choose from that the Autism Society of NC Bookstore has put together a list of the Top 16 Books to give as gifts this holiday season. I've categorized them by recipient to make it even easier to find the right book for the right person on your list!

For children:
* Accept and Value Each Person
* You Are A Social Detective!

For middle-schoolers:
*Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
*Al Capone Does My Shirts
*Rules

For High-Schoolers:
*Integrated Self-Advocacy ISA Curriculum
*Wild Orchid

For Adults on the Spectrum:
*Animals In Translation
*Look Me In the Eye

For Parents and other family members:
*Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum
*A Friend Like Henry
*Voices from the Spectrum

For Professionals:
*Beyond the Autism Diagnosis
*Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome

To Make Anyone Smile (Coffee Books):
*Autism Heroes
*All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome

Now as a special treat for getting all the way through this blog post I want to let you know that the ASNC Bookstore is offering a 10% discount on all online purchases made from now through Jan. 1st 2010! Just use the coupon code HOLIDAY09 during checkout! HAPPY HOLIDAYS and happy shopping!

~Melanie Adams-Borgen
ASNC Booksore Manager

2009-11-19T14:47:00.001-05:00

Do you think your child's teacher, mentor, grandparent, or doctor could benefit from reading more about autism? Not sure which book would suite their needs best? We've got the perfect gift, ASNC Bookstore Gift Certificates! Give them a gift certificate this holiday season and let them choose an autism title from our website: www.autismbookstore.com

An ASNC Bookstore gift certificate makes a great gift for birthdays, holidays, teacher appreciation day, grandparents’ appreciation day and many other special occasions happening throughout the year. In fact, a gift certificate makes the perfect gift for anyone who loves someone with autism no matter the occasion.

The ASNC Bookstore supplies nearly 600 outstanding and award-winning resources on a wide variety of topics related to autism, and we provide personalized service by telephone (1-800-442-2762) or email (books@autismsociety-nc.org).

I hope you have a great holiday season!

~Melanie Adams-Borgen, ASNC Bookstore Manager

Fall Bestsellers!

2009-11-17T09:16:00.006-05:00

Fall 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week

2009-10-06T09:17:00.015-04:00

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is October 4th-10th, 2009!
In honor of this week we are spotlighting those books that we carry on the important topic of bullying prevention. All of the books featured in this blog posting will be on sale at a discount of 10% for the whole month of October. Please make your purchase through our secure website:www.autismbookstore.com to take advantage of the discount.

As always, full descriptions of these titles can be found on our website. You can find them all easily by visiting our Education/Bullying Page!

Five informative books on bullying prevention:

Asperger Syndrome and Bullying: Strategies and Solutions

Nick Dubin is able to do what many authors are not able to do when writing about bullying; he is able to bring a lifetime of personal experiences to the reader. Dubin was not diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS) until he was an adult, but he knew his differences made him stand out and made him a target for bullies throughout his childhood, not only by other children, but by adults as well. In this book, Dubin discloses reasons why individuals with AS become victims, and how to understand the motives of a bully. Dubin takes a pro-active role in bullying prevention by teaching how to empower not only victims, but teachers and bystanders as well. Dubin's plan of attack does not stop there, however; he also writes about empowering parents and entire schools by creating a system of support that helps protect all individuals. The reader will find strategies for persons with AS, as well as programs for classrooms and schools based on behavioral and biological research, bullying program results, and the current literature. A section on Internet resources as well as a "frequently asked questions" section concludes the book. Dubin's DVD, Being Bullied, is also a great companion video to this book.

Being Bullied: Strategies and Solutions for People with Asperger's Syndrome (DVD)

This DVD is based on a presentation by Nick Dubin on the effects of bullying in school on children with Asperger Syndrome (AS). His presentation is primarily aimed at teachers and administrators, in order to give them ideas on the steps they can take to minimize the incidence of bullying in their schools. He provides sobering statistics on the number of children bullied each year, and he also offers constructive, encouraging advice on how to break down the culture of "bystander apathy." In addition, he introduces strategies for empowering the bullied child as well as the bully, so they can utilize their energy for more constructive purposes. His presentation is interspersed with clips of people with AS giving their thoughts on how bullying has affected their lives.

Gray's Guide to Bullying

This issue of the Jenison Autism Journal is devoted to awareness and information to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deal with circumstances in which they encounter bullying. The author, an internationally known educator and the creator of the Social Storiesï¿½ method, published a series of three articles in response to numerous questions she received about helping children with ASD who are bullied in various situations. This issue combines those articles on ASD and bullying into one useful guide that can be used by adults who live and work with children who have ASD. Article I provides the basics about bullying, ranging from the current definition to roles of participants and categories of bullying. Article II describes ten practical solutions that have been developed to effectively decrease bullying. Article III is a guide and student workbook on how to handle a bullying attempt. All three articles provide valuable strategies and resources to help parents, teachers, and caregivers decrease bullying in the life of the child with ASD by raising awareness, fostering self-esteem, and making the child his/ her own best advocate.

Nobody Knew What To Do: A Story About Bullying

This beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the story of how one student gained the courage to deal with bullying. The classmate of a boy named Ray narrates the story. Ray is frequently the target of bullying. The other students don’t like it, but they are afraid to inform their teachers. One day, after having been beaten up the day before, Ray does not come back to school. The classmate hears the bullies talking about their future plans for Ray, and he gains the courage to tell his teacher. When Ray returns to school, the teacher and principal intervene, and the classmate tells of his pride in learning to stop bullies by working together with others. On the last page of the book, there are bullying prevention tips for educators and parents. For readers ages 4-8.

Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying

This is a unique book that fills a gap in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) literature. As the author notes, children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS) have a lack of social understanding that can lead to bullying by their classmates. These children are not only hurt emotionally and sometimes physically, but they are also deeply confused because they cannot make the distinction between manipulation and friendliness. This practical resource examines the social phenomenon of bullying and the social challenges and needs of children with AS. The author provides many insights and effective strategies for creating a bullying prevention program, and she also discusses specific environmental factors that foster bullying behaviors. The book also includes a chapter that offers a variety of personal perspectives on the subject. Written for parents and professionals, this book focuses on a whole-school approach to bullying prevention that involves administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

Also check out our books on Friendship:

Accept and Value Each Person

Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book

Autism Acceptance Book: Being A Friend to Someone With Autism

Martian in the Playground

And our books on Self-Advocacy:

Ask and Tell

The Integrated Self-Advocacy ISA Curriculum

Do You Understand Me?

Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome?

As always, our bookstore staff is here to help you. Fell free to call us anytime with questions or comments. 919-743-0204. Have a great October!

Any Amazing Race fans out there?

2009-09-23T11:29:00.002-04:00

I am an avid fan of The Amazing Race, the reality show where several teams of two contestants each compete in a race around the world for a grand prize of $1 million. If you are a fan too, you will be glad to know that the new season, which begins this Sunday, includes a contestant with Asperger syndrome. In an interview on DisabilityScoop.com, Zev Glassenberg, 26, admits that he finds the idea of the social interactions with other teams and others that must take place during the race overwhelming, but he knows that having his longtime friend, Justin Kanew, 30, along will be a big help. Good luck, Zev and Justin!

Summer Bestsellers

2009-08-26T15:48:00.005-04:00

Summer 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Who Wants to Go to the Movies?

2009-08-26T11:41:00.002-04:00

An interesting movie is opening this Friday, Aug. 28, in Raleigh. It's called Adam, and it's about a young man with Asperger's syndrome who meets a young lady. A tentative romance blooms between the two as Adam ventures out of his comfort zone. According to Moviefone, critics have given the movie an average of four stars out of five. And it's nice to see that this movie is playing at the larger theaters, giving it a wider audience than the art houses could have.

May Top Ten Bestsellers

2009-06-08T11:17:00.004-04:00

May 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

April 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

2009-04-30T14:09:00.002-04:00

April 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

10% off in April!

2009-04-20T11:09:00.002-04:00

In celebration of Autism Awareness Month the bookstore would like to offer you 10% off every purchase between now and April 30th! All you have to do is purchase online and use coupon code: AAM2009. You can also check out the ASNC page for more information on other Autism Awareness Month activities.

ASNC Annual Conference 2009

2009-03-24T16:13:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again! The bookstore will be traveling to the ASNC Annual Conference, held this year at the Sheraton Hotel in Chapel Hill, NC. The bookstore will be open Friday 3/27 for pre-conference attendees from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m-8:30 p.m. that evening. On Saturday 3/28 we will be open from 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with speaker Valerie Paradiz signing copies of her book Elijah's Cup during the afternoon break.

We will have a large selection of books available, and all of our staff* will be available to help you, so please, feel free to stop by!

*Since we will all be at the conference, the physical bookstore will be closed Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.

Verbal Behavior Author has a Radio Show

2009-03-09T10:33:00.004-04:00

The Author of "Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders," Mary Lynch Barbera hosts a monthly radio show that explains the techniques found in her book.
Here is a link to the archives of her shows. She will continue to create new shows on autism and verbal behavior into the future. Hear her shows now: Radio Program on Verbal Bahavior Approach

You can also find her book at our bookstore, the largest non-profit autism specific bookstore in the country. Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders

February Top 10 Best Sellers

2009-02-27T14:10:00.011-05:00

February 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Real Time Inventory on the Autism Society of NC Bookstore website

2009-02-23T11:16:00.007-05:00

Our website is getting more high-tech! In an effort to give our customers accurate shipping information we have decided to implement real-time inventory checking. This will more easily and conveniently let you know what titles can be shipped to you within 48 hours. Very soon you’ll see just how many titles are in-stock and ready to ship. Check us out at: www.autismbookstore.com

You can still order any item on our website, regardless of the quantity available. But we’d like you to know that our new policy will state: if a title’s inventory level is 1 to zero, it will take a little longer to get your order shipped.

If you or the organization your buying for wishes to order books in large quantities, using a credit card, please let us know via e-mail: books@autismsociety-nc.org or phone 1-800-442-2762 or 1-919-743-0204. We can then give you a more accurate shipping date. We order, and receive books, from our publishers on a weekly bases and we’ll make every effort to get large orders shipped as quickly as possible.

As always, we accept purchase orders from schools all across the nation via fax: 1-919-743-0208 Attention Bookstore. All schools will be given a reduced shipping rate of 10% when you use a school purchase order.

Our general shipping rates are as follows: North Carolina shipping – 10% of your order; Out-of-state shipping – 15% of your order; and International shipping (including Canada & Mexico) – 30% of your order.

For more information about the Autism Society of NC Bookstore Ordering and Shipping Policies, please follow this link to our website: Bookstore Ordering and Shipping Policies.

Special Offer for Valentine's Day!

2009-02-13T10:40:00.004-05:00

To celebrate Valentine's Day the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore is pleased to offer it's blog and facebook readers 10% off books purchased through our website: www.autismbookstore.com . Just use the coupon code VAL2009 during check out to recieve 10% off your entire order starting today, Feb 13th. This promotion runs until Saturday Feb. 21st 2009. Happy Valentine's Day!

Engaging Autism now in paperback

2009-02-11T14:16:00.008-05:00

Engaging Autism is now available in paperback at the new low price of $18.00 Grab your copy of this important and throught provoking book on DIR/Floortime Approach by clicking on the book cover.

Written for parents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this handbook presents the DIR (developmental, individual-difference, relationship-based)/Floortime model in a comprehensive, highly readable format. Unlike other interventions and treatment methods that focus on the symptoms of ASD and the modification of specific behaviors, this model uses a dynamic, family-oriented approach that teaches children with ASD the fundamentals of relating, communicating, and thinking while taking into account each child's strengths and unique needs. According to the authors, this comprehensive program integrates emotional, social, intellectual, and educational goals for each child, and is based on the assumption that the abilities of relating, communicating, and thinking can be favorably influenced by working with a child's emotions.

New Team Member

2009-02-11T13:47:00.003-05:00

Hello. As a new member of this blogging community I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My Name is Amy Willimas and I have recently become the Assistant Manager for the Autism Society Bookstore. Before this I studied speech pathology at the University of Missouri and worked one on one with children on the autism spectrum. I also worked for a non-profit as a professional foster parent, and most recently studied art and design.
I had an art professor who like to tell us that as artists we do not necessarily create, but we are simply creative problem solvers. Each individual on the autism spectrum is entirely unique with a unique set of needs and talents. I am excited to put my own creative problem solving skills to use in helping each individual find the methods and resources best suited for the situation.

January Top 10 Best Sellers

2009-02-03T15:08:00.002-05:00

January 2009 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Special Hours

2009-01-16T15:33:00.002-05:00

The ASNC Bookstore will be closed Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
THe ASNC Bookstore staff will be taking books to Fort Bragg on Tuesday, January 20th, to participate in the base's Autism Awareness Fair.

E-Newsletter Link

2009-01-13T11:05:00.004-05:00

For people who like to read our blog or facebook fan page, but are not on our e-newsletter mailing list, I'm posting a link to this month’s e-newsletter for your reading pleasure. Herein are two new book reviews and a little more about our new facebook fan page.

Click on this link:
January 2009 E-Newsletter

And if you'd like to be added to our e-newsletter mailing list so that you can get this exciting information delivered directly to your inbox, please go to our main website www.autismbookstore.com and look for the bookstore mailing list link at the bottom of the left-hand navigation bar. Or you can use this direct link: e-mailing list.

December 2008 Top 10 Best Sellers

2008-12-31T09:41:00.006-05:00

December 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Holiday Hours

2008-12-18T16:15:00.004-05:00

Happy Holiday!
The ASNC Bookstore will be closed for the holidays from Wednesday, December 24th until Tuesday, December 30th, 2008. Any online purchased made after Friday, December 19th is unlikely to arrive at its destination before Christmas. If you wish to make a gift purchase please consider visiting the ASNC Bookstore in person before Wednesday the 24th of December, during our regular business hours.

(Note: Regular Business Hours: M-F 9am-3pm)

Great Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your Holiday List

2008-12-12T11:52:00.005-05:00

Today we’re featuring eight novels and twelve personal accounts that ASNC Bookstore staff knows will make excellent holiday gifts for family members, young adults on the spectrum, and professionals working with individuals on the spectrum, and maybe even some for yourself. All of these titles are enjoyable and enlightening making them prefect reads for the long winter holiday. Full descriptions of these resources are available on our website, and all of the titles are in stock and available for purchase.

Novels Featuring Characters on the Autism Spectrum:

1. Al Capone Does My Shirts
2. Banishing Verona
3. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
4. In His Shoes
5. My Strange & Terrible Malady
6. Rules
7. Speed of Dark
8. Wild Orchid

Personal Accounts Written by People on the Autism Spectrum:

1. Animals in Translation
2. At Home in the Land of Oz
3. Beyond the Wall
4. Born on a Blue Day
5. Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Autism
6. Everyday Heaven
7. Look Me In the Eye
8. Send in the Idiots
9. Songs of the Gorilla Nation
10. Thinking In Pictures
11. Voices from the Spectrum
12. The Way I See It

Remember, all proceeds from bookstore sales are used to provide services for people with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Please take advantage of our website discount (that can be found in a pervious blog post) during the month of December!

If you have questions regarding any of the titles listed above, don’t hesitate to contact our bookstore staff.

Thank you for your support!

ASNC Bookstore Affiliate Program

2008-12-11T12:47:00.004-05:00

If you have an Autism Spectrum Disorder-related web site, you can earn money by placing the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore Affiliate Program logo and link on your site. When a visitor clicks on the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore Affiliate Program logo, you make a commission on all purchases made by that user.

What does it mean to be an ASNC Bookstore affiliate?

1. You’ll earn 20% on all sales made during user sessions originating from a link on your site.
2. You can offer products related to the content of your site.
3. You’ll receive a quarterly commission check, with little or no effort.
4. You’ll be a member of a professionally operated nonprofit affiliate program.
5. Participation is quick, easy, and free.

Why should I become an ASNC Bookstore affiliate?

1. It's hassle-free. You don't have to buy and store inventory, and you don't have to worry about packaging and shipping products or providing customer service. We do all of this for you.
2. You’ll earn money for your chapter or organization. We credit your commission every time an order is placed from a link on your site.
3. You’ll help the community. All sales generated through our affiliate program help provide services to the autism community.
4. You’ll enhance your site. By becoming an ASNC Bookstore affiliate, you’ll provide your visitors with the convenience of purchasing products directly from your site. By providing our quality titles and merchandise, you’ll also increase traffic to your site.
5. You’ll stay informed. Our affiliate program software provides current sales reporting so that you’ll always know exactly how much you’ve earned.

If you'd like to become an ASNC Bookstore Affiliate, you'll need to go to our website www.autismbookstore.com and click on the Affiliate logo at the top right hand corner of your screen.

You'll also have to sign an affiliate agreement statement, that says among other things, that you must display our link and logo on your website's front page and that your organization must be based in the United States. For more information please visit our affliate overview page!

On Tuesdays in December: 10% off all walk-in book purchases!

2008-12-04T09:36:00.012-05:00

For the month of December Tuesdays are going to be our favorite day of the week. Why do you ask? We're going to pass on the joy of the holiday season by giving a 10% discount on all walk-in book purchases every Tuesday in December!

To take advantage of this lovely discount you'll need to come and visit us on a Tuesday at: 505 Oberlin Rd, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27605. We are located across the street from Cameron Village and next to the Post Office on Oberlin Rd. You can also find extra parking by taking Stafford Ave. off Oberlin Rd. then take your next right into the parking lot behind building 505.

Here's a link to a google map of our location: ASNC Bookstore

Also, as you will read in this month's e-newsletter, we are offering a 10% discount on online purchases, starting today and running through December 31st. All you'll have to do is use the coupon code HOLIDAY during checkout.

November 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers List

2008-11-25T10:37:00.002-05:00

November 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

The 58th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children

2008-11-13T09:51:00.003-05:00

Bookstore staff will be traveling this weekend, and staying Monday and Tuesday in Greensboro, NC to exhibit at the 58th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children. If you have registered and will be attending this event, please look for the Autism Society of NC Bookstore in booth numbers 100 and 102 on the 3rd Floor of the Convention Center. We will be bringing approximately 70 of the very best titles on autism spectrum disorder. We hope you’ll find the resources you need to build your knowledge and skills about autism. Plus, all proceeds from the sale of books through the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore are used to provide services for people on the autism spectrum and their families/caregivers.

If you would like to know more about the Conference on Exceptional Children please follow this link to their website: Conference on Exceptional Children

ASNC Top 10 Best Sellers for October

2008-10-30T09:28:00.003-04:00

October 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is October 5th-11th, 2008

2008-10-01T12:15:00.014-04:00

In honor of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, running from October 5th – October 11th, we are spotlighting those books that we carry on the important topic of bullying prevention. All of the books featured in this blog posting will be on sale at a discount of 10% for the whole month of October. Please make your purchase through our secure website:www.autismbookstore.com to take advantage of the discount.

As always, full descriptions of these titles can be found on our website. You can find them all easily by visiting our Education/Bullying Page!

Three informative books on bullying prevention:

Asperger Syndrome and Bullying: Strategies and Solutions

Nick Dubin is able to do what many authors are not able to do when writing about bullying; he is able to bring a lifetime of personal experiences to the reader. Dubin was not diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS) until he was an adult, but he knew his differences made him stand out and made him a target for bullies throughout his childhood not just by other children, but by adults as well. He discloses reasons why individuals with AS become victims, and how to understand the motives of a bully. Dubin takes a pro-active role in bullying prevention by teaching how to empower not only victims, but teachers and bystanders as well. Dubin’s plan of attack does not stop there, however; he also writes about empowering parents and entire schools by creating a system of support that helps protect all individuals. The reader will find strategies for persons with AS, as well as programs for classrooms and schools.

Gray’s Guide to Bullying

The author, an internationally known educator and the creator of the Social Stories™ method, published a series of three articles in response to numerous questions she received about helping children with ASD who are bullied in various situations. This issue combines those articles on ASD and bullying into one useful guide that can be used by adults who live and work with children who have ASD. Article I provides the basics about bullying, ranging from the current definition to roles of participants and categories of bullying. Article II describes ten practical solutions that have been developed to effectively decrease bullying. Article III is a guide and student workbook on how to handle a bullying attempt. All three articles provide valuable strategies and resources to help parents, teachers, and caregivers decrease bullying in the life of the child with ASD.

Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying

As the author notes, children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS) have a lack of social understanding that can lead to bullying by their classmates. These children are not only hurt emotionally and sometimes physically, but they are also deeply confused because they cannot make the distinction between manipulation and friendliness. This practical resource examines the social phenomenon of bullying and the social challenges and needs of children with AS. The author provides many insights and effective strategies for creating a bullying prevention program, and she also discusses specific environmental factors that foster bullying behaviors. The book also includes a chapter that offers a variety of personal perspectives on the subject. Written for parents and professionals, this book focuses on a whole-school approach to bullying prevention that involves administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

A DVD on bullying prevention:

Being Bullied: Strategies and Solutions for People with Asperger's Syndrome

This DVD is based on a presentation by Nick Dubin on the effects of bullying in school on children with Asperger Syndrome (AS). His presentation is primarily aimed at teachers and administrators, in order to give them ideas on the steps they can take to minimize the incidence of bullying in their schools. He provides sobering statistics on the number of children bullied each year, and he also offers constructive, encouraging advice on how to break down the culture of "bystander apathy." In addition, he introduces strategies for empowering the bullied child as well as the bully, so they can utilize their energy for more constructive purposes. His presentation is interspersed with clips of people with AS giving their thoughts on how bullying has affected their lives.

And a children’s book about bullying:

Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story About Bullying

This beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the story of how one student gained the courage to deal with bullying. The classmate of a boy named Ray narrates the story. Ray is frequently the target of bullying. The other students don’t like it, but they are afraid to inform their teachers. One day, after having been beaten up the day before, Ray does not come back to school. The classmate hears the bullies talking about their future plans for Ray, and he gains the courage to tell his teacher. When Ray returns to school, the teacher and principal intervene, and the classmate tells of his pride in learning to stop bullies by working together with others.

If you’d like to know more about National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week click here.

ASNC Top 10 Best Sellers for September

2008-09-30T14:39:00.004-04:00

September 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics now available in Softcover

2008-09-23T11:57:00.005-04:00

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies is now available at the ASNC Bookstore in softcover at the new low price of $16.00. Grab your copy of this important and throught provoking book on biomedical treatments for ASD, ADHD, asthma, and allergies by clicking on the image below.

Dr. Bock is a physician who has treated thousands of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from all over the world, and as a result he has developed an effective biomedical program for treating the disorder. According to Dr. Bock, his "healing program" has also been extremely beneficial for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma, and debilitating allergies. In this book, he discusses the 4-A disorders (ASD, ADHD, asthma, and allergies), and he explains their interrelationship and how they share the common denominator of brain and body toxicity along with metabolic dysfunction. It is his view that many children with ASD have experienced regressive autism after a toxic assault on their underdeveloped systems, and he defines ASD as both a neurological and a neurotoxic disorder. He describes in comprehensive detail the biomedical treatment program he has created, which includes nutritional therapy, supplementation therapy, detoxification, and targeted medications. He also provides numerous case examples from his own clinical practice, and he offers advice to parents about finding the right physician and the types of medical tests that are needed before a treatment program is implemented. It is his belief that a biomedical treatment plan, in combination with behavioral and educational interventions, is the most effective way to improve the quality of life for children with ASD.

ASNC Top Ten Bestsellers List for August

2008-08-29T11:53:00.004-04:00

August 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

ASNC Top Ten Best Sellers List for July

2008-07-30T12:41:00.014-04:00

July 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Autism Society of America Outstanding Literary Works of the Year

2008-07-15T09:20:00.015-04:00

The Autism Society of America just held their national conference in Orlando, Fl the week of July 7th-July 12, 2008. Our own Jessica Champion represented the Autism Society of NC Bookstore at the event. As a vendor, she was able to sell some books and more importantly spread the word about the largest non-profit autism specific bookstore in America.

Every year at the ASA's national conference they announce the winners of the Outstanding Literary Work of the Year Award in two divisions, the first is Family/Social and the second is Education. The ASA feels that these titles have made a significant contribution to the broader autism community.
Winner of the 2008 Outstanding Literary Work of the Year Award in the Family/Social division is A Five is Against the Law! Social Boundaries Straight Up!

Winner of the 2008 Outstanding Literary Work of the Year Award in the Education division is The Ziggurat Model: A Framework for Designing Comprehensive Interventions for Individuals with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome

Both of these titles can be found, along with book reviews written by our staff on our website:www.autismbookstore.com
Please support your non-profit ASNC bookstore which supports the autism community in North Carolina.

ASNC Top Ten Best Sellers List for June

2008-06-27T11:17:00.002-04:00

June 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Google's Project Spectrum

2008-06-19T12:19:00.004-04:00

Upon seeing Google's name on the list of vendor's for ASA's 39th Annual Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders, I became curious about just what Google's affiliation to the autism community could be. Ironically, I began my research by "Googling" the terms "Google" and "Autism." The second link on page one of my search results answered my question and gave me a new found respect for the good people at Google. Click here to see how Google SketchUp, free 3D design software is helping kids with autism to express themselves and have fun while doing it. I recommend watching the video to see examples of houses designed by kids on the spectrum.

If you will be in Orlando for the ASA conference be sure to stop by the ASNC Bookstore booth (209) to say hello and check out our selection of informative and valuable ASD resources.

ASNC Top Ten Best Sellers List for May

2008-05-29T12:22:00.009-04:00

May 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

News: May TEACCH Conference

2008-05-14T10:51:00.004-04:00

The bookstore will have shortened hours for the rest of the week (5/14-5/16) due to attending the May TEACCH Conference in Chapel Hill, NC.

Our hours will be:
Wednesday, May 14th - 8:00am to 11:00am
Thursday, May 15th - CLOSED ALL DAY
Friday, May 16th - 8:00am to 12:30pm

If you'd like to learn more about TEACCH or the TEACCH May Conference please follow this link: TEACCH

ASNC Top Ten Best Sellers List for April

2008-04-30T13:59:00.005-04:00

April 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books monthly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

ASNC Annual Conference 2008

2008-04-24T09:16:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again! The bookstore will be traveling to the ASNC Annual Conference, being held this year at the Radisson Hotel in High Point, NC. The bookstore will be open Friday 4/25 at the High Point Theater for pre-conference attendees from 9:00 a.m.-3:10 p.m., and then we will be moving to the Victorian room at the Radisson from 6:00 p.m-8:00 p.m. that evening. On Saturday 4/26 we will be open from 7:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. in the Victorian room.

We will have a large selection of books available, and all of our staff* will be available to help you, so please, feel free to stop by!

*Since we will all be at the conference, the physical bookstore will be closed Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.

April is National Autism Awareness Month!

2008-04-01T14:50:00.004-04:00

To celebrate autism awareness month the bookstore is offering a 10% discount on all online bookstore purchases* from April 1st to April 30th. To take advantage of this offer use the coupon code AAM2008 during checkout.

*Please note that this offer applies to online orders only.

Visit the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore online at http://www.autismbookstore.com to find an amazing array of titles about autism spectrum disorder.

ASNC Top Ten Best Sellers List for March

2008-04-01T09:08:00.003-04:00

March 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

New Member of Staff

2008-03-19T10:57:00.004-04:00

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the online autism bookstore community. My name is Melanie Borgen and I am the newest staff member of the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore. Let me tell you about myself, I received my Bachelors of Arts degree at the University of Connecticut in English, with a concentration in creative writing, in 2003. I also had the fortune to work with adults with disabilities for two summers as a camp counselor in Connecticut, while still in college.
Since then I've worked at two non-profits. I am continually inspired by the mission of non-profits like the Autism Society of North Carolina. I am excited to become an active participant in getting information about autism to the public. I hope that we can take this journey together and learn from each other along the way. If you would like to contact me please e-mail me at madams-borgen@autismsociety-nc.org

Autographed copies- At Home in the Land of Oz!

2008-03-18T13:34:00.003-04:00

Anne Barnhill, author of At Home in the Land of Oz: Autism, My Sister, and Me, and Cary NC resident, was kind enough to stop by the Bookstore today, and sign numerous copies of her book. Autographed copies are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so order your copy today! Read Hope's raving review of this book here.

GLIMPSE Publication

2008-03-10T09:18:00.003-04:00

Announcing Glimpse

A new online literary magazine presents works by artists with autism and other developmental challenges Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008 (ICDL). The premier issue of America’s first online literary magazine featuring works by people with autism and other developmental challenges offers more than a Glimpse into the rich, creative inner life of these individuals. Remarkable as both art and insight, these poems, short essays, paintings, drawings, and photography broaden our understanding of the creative processes in all of us.

Glimpse is published by the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of emotional and developmental disorders in infancy and childhood by promoting dialogue and integrating knowledge from different disciplines. Please click here to access a PDF version of Glimpse: http://www.icdl.com/bookstore/glimpse/documents/GLIMPSE-1308.pdf

For more information about Glimpse, including submission guidelines, please visit www.icdl.com.

This information is provided from the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL).

ASNC Top Ten Best Sellers List for February

2008-02-28T15:38:00.004-05:00

February 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Great New Early Intervention Resource

2008-02-22T10:18:00.003-05:00

I was so impressed by one of the newest titles that we've added to the Bookstore this month that I deemed it blog-worthy (the ultimate honor). The title that I am referring to is Early Intervention: Fast Facts. The author, a doctor by the name of Raun D. Melmed, has packed a great deal of useful information into this small pamphlet-sized resource guide. Dr. Melmed has taken the knowledge that he has gained through his years of experience working as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, and used this knowledge to predict some commonly asked questions that parents of newly-diagnosed children might have. Some examples of these questions are: "What are the Signs of Autism?"; "What is Autism and What is Not?"; and "What to Expect and When to get Concerned?" The best part is that for all of the great information that you are getting, the price of this book is a very reasonable $9.95. Get your copy here.

Miracle Run - Lifetime Movie

2008-02-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

Miracle Run will be broadcast by Lifetime Movie Network this Friday, February, 8th, at 8 pm. Mary-Louise Parker stars as a single mother coping with her 7 year old twins and their diagnosis of autism. With their mother's support, the boys accomplish more than anyone ever dreamed. This movie is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by viewers and also stars Aidan Quinn and Zac Efron.

This movie is not sold on DVD in the US - so don't forget to watch. Visit LMN now and click to receive an e-mail update so you don't forget to tune in!

ASNC Top Ten Bestsellers List for January

2008-02-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

January 2008 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Unstrange Minds Now Available in Paperback

2008-01-30T14:25:00.001-05:00

Roy Richard Grinker's Unstrange Minds is now available in paperback. You can read our original review of this title here. If, after reading Dana's raving review, you feel as if you need to rush out immediately to buy your own copy--have no fear, you can order it from our website for only $15.95.

ASNC Top Ten Bestsellers List for December

2007-12-31T11:30:00.000-05:00

December 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

A Beautiful Story of Friendship

2007-12-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of reading one of the newest children's books that we have added to our inventory here at the bookstore. Celeste Shally's, Since We're Friends, is one of those books that you come away from feeling good about the message that it contains.

The premise is simple; a young boy, Matt, has autism. Despite their differences, Matt has become good friends with a typically functioning child who lives across the street. Matt's friend (his name is never mentioned) looks out for him, and has even devised several strategies for making sure they both get the most out of their relationship. For example, if Matt has a hard time accepting when it is time to say goodbye for the evening, his friend will invite him over for breakfast the following morning to give him something to look forward to.

Although essentially this is just a children's story, the acceptance and love shared between these two boys really is heartwarming. This is a story that every child could benefit from hearing. Compassionate children grow into compassionate adults, and this world could certainly use more compassion.

I should also mention that the artwork in this book is really incredible. The brightly colored, glossy illustrations are sure to evoke a smile from all but the toughest critics.

Beautiful Photography and Touching Personal Accounts in "Autism Heroes"

2007-12-10T12:07:00.000-05:00

I was very impressed with Dr. Barbara Firestone's new book, Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge. The first thing that struck me about this book was the gorgeous black and white photographs arranged throughout its 218 pages. These photographs represent the real faces of children and young adults on the autism spectrum, and the families that love and support them.

The internationally acclaimed photographer, Joe Buissink, has a gift for capturing real moments in time. He is able to simultaneously portray the innocence of the children and the strength of their families. Perhaps this gift comes from the fact that Buissink himself has a child on the spectrum.

The 38 families portrayed in this book are arranged in four sections: Dignity, Hope, Opportunity, and Love, each of which begins with an essay by Dr. Firestone on the accompanying subject. These essays are touching and eloquently written, but the real heart and soul of this book is the candid and heartwarming accounts of real families living with the all of the heartache and joy that comes along with having a child on the autism spectrum.

It was nice to see the diversity among these families. They come from all different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Two-parent and single-parent households are also represented. Several of the families featured in this book may be well known names to many of us-- for example, Joe Montegna and his family are featured, as are Gary and Teddi Cole, and actor John Schneider and his family, which includes a son with Asperger syndrome.

All author royalties from this book will go to The Help Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving children with special needs. Founded in 1975 by Dr. Firestone, now President and CEO, the group operates several day schools in southern California for children with autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD, ADD, learning disabilities, mental disabilities, abuse, and emotional problems.

Autism Heroes is featured on the cover of the Summer 2007, The Autism Perspective magazine (if you are not already registered you will have to create a free account). Once you are logged in you will have access to the entire issue, including the eight pages of excerpts and photographs from Autism Heroes.

This is not a book that should be read and then placed on a bookshelf to be forgotten and collect dust; it is a book that you will want to display on your coffee table or shelf for others to share. Better yet, this would make a wonderful holiday gift for any family that might benefit from the support and information shared in this book. Don't forget, the bookstore is offering a 10% discount on this book and your entire order throughout the month of December. Just type in the coupon code Holiday at checkout.

ASNC Top Ten Bestsellers List for November

2007-12-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

November 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Amanda Baggs and DJ Savarese on Anderson Cooper 360°

2007-11-21T09:29:00.000-05:00

Monday night's Anderson Cooper 360° featured a segment entitled "Finding Amanda," that explored the fascinating world of Amanda Baggs, a remarkable woman with autism who has become an Internet celebrity through the videos that she single-handedly shot, edited, and posted on YouTube. Although nonverbal, she is able to communicate intelligently and eloquently with the aid of a computer and voice synthesizer. She has become something of a hero to many people, and was even invited to speak at a summit organized by the Autism National Committee entitled, "Autism, Living Life to the Fullest."

Among Amanda's biggest fans is fifteen-year-old, DJ Savarese; like Amanda, DJ has autism and is nonverbal. Another similarity that he shares with Amanda is his gift for expressing himself, which he is able to accomplish with the aid of facilitated communication. In fact, DJ is so remarkable that he authored a chapter in his father's book, Reasonable People: a Memoir of Autism and Adoption, a book that we have blogged about in the past.

You can view a video of the segment here.

An Introduction

2007-11-20T09:05:00.000-05:00

Hello! I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Jessica Champion, and I am the newest staff member here at the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore. To give you a little background on myself, I am originally from Massachusetts, where I obtained a bachelor's degree in English from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. While attending MCLA I spent some time working in a group home, and I found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience.

After college the travel bug hit me, and I spent two years in South Korea teaching conversational English, before returning to the United States to obtain my master's degree in Library Science from the University at Buffalo. Desperate to escape from the infamous Buffalo winters, I hopped the first plane to North Carolina, and here I am. I hope to put my research skills to good use and help in any way that I can. It's great to be here.

Look Me in the Eye - SIGNED COPIES!

2007-11-09T12:25:00.000-05:00

Those of you who read our post on John Elder Robison's book, Look Me In the Eye, may have noticed that he posted back and said he would be glad to provide our organization with signed copies. WOW!!! Needless to say, we were thrilled.

A limited number of signed copies are now available for sale, so purchase your copy while supplies last. This book would make a wonderful holiday gift!

Local Author Featured in "Our State" Magazine

2007-11-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

At Home in the Land of Oz, written by North Carolina author Anne Clinard Barnhill, is featured in the November 2007 issue of Our State magazine in the "quick lit" section. This is a well-written and illuminating work, and below is the book description from our website:

Anne Barnhill and her younger sister Becky grew up in small town America in the 1950s and ‘60s, long before autism was a common diagnosis. Becky was diagnosed with “emotional disturbance” early in her childhood, and Anne chronicles her family’s struggle to maintain a normal life amid the chaos of her sister’s behaviors and ever-changing needs. Anne recounts how the decision to place Becky in institutional facilities early on, for rehabilitation and reprieve, left marks on her family that will endure forever. Many details Anne did not discover until she became an adult are revealed in this tale of two sisters, such as the struggle to find a proper diagnosis and the financial and emotional burdens her parents endured, but kept from her. She also frankly discusses her own coming of age against the backdrop of disability and the guilt, pain, faith, courage, and acceptance she found along the way. As the girls grow up, their similarities and differences shine through, from Beatlemania and The Wizard of Oz to boys, jobs, and leaving home for good. At the age of 37 Becky began a new chapter in her life when she was properly diagnosed with autism, and Anne began her new journey as, what she has called, "her sister’s keeper."

ASNC Top Ten Bestsellers List for October

2007-11-01T11:51:00.000-04:00

October 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

2007-10-29T10:54:00.000-04:00

Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Asperger's

By John Elder Robison

Several months ago I re-visited Augusten Burrough's website because he is a favorite author of mine and I was very anxious to see when his next book was to be published. You may have heard of his most popular book, Running with Scissors, where he describes his incredibly dysfunctional childhood, his parents, and briefly his brother who was diagnosed at 40 with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Much to my disappointment, Burrough's latest book is not scheduled to come out for quite some time, but I was THRILLED when I saw his post from April 2007 about his older brother, John Elder Robison, and his new book about his life with AS that was to be published in the fall of 2007!!

While on the road for book signings for Running with Scissors, Burroughs was shocked at the amount of people who wanted to know more about his brother and all of the people who also identified themselves as having Asperger Syndrome. Burroughs encouraged his brother to write a book about his life and experiences before his diagnosis and what receiving the diagnosis so late in life has meant for him. Robison takes a wonderfully honest and matter of fact look back at his past: what might have been different, what had no impact, and how he has grown as a person because of, as well as regardless of, his diagnosis.

Please see our complete description of his book, Look Me In the Eye, for more details.

You can also visit Robison's own blog at: http://jerobison.blogspot.com/.

There are also a couple of other interesting and insightful interviews with Robison featured on YouTube, one where he is interviewed briefly by his brother and another on Greater Boston .

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is Oct. 21–27, 2007

2007-10-22T09:16:00.000-04:00

This week is National Bullying Prevention Week.

The Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore has a few key recommended titles on the subject of bullying. We would like to highlight a few of those titles here to alert parents and professionals about the resources we have available on this important topic. The titles we're featuring include a DVD and three books.

Being Bullied: Strategies and Solutions for People with Asperger's Syndrome is a 30-minute DVD program based on a presentation by Nick Dubin on the effects of bullying in school on children with Asperger Syndrome (AS). His presentation is primarily aimed at teachers and administrators, in order to give them ideas on the steps they can take to minimize the incidence of bullying in their schools. He provides sobering statistics on the number of children bullied each year, and he also offers constructive, encouraging advice on how to break down the culture of "bystander apathy." In addition, he introduces strategies for empowering the bullied child as well as the bully, so they can utilize their energy for more constructive purposes. His presentation is interspersed with clips of people with AS giving their thoughts on how bullying has affected their lives.

Gray's Guide to Bullying is an issue of The Jenison Autism Journal that features a series of articles on bullying written by educator and internationally known author Carol Gray. This publication is devoted to helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deal with circumstances in which they encounter bullying. Gray, the creator of the Social Stories™ method, published this series of three articles in response to numerous questions she received about helping children with ASD who are bullied in various situations. This issue combines those articles on ASD and bullying into one useful guide that can be used by adults who live and work with children who have ASD.

Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying is also an excellent resource on bullying. As the author notes, children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS) have a lack of social understanding that can lead to bullying by their classmates. These children are not only hurt emotionally and sometimes physically, but they are also deeply confused because they cannot make the distinction between manipulation and friendliness. This practical resource examines the social phenomenon of bullying and the social challenges and needs of children with AS. The author provides many insights and effective strategies for creating a bullying prevention program, and she also discusses specific environmental factors that foster bullying behaviors. The book also includes a chapter that offers a variety of personal perspectives on the subject. Written for parents and professionals, this book focuses on a whole-school approach to bullying prevention that involves administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

We also carry a children's book about bullying. Titled Nobody Knew What To Do: A Story About Bullying, this beautifully illustrated book for readers ages 4 to 8 tells the story of how one student gained the courage to deal with bullying. Ray, a student, is frequently the target of bullying. The other students don’t like it, but they are afraid to inform their teachers. One day, after having been beaten up the day before, Ray does not come back to school. A classmate hears the bullies talking about their future plans for Ray, and he gains the courage to tell his teacher. When Ray returns to school, the teacher and principal intervene, and the classmate tells of his pride in learning to stop bullies by working together with others. On the last page of the book, there are bullying prevention tips for educators and parents.

ASNC Top Ten Bestsellers List for September

2007-10-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

September 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Learning How to Mind Read

2007-09-25T12:56:00.000-04:00

Mind Reading: The Interactive Guide to Emotions DVD-ROM is finally, finally, finally out! After a great deal of delay, illustrated by how much the Harry Potter actor pictured on the cover has aged, they seem to have worked out the formatting issues. We've been excited about this product for a while, because it seems like it offers so much more than the standard "let's learn emotions" books and videos out there. From the description:

"This disc contains an Emotions Library, which features 412 emotions organized into 24 groups. Each emotion is illustrated using 6 video clips, audio clips, notes, and mini-stories. There is also a Games Zone, which allows users to have fun with emotions and encourages informal learning about emotions in a less structured setting. In addition, there is a Learning Center, which contains lessons and quizzes to help users improve their emotion recognition skills."

The use of real photographs, instead of line drawings, is a definite strength, as is the use of photographs of people of all different ages and appearances, to help support generalization of the emotion identifcation skills learned from the computer activities.

Teachers and parents can also learn more strategies for teaching children with ASDs to recognize emotions in the book, Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-Read: A Practical Guide For Teachers and Parents, by Patricia Howlin, Simon Baron-Cohen, and Julie Hadwin, all renowned researchers in the field of ASDs. The strategies presented are divided into three core areas: teaching children about emotional understanding, including facial expressions; teaching children about informational states, including taking another person's perspective; and teaching children how to develop pretend play.

Visually Supporting Food Choices

2007-09-21T14:49:00.000-04:00

We just got in a new CD-ROM from the "Picture This!" people, called Visual Foods. It contains over 3500 photos of food and cooking-related procedures, more than 300 pre-made layouts, and formatting software. This photo collection can be used with any age group. For young children it can be used to teach sequencing, receptive vocabulary words, and equipment labels. For older individuals it can be used to teach sequencing, meal preparation, and nutrition. It can also be used to assist nonverbal individuals who need a picture menu. It is designed to help provide support to visual learners (including early readers and nonverbal persons) in gaining new life skills and independence.

We think this is a particularly good item to pair with our customer favorite, Visual Recipes. This book contains 35 recipes grouped in the following categories: breakfast; lunch; side dishes; snacks, desserts; and drinks. The recipes consist of picture-based directions, and each step is framed for visual clarity. Simple text directions also accompany each step, and the importance of safety is highlighted. The book can also be used to teach functional math and beginning reading skills. It was designed by a parent of a child with ASD in order to teach her son fundamental skills in the kitchen, so it can serve as an excellent guide for creating further recipes of your own with the Visual Foods CD-ROM above, or with your own pictures.

General Explanation of ASDs in Spanish

2007-09-14T14:26:00.000-04:00

We've been working on expanding our selection of Spanish-language autism titles in the bookstore, but we've been finding that there aren't all that many out there, or at least, not very many accessible to us here in the US. Therefore, we are always thrilled when we find a new one.

Our latest addition is El niño autista: Detección, evolución y tratamiento. It provides a general overview of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), with good explanations of the kinds of behaviors, language delays and/or disorders, and cognitive differences associated with autism. It also provides information on how caregivers can spot signs of autism, and where families can go for diagnosis and treatment.

This book seems particularly valuable in our Spanish selection because it does offer this nice general overview. Many of our other books focus on specific tasks, strategies, or only Asperger Syndrome, as opposed to ASDs as a whole. It offers a good place to start for newly diagnosed families, or teachers and other caregivers who would like to know more.

However, for those Spanish-speaking individuals who are ready for a lot more information, we do have another book to offer: Los Trastornos del Espectro de Autismo de la A a la Z. Presented in an easy-to-read format, the comprehensive information and strategies included in this handbook will help families, teachers, and other professional staff support individuals with ASD through the lifespan to achieve the best possible outcome. The two authors have a great deal of experience between them; Emily is the mother of a young man with ASD and an educational advocate, and Barbara has been a professional in the field of special education for more than 32 years. They decided to translate their original English version of this book into Spanish to help Spanish-speaking parents overcome the feeling of "double isolation," first due to the ASD diagnosis, and also because of the lack of information in Spanish about the disorder. The Spanish version won the 2006 Autism Society of America "Outstanding Literary Work of the Year" Award.

Two New "Topics in Autism" Books

2007-09-07T11:42:00.000-04:00

We really like the "Topics in Autism" series from Woodbine House here at the ASNC Bookstore. Each book is written by professionals in the field, who present their information in a clear, knowledgable manner, accessible to professionals, paraprofessionals, and parents alike. Here are the two newest books in the series.

Self-Help Skills for People with Autism: A Systematic Teaching Approach stresses the importance of teaching self-help skills, reasoning that they are the foundation for many other more complex skills needed to reduce long-term dependence on others. It is appropriate for use with individuals between the ages of 24 months to the early teen years; however, it can also be used with older individuals working on skills typically taught within that age range. The core self-help skills presented in this guide are eating, toileting, dressing, and personal hygiene. Although the authors recommend a systematic approach, individualized instruction is stressed to help ensure successful skill acquisition. Emphasis is placed on developmental milestones, adhering to individual readiness to learn, and what the family or professional is prepared to teach. The authors also discuss determining what to teach, the context for learning, and motivating the individual to learn. Step-by-step examples include identifying target skills, baseline task analysis, instruction plans, and planning for the generalization of skills across settings.

Visual Supports For People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals was written by experienced professionals who currently head the Adult and Transitional Services Division at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University. They have written this resource to provide parents and professionals with the tools they need to accommodate the visual learner in any environment. The book provides valuable information on how to identify individuals who need visual supports, and also offers guidelines for use and determining the effectiveness of chosen supports. Illustrated visual support examples are presented in areas such as classroom organization; daily schedules; developing language; increasing memory; facilitating attending; motivation; and teaching sequential, math, reading, and social skills. The book is filled with more than 140 visual support ideas, and it also contains numerous tips, strategies, and case examples.

ASNC Bookstore Top Ten Bestsellers List for August

2007-09-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

August 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Adult with Asperger's in the News

2007-08-28T11:21:00.000-04:00

Tim Page, a Pulitzer-prize winning music writer, has an article in the latest issue of The New Yorker magazine. In it, he describes his childhood; his obsessions, past and present; the frustrations of being considered a "genius," but not knowing why, and still failing all the uninteresting classes; the relief of receiving a diagnosis as an adult; and the revealed truth to be gained from reading Emily Post.

Read it here: Personal History: Parallel Play

In addition, before the article came out, he was interviewed about it, and his life, on NPR's All Things Considered, which you can listen to here: Pulitzer-Winner on Living with Asperger's.

At Home in the Land of Oz:

2007-08-07T12:28:00.000-04:00

Autism, My Sister, and Me.

Anne Barnhill, a LOCAL AUTHOR , has written this endearing memoir about her experience growing up in the 1950s and 60s with a disabled sibling. Her sister Becky was not formally diagnosed with autism until the age of 37, but rather spent most of her life labeled "emotionally disturbed." Anne's parents struggled to find a proper educational and residential setting for Becky at a time in history when institutionalization was the norm. Her parents' relentless searching and determination to find services for Becky never end even through mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. Anne also candidly talks about the full range of emotions she felt for her sister growing up and the ever increasing responsibility she now has as her parents grow older.

I fell in love with Anne's writing and her family when I reviewed this book in June, but recently I was reminded of it again when I saw a segment on CNN about Jeff Daly and his struggle to find his sister Molly who was institutionalized in 1957 at the age of 3. His heartbreaking story turns around when he not only reunites with his sister after almost 50 years, but also since he has now vowed to help other siblings and family members find their lost loved ones as well. Heed my warning: if you watch the CNN video clip of his family's story above- get Kleenex! Visit theARClink.org or the National FindFamily Registry For People with Disabilities for more information about this resource.

I was struck by the similarities in the two families. Each struggled with the same decisions for their loved ones but because of various resources, guidance from "experts", and the restraints of societal norms each family took different paths that resulted in positive and negative consequences.

Anne's history will ring true for many other siblings who endured the same past and gives hope to those of us who can see how her family and the Daly family have helped change the course that families now take when faced with providing what is best for their loved-one with a disability. I highly recommend this special sister's memoir.

ASNC Bookstore Top Ten Bestsellers List for July

2007-08-01T09:58:00.000-04:00

July 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Autism Sibling Issues Hit NPR

2007-07-25T11:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered, I heard this powerful story by a girl who has a younger brother on the autism spectrum. She is the oldest of 4 siblings, and she has long been in charge of them when both of their parents have to work, which means a lot of taking care of her brother with autism. In addition, she serves as a translator for her parents for almost all public events, such as school meetings and doctor's appointments, because they do not speak English, and she serves as an ear for their worries about their son's future. She talks about how these burdens effect her, and how she is learning to cope better. I urge everyone with an interest in sibling issues and/or bilingual family issues to listen.

Sibling issues are truly a big topic, and several new resources have come out recently. One, Brotherly Feelings, we've talked about here before, which offers honest views of the emotions experienced from a sibling's point of view.

Another fantastic resource that we just added to the store is the new DVD, Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum. This is from the always wonderful and highly recommended Coulter Video series, and offers 4 different explanatory programs for siblings. Program one features puppets and explains autism to siblings who are ages 4 to 7. Program two includes interviews with siblings and additional narration, and is appropriate for siblings ages 7-12. Program three includes sibling interviews as well as narration, and is aimed at siblings age 12 through adulthood. Program four includes interviews with parents of children on the autism spectrum, and is designed specifically for parent viewing.

To see our entire list of sibling-related resources, check out our Sibling Issues page.

TalkAbility

2007-07-20T13:28:00.001-04:00

We are very excited to announce that we have finally received our copies of the new Fern Sussman book, TalkAbility: People Skills for Verbal Children on the Autism Spectrum. This book is a fantastic follow up to her exceptionally popular More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children.

TalkAbility focuses primarily on promoting social communication skills in children with ASD who already have verbal skills. Its writing is aimed specifically at parents, though certainly practitioners will find it useful as well, and it contains many concrete examples and practical strategies. Chapters 1-9 focus on parent-child interactions, showing parents in detail how to support and increase their child's communicative efforts and social understanding. Chapters 10-13 focus on peer interactions, with advice on how to prepare the child for a play date, and also how to facilitate a play date most effectively.

One of the things I personally enjoyed about this book was actually a rather minor detail: the accompanying illustrations are extremely multicultural. Though it would have been quite easy for the illustrations to have shown the same family throughout the book, but instead they depict many different families, of many different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. It also shows both moms and dads interacting with their children. A subtle touch, but one that makes the book feel like it really is aimed at everyone.

Needless to say, this book is highly recommended for its ease of use, clear explanations, and practical strategies, as well as its lovely illustrations.

The Bookstore Goes to the ASA in AZ

2007-07-09T12:39:00.000-04:00

The Bookstore is going on the road again! This Wednesday through Saturday (7/11-7/14) we will be in Scottsdale, AZ, at the Autism Society of America's 38th National Conference. We will be set up in booths #406/408, pretty much right in the middle, looking at that map, so please stop by and see us!

This will be an exciting year for us at ASA, because two of our favorite authors, ASNC's own Ann Palmer and Maureen Morrell, have won ASA's 2007 Literary Work of the Year award! See our announcement and special discount offer here. Ann and Maureen will be signing their book after the award ceremony on Friday, but if you miss that, they'll be signing again at our booth during the Saturday morning break, 9:30-10am.

Because Darla and I will be in Arizona, Hope will be (wo)manning the physical store, so please be aware that the hours later this week, W-F, will be abbreviated, 9am-1pm.

We hope to see some of you in AZ!

ASNC Bookstore's Top Ten Bestsellers List for June

2007-07-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

June 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

Reasonable People Interview Wrap-Up and News

2007-06-26T12:15:00.000-04:00

I listened to Ralph Savarese's interview yesterday on the Diane Rehm Show, which, if you missed it, you can listen to here. I thought it was good, of course, which is no surprise, given that I liked the book so much.

One of the more interesting things I thought that came up, though, was the first listener question to make it on the air. It was a question emailed in, in which the listener asked Savarese to talk some more about the computer his son uses to communicate, because she was under the impression such devices had been widely discredited. Savarese quickly moved to point out the differences between augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and the technique of Facilitated Communication (FC), noting of course that it is only the latter technique that was discredited, and in his estimation mostly due to its misuse, rather than for complete lack of efficacy. He goes into a bit more detail about the history of FC, the more recent research on it, and how his son uses it in his response, which I encourage you to listen to.

The thing that struck me, though, was this apparent public perception that AAC is 1) the same as FC, and 2) also discredited. I hope this isn't actually a widely held opinion. It is already hard enough for nonverbal individuals to be treated equally, a point that DJ makes eloquently in his final chapter of the book. How will they have a chance at being heard if people assume anyone using a computer to speak is a fraud? There is no doubt a huge amount more that could be said about the need for greater acceptance for the use of alternative forms of communication, but I'll just leave it here with the hope that this gives other people, as it did me, a great deal to think about.

In other Reasonable People news, Ralph Savarese will be signing his book at McIntyre's Fine Books in Fearrington Village this Saturday, June 30, at 11am, so if you live in the NC Triangle region, mark your calendars.

Special Needs Planning

2007-06-25T12:29:00.000-04:00

Special needs planning is the topic that all my friends and fellow parents of children with autism avoid. After all, we already feel as though we live in this bubble in which we have to plan everything else, from the time we wake up, to John's school schedule, to John's therapist appointments, to making sure he remembers to go to the bathroom - and don't forget the medication. Obviously we do what we do out of love for our children and will continue to perform these acts as long as they are needed. But I too wonder from time to time, who will do these things when I am no longer able?

It is one of those thoughts that comes to me and elicits the same initial reaction as when we are one hour from the beach and I think - Did I lock the front door? However, this "planning for the future" thought doesn't go away, as I know it is one of the most important things I will ever do for my child. Even with these panicked thoughts, I was successful at avoiding the dreaded process until the following two resources were placed on my desk for review.

Special Needs Trusts and The Special Needs Planning Guide are must-have resources. Special Needs Trusts guides you through the process of setting up a trust yourself, or you can use the information in the book to research the topic before selecting a lawyer yourself. The Special Needs Planning Guide not only helps with Estate planning, but with all aspects of your child's life when you are present and when you must rely on the help of others to meet the needs of your child.

Knowing that decisions you make now may negatively effect your child as an adult can be very scary. Did you know that setting up a 529 College Savings Plan may make your special needs child ineligible for government benefits such as Social Security and Medicaid? Did you know that your child is also only allowed to have $2,000 in assets before losing those same benefits?

Do you know what your child's future looks like after high school? What about how he will pay for needs that government benefits won't cover? Knowing the law and how trusts can help you provide for your loved one without taking away benefits is a must. I highly recommend both titles to help start the important process of special needs planning.

Reasonable People Interview on June 25

2007-06-22T10:16:00.000-04:00

NPR host Diane Rehm will be interviewing Ralph Savarese, the author of Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism & Adoption, on Monday, June 25. As I wrote before, this book delves into many widespread societal issues, in addition to exploring his son DJ's own life with autism. This should be a very interesting interview, so try to tune in.

Here in the Triangle, the Diane Rehm Show airs every weekday morning from 10am-12 pm, on WUNC. If you aren't in the NC Triangle area, you can find your own NPR affiliate here.

Also, never fear, if you miss the show, we'll post a link to the recorded broadcast here afterward.

A Realistic Visual Trip to the Dentist

2007-06-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

We recently got in this great new book, Joey Goes the the Dentist. It's an excellent resource for parents or therapists trying to prepare a child with an autism spectrum disorder for a trip to the dentist. It was put together by two autism professionals who have a lot of experience working with children, so it is definitely written with this audience in mind.

One of the things that makes this book so great is the way it's illustrated. It uses all real color, full-page photographs, giving excellent realistic depictions of what a child can expect to see when they go to the dentist. It also offers explanations of what the various dental tools are, their names, and why the dentist needs to use them, but none of these descriptions get overly technical for the intended child audience.

Joey, the narrator and star of the pictures, also describes the ways he prepares himself for going to the dentist, showing off his calendar with the date marked, and the ways he and his father practice opening wide and brushing their teeth. He also talks about and demonstrates some of the coping mechanisms he uses when he experiences something unpleasant at the dentist's office. I thought his suggestion of asking to keep the weighted lead x-ray vest on for a little while after the x-rays were finished, as a calming tool, was a innovative use of available materials, and a good suggestion for parents to look into. He also talks about the way he makes himself concentrate on something fun he will get to do after the dentist appointment, like going to a fast food restaurant and getting a new toy.

And of course, I can't help mentioning that the kid in the pictures is incredibly adorable, which doesn't hurt the book at all.

Local Authors Win 2007 ASA Literary Award!

2007-06-08T20:47:00.001-04:00

The Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore staff would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to local authors Maureen Morrell and Ann Palmer. Their book, Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum: Unexpected Lessons We Have Learned, has just been awarded the 2007 Autism Society of America Literary Work of the Year.

Ann and Maureen have strong ties to the North Carolina autism community and to the Autism Society of North Carolina. Their wealth of knowledge and experience as both parents and professionals have benefited the community tremendously, and their book is a must-read for parents of children with ASD. In our expert opinion, their book has reached "classic" status among the available autism titles (and there are hundreds). The writing is superior, and the feedback we consistently receive is how much the book resonates with its readers.

In honor of the ASA literary award (and to introduce the book to more readers), we are extending a 25% discount to customers who order the book through our bookstore website. Customers will also receive a signed copy of the book, so we hope you'll take advantage of this special offer. Our price is lower than the Amazon.com price, and it is good through July 15th.

Ann and Maureen will receive their ASA award on July 13th at the 2007 ASA National Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona.

ASNC Bookstore's Top Ten Bestsellers List for May

2007-06-01T09:24:00.000-04:00

May 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

The Latest Research in One Book

2007-05-31T12:09:00.000-04:00

The theme of this year's TEACCH conference, which we were attending as a vendor for most of last week, was Current Research Advances in Autism. Amy Wetherby was one of the featured speakers, and she also happens to be one of the contributors to the recent book Social & Communication Development in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Though we've actually had the book in stock since January, I wanted to highlight it now, because it is so relevant. Not to mention an excellent collection of chapters by leading researchers in the field.

The chapters are divided into four main sections: Assessment and Diagnosis; Screening and Surveillance; Evidence-Based Interventions; and Developmental and Neurobiological Issues. If you look at our full bookstore description, you can see who wrote what for which sections. Besides Amy Wetherby, authors include the co-editors Tony Charman and Wendy Stone, Simon Baron-Cohen, Catherine Lord, Pamela Wolfberg, Patricia Howlin, and many, many others. I have to admit, it took me a long time to read the whole book in order to write the description, because it is so full of information. The chapters offer great overviews of the state of current research in early diagnostic and screening procedures, early intervention, intervention methods in general, and what we actually know about social communication development and its neurological basis. They also cover some of the key issues researchers in the autism field must take into account when structuring new research studies.

Being on the inside track here at the bookstore, I admit I gave a copy of this book to my mother for Christmas, before we even had it up on the website, because I knew she'd find it useful for teaching her class on autism research. She says she's found it very useful, and also reports that when her colleagues discovered it in the vendor room at IMFAR last month, they ended up with so many extra copies amongst members of their department, they had to return some of them. (We weren't there, so I don't know who they bought them from; probably the publisher. Clearly, I think you should buy them from us. All of our sales go directly back to autism services, after all!)

Anyway, if you are at all interested in autism research, I highly recommend this book. There is far too much information in it for me to synthesize it all here, but I assure you, it's all exceedingly well-written.

If what you need is a book that focuses more on research-based direct care practices, though, see the entry below and check out Growing Up with Autism: Working with School-Age Children and Adolescents.

Bookstore Event News

2007-05-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore staff will be attending the 28th Annual TEACCH Conference on Wednesday through Friday of this week (May 23rd-25th). The event is being held at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the topic of this year's conference is Current Research Advances in Autism.

This is one of our largest local bookstore events, and we bring a wide variety of titles to the conference each year. In conjunction with this conference, I would also like to announce a new book that features two Division TEACCH practitioners as chapter authors. The title is Growing Up With Autism: Working with School-Age Children and Adolescents, and it is edited by Robin L. Gabriels and Dina E. Hill.

This is a research-based volume that offers information and intervention strategies for professionals who work with older children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This work addresses numerous relevant issues that are divided into three thematic sections: the individual with ASD; families and caregivers of the individual with ASD; and the community aspects of intervention.

Gary B. Mesibov, Ph.D., Division TEACCH Director, has co-authored the chapter Translating Early Intervention Into Positive Outcomes. According to Dr. Mesibov and co-author Laurie Sperry, Ph.D., it is imperative for professionals working with individuals with ASD who have more severe cognitive and language impairments to build upon early intervention strategies in the areas of communication, social skills, behavior, and adaptive functioning. The authors explain that impairments in these areas may continue into adolescence and impact independent functioning and a successful transition to adulthood. Dr. Mesibov and Dr. Sperry emphasize several key points, including: the importance of teaching persons with ASD how to make choices; life-long access to typically developing peers is the most effective way to teach appropriate social behaviors to individuals with ASD; and structured environments are highly effective in reducing challenging behaviors and increasing independence.

Mary E. Van Bourgondien, Ph.D., Clinical Director of the Raleigh TEACCH Center, is co-author of the chapter Sexuality and Autism: Individual, Family, and Community Perspectives and Interventions. In this chapter, Dr. Van Bourgondien and co-author Robin L. Gabriels, PsyD, provide a general review of sexuality issues for those individuals with ASD who have more severe cognitive and language impairments. According to the authors, social and communication deficits, as well as behavior difficulties, can hinder the ability of older children with ASD to adequately meet the challenges of their developing sexuality. As a result, Dr. Van Bourgondien and Dr. Gabriels recommend the following strategies: identify sexuality needs and issues specific to the child and in reference to family values; proactively teach general issues related to appropriate social boundaries and hygiene before the child reaches puberty; and educate caregivers and other community providers about how to better understand and address the sexuality needs of adolescents with ASD.

Many individuals with ASD are currently making the transition to adulthood. We hope that those professionals working with older children and young adults with ASD will consider reading this important new work.

Wright & Wong Mystery Series Going Out of Print!

2007-05-14T11:08:00.000-04:00

We have bad news! The Wright & Wong mystery series is going out of print. The authors, Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, are also the authors of the Roswell High books, and have therefore turned most of their attention and talents toward writing those books and the Roswell TV show scripts. (Read an interview with them about the show here.) We wish we could beg them not to abandon the Wright & Wong series!

For those that haven't heard of this 4-book series before, it features two best friends in middle school, Orville Wright and Agatha Wong, who keep finding themselves in the middle of mysteries that need to be solved. They make the perfect team: Orville, who has Asperger Syndrome (AS), has an amazing eye for detail, but sometimes sees so many details he can't put the clues together into a whole picture. Meanwhile, Agatha comes from a very large and colorful family, so she is highly trained in the arts of understanding interpersonal relationships and seeing the overall story. Together, they always break the case!

The other excellent thing about this series is the way Orville's AS is discussed. The books always mention the new things he is learning in his social skills class after school, usually one main new skill per book, and Agatha helps to make sure he practices those skills in real-life situations. The strengths he gains from his AS are emphasized many times throughout the case, as well. However, the books do deal with some of the realities of bullying in middle school, which brings out the protective side of Agatha and the analytical side of Orville.

But now the publisher is phasing these books out of print! We have ordered all the remaining copies of Books 1 and 2 from our supplier, but Books 3 and 4 are no longer available for us to order. Therefore, we encourage everyone to order these books while you still can! We have run out of Book 3 as of this morning, so we no longer have the full set, but these books are so good, you'll want the ones you can still get your hands on! (Each book can be read individually, independent of the series order.) You can read synopses of the three remaining cases at our website:

The Case of the Prank That Stank (Wright & Wong #1)
The Case of the Nana-Napper (Wright & Wong #2)
The Case of the Slippery Soap Star (Wright & Wong #4)

A Highly Recommend Book for Parents and Teachers

2007-05-11T09:44:00.000-04:00

I have just reviewed School Success for Kids with Asperger's Syndrome, and it is packed with practical tips and strategies for parents, teachers, and other education professionals. The authors are leaders in the field of special education, and they have provided a treasure chest of tools and advice for improving the educational experiences and outcomes for students with Asperger Syndrome (AS).

The book is arranged in a concise format, which provides readers with key information on every page. The authors have summarized important research relevant to educating students with AS, and they address a broad scope of of essential topics, ranging from problem areas in the classroom and behavior challenges to advocating for appropriate services and life after high school.

The authors emphasize that it requires considerable expertise to make a diagnosis of AS, and to distinguish it from other disorders with similar symptom profiles. As a result, in the early chapters of the book they focus heavily on diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis.

I would also like to note that Ann Palmer (our Director of Chapter Relations) is mentioned in a section on college planning, and her book, Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome, is also highlighted. In addition, the Autism Society of North Carolina is included in the book's "Resources" section (Appendix A). Our bookstore received a complimentary copy of the book from the authors, and the accompanying publisher letter states that the authors "extend their gratitude for the work that our organization does to promote understanding of Asperger's Syndrome and to provide help to students and to their parents and teachers."

Reasonable People in an Unreasonable World

2007-05-03T12:53:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading Ralph Savarese's Reasonable People, and I can't remember the last time I read a book that made me think about so many difficult things all at once. The book is told memoir-style, telling the story of what it has been like thus far for Savarese and his wife, Emily, an autism inclusion expert, to raise their adopted son, DJ. However, though the main tale is that of life with DJ, Savarese uses this as a platform for the discussion of many larger societal issues that affect us all, whether we know someone with autism or not, (though clearly pretty much anyone reading this blog does.)

The first issue, or rather, the first set of issues, he talks about are those of poverty, foster care, and adoption. He discusses in detail his own initial desire to not have children, because doing so would limit his ability to take part in the wider world and would not allow him to devote his time to altruistic causes he believed in. When they first met DJ, he and his wife were devoted to getting DJ and his sister back into their biological mother's care. Throughout the narration of their prolonged relationship with Rhonda, in which they helped her both financially and in the court system, Savarese also discusses many of the thoughts he had about the cyclic nature of poverty and his desire to see it truly confronted as a societal problem in which everyone needs to take an interest, because it is everyone's responsibility as a whole. He continued this discussion in his description of the foster care system, in which many of the families providing foster care are poor families doing it for the childcare stipend. He notes that this draws an inadvertent, sometimes antagonistic divide, often along class lines, between prospective adoptive families and foster care families. His stark look at the foster care and state adoption systems reveal a need for change, but also a realistic look at how overtaxed the systems are, being a essentially stopgap measure for addressing much larger societal problems.

Once Savarese and his wife succeed in adopting DJ, they are determined to get him into an inclusive educational setting. Up to that point, he had attended a closed center school, in which he had made little progress. Thanks to Emily's own inclusion expertise and both of the determination of them both to prevail over the school system, they succeeded, and DJ began on the road to literacy and learning. The arguments presented between Emily and the schools, both the center school and the public elementary school, are classic, and powerful, examples of the argument over inclusion. As one can tell from the chapter at the end of the book, though, DJ is most definitely a proponent of inclusive environments, which he makes clear in a letter addressed to his old preschool teachers.

One of the most important things DJ gains from his new intensive educational experiences is literacy. As it turns out, literacy opens many avenues of communication for DJ, because he says he didn't learn to decode spoken language until he learned to read. Their efforts towards literacy also led to an inadvertent discovery of facilitated communication (FC), and Savarese spends some time defending the method in its legitimate form, discussing the controversy that surrounded it in the early '90s, but presenting powerful evidence of research done since then proving its efficacy when used appropriately. He also mentions numerous successful users of FC, who now lead quite rich lives and are able to advocate for themselves. DJ looks well on the way to becoming one of these vocal, or should we say, typing advocates. Indeed, DJ, as well as his parents, have discovered the world of disability/identity politics, and these play a strong role in their story.

However, one of the things that makes this book so unique amongst the available books on autism, aside from its focus on adoption, is its exploration of the relationship between trauma and autism. DJ was severely physically and sexually abused by another child in foster care, and it was only after he learned to communicate that he seemed able to assimilate and understand this part of his past. This led to many problems with anxiety, anger, confusion, and separation. Dealing with this through therapy was much more complicated when combined with autism and communicating via FC, and Savarese describes many of the issues they and their therapists faced in dealing with something relatively unknown. Many of the standard therapy techniques became problems in and of themselves, as DJ began to perseverate on his past trauma, rather than moving through the memories to the other side. In addition, the more anxious and upset he became, the more violent and less communicative he would become. The combination of trauma, in this case PTSD, and autism is not a field that has been widely explored, and this book can be considered a call for more attention and research. Savarese points out that the nonverbal in our population are far more likely to suffer abuse, and this problem is probably much more widespread than we would like to think.

Though Savarese also writes movingly about the meaning of family, particularly in relation to the bond between DJ and his biological sister; dealing with loss in many forms; the relationship between poetry and DJ's unique perceptions of the world; and numerous other things, I fear that I have run on for too long already, so I'll simply end here with a recommendation that everyone read this book. Truly, it is a moving, fascinating, and of course remarkably well-written book, and I am sad to have had to condense it this much.

(As an interesting exercise, people might like to compare this book to Portia Iverson's Strange Son, previously reviewed here, which has its own particular view of nonverbal autism and another presentation of a form of FC, though they'll vehemently deny that's what it is.)

ASNC Bookstore's Top Ten Bestsellers List for April

2007-05-01T09:12:00.000-04:00

April 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

Please visit our website to read detailed descriptions of these and other popular titles. We are also adding new books weekly, so check out our New Items category to see our latest offerings.

A Valuable New Tool for Teachers and Therapists

2007-04-25T12:46:00.000-04:00

The authors of the popular Tasks Galore book series have developed an exciting new information-gathering tool that is now available for sale through our bookstore.

Titled Listen and Collaborate: Creating a Parent/Professional Partnership, this is a questionnaire set that is designed to help educators, therapists, and other professionals create targeted educational and therapeutic programs for students with autism and related developmental disorders. It is the authors’ view that a collaboration between professionals and parents is essential, and this tool allows professionals to obtain key information from parents and other caregivers in 8 major areas, ranging from expressive communication and social development to routines and self-help skills. The parent/caregiver questionnaire provides important information about each student, and it can be used to document a student’s progress over time. The completed questionnaire offers specific information that can help teachers formulate Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals for the student, and it also provides parents with valuable documentation about their child to share with other professionals, if they need to do so. A two-page student questionnaire is also included as part of the set.

Two versions of the questionnaires are available for purchase. Version 1 is designed for use with preschool and elementary learners, and it is also available in Spanish. Version 2 can be used with middle school, high school, and adult learners, and is available in Spanish as well.

Teachers and therapists who are trained in Structured Teaching methodology will be particularly interested in this valuable tool. The authors (Laurie Eckenrode, Pat Fennell, and Kathy Hearsey) are award-winning Division TEACCH-affiliated professionals who have provided extensive training in Structured Teaching to parents and educators for many years.

Send In the Idiots Now in Paperback

2007-04-19T14:35:00.000-04:00

Kamran Nazeer's brilliant book, Send In the Idiots, is now in paperback. (Yes, I know. I don't like the new cover as much, either.)

For those who haven't discovered this book yet, or were waiting for it to come out in paperback form, I can't recommend it enough. We hear so much about children who undergo early intervention programs, but what happens to them as adults? Kamran Nazee was one of those children, and in this book, he tracks down four of his classmates, and tells their stories intertwined with his own. He also tracks down his teachers and talks to them about issues of autism advocacy, such as whether it should be considered another legitimate state of being, similar to the deaf community.

In exploring the adult lives of his former classmates, he explores many fascinating ideas about how the larger world perceives individuals with autism, as well as how individuals with autism perceive the larger world. In one particularly poignant chapter, he explores the way one of his classmates is distanced by his partner, turned into something not-quite-human, by the label of "genius." Another classmate became a speech writer for the Democratic party during the 2004 US election cycle, and he and Nazeer explore some of the reasons they think the party failed to present themselves well. Not all adults with autism are happy and successful, though. The final classmate Nazeer tracked down had actually committed suicide. He spoke to her parents about her life and her struggles as she entered adulthood.

Nazeer's book offers a look at the broad range of people who make up the adult population of people with autism, which is an extremely valuable addition to the current literature. Exceptionally well-written and accessible to a general audience.

Banishing Verona

2007-04-13T14:13:00.000-04:00

I recently finished reading the novel Banishing Verona, by Margot Livesey. It was a book suggested to us by an attendee at the ASNC annual conference, and we were surprised to have never heard of it before. One of the things we've noted is a lack of fiction for adults in the autism book field, but, with the amazing mainstream success of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, this seems to be changing. This seems to me to be a very good thing, because it is when things become more accepted and commonplace that they start appearing in mainstream fiction of writers mostly unconnected with autism directly.

In this case, Livesey says in the acknowledgements:

I'm grateful to those who talked to me, both professionally and personally, about their experiences with Asperger's syndrome.

I have to say, I think she did a fantastic job creating a real and very likeable adult character with AS.

I've had a hard time deciding exactly what to say about the story of this book, because I don't want to give too much of the plot away. The story has many unexpected twists and turns, and they are what make it so hard to put down. While I was reading this one, I had several days where I had to remind myself that I should, in fact, go home when the workday was over, because the book would be there to read when I got back in the morning. So I'll try to give you a basic idea, without giving too much away.

The story takes place in London, and is told in alternating sections from the points of view of each of the two main characters. Zeke Cafarelli is an adult man with AS. He has a successful house painting business, and enjoys doing all his jobs right, with a lot of attention to detail. His parents, on the other hand, think the painting business is a way of rebellion, and would far prefer for him to take over their produce shop. Verona McIntyre is a pregnant single woman slightly older than Zeke, who shows up out of the blue at a house he is working on, claiming to be the niece of the owners. She stays for two days, helping him paint, talking about anything than comes to mind, they unexpectedly fall in love, and then she disappears, leaving behind her grandfather's diary.

This is when Zeke's whole life changes. As one might expect for a person with AS, he has never felt very comfortable with change, and he has many problems with anxiety. At one point in the past, he had become completely agoraphobic. Now he finds himself confronting people he doesn't know in an attempt to find this mysterious woman, boarding a plane and flying to Boston on short notice, befriending new people in a strange city, and, just for added flavor in the background, having to mediate his parents' health crises and failing marriage.

Verona's story, too, is quite complicated. Before the book started, she was a successful radio interviewer with her own morning show. But now, a very strange series of events has thrown her life into chaos, and seems to be taking Zeke along for the ride, as he has become her anchor in the storm.

The dual perspectives on the story, and the sheer bizarreness of the continual series of near-misses that makes up their strange courtship, keeps the reader hanging on, wondering just what will happen next. I won't give away any more. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens!

Autism Awareness Month 2007

2007-04-10T12:11:00.000-04:00

April is Autism Awareness Month! Therefore, during the month of April, if you place an order through our website and use the promotion code AAM2007 during checkout, you will receive 10% off your purchase!

Also, for AAM, the bookstore will be traveling to events. The soonest upcoming event is the Cabarrus County chapter of ASNC's 1st Annual Autism Awareness Fair, on Thursday, April 12, 6:30-8:30pm. It will be held at the NorthEast Medical Center (NEMC), in the Medical Arts Building, Hamrick Theater, in Concord, NC. If you're in the area, please stop by!

ASNC Bookstore's Top Ten Bestsellers List for March 2007

2007-04-02T10:52:00.000-04:00

Starting with our February 2007 sales, we are listing the Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore's Top 10 Bestsellers List on a monthly basis. This will give our customers, as well as other visitors, the opportunity to find out what our readers are buying. Our Top 10 List will also contain links to detailed book descriptions on our website, so visitors can learn more about the key resources that our customers are purchasing. So, let's move on to our March bestsellers list!

March 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

The Strangeness of Strange Son

2007-03-30T12:23:00.000-04:00

I recently read Portia Iverson's book, Strange Son: Two Mothers, Two Sons, and the Quest to Unlock the Hidden World of Autism, and it was... strange.

Don't get me wrong. It was an easy read, fairly well-written, and interesting in its own way. But based on the title, wouldn't you expect it to be about, oh, I don't know, two mothers and two sons? Instead what we have is an autobiographical work by Iverson that focuses pretty much exclusively on her own experiences and only her point of view. For a lot of the time, really, just her. Her thoughts, her ideas, her lay-person scientific research, her struggle to get scientists to listen to her, etc., etc.

Despite the fact that she begins the book insisting that it was her own son's "descent" into autism that inspired her to undertake a research campaign, and for her and her husband to start the organization Cure Autism Now!, there is truly very little about her son in the book at all, until he begins to communicate. From page 16 until page 286, Dov is essentially invisible, which is a period that probably covers about 10 years of his life, though it's hard to tell, because his own chronology in the book is so rarely mentioned.

Instead, the vast majority of the book that isn't devoted to Iverson herself is devoted to Tito Mukhopadhyay, whose existence took the autism world by storm when he was first brought to public attention, as he has severe behavioral and sensory issues, but communicates quite fluently through independent writing. Iverson appears to spend all of her free time with Tito and his mother, Soma, convinced that Tito is a key to understanding low-functioning autism. She reports extensively on the conversations she and Tito have about his perceptions of the world, his thought processes, his life dreams. She also gives interesting accounts of his visits to various cognitive researchers to undergo tests. These appear to be largely frustrating experiences.

So there's a mother and a son. Where's the other mother? Iverson does talk about Tito's mother, Soma, more than she talks about her own son, Dov, because Soma is always there when Tito is there. She notes that it often seems that Tito cannot initiate communication without Soma there to prompt him. She does give Soma huge amounts of commendation for the apparent miracle she worked in getting Tito (and eventually Dov) to communicate. But I couldn't help thinking that the two mothers had a very odd relationship, what with Iverson being so obsessed with Tito, and Soma being so isolated from everything not related to him. Soma herself develops a strange fixation on whether or not she is Iverson's "best friend."

I was at times forcefully reminded of the mother/other mother's child relationship seen in the movie Spanglish, where the Anglo mother "adopts" the Mexican nanny's daughter because she's so much smarter and prettier than her own daughter. The near complete absence of Iverson's own son from the book, who cannot communicate and remains at the same level he was at when he was 5, compared with her fascinated exchanges with Tito, who is the shining star of the severe autism world, is perhaps more revelatory than Iverson might wish.

However, the book does give an interesting sort of backstage view into the world of autism research in the early 90s*, as well as detailing some very interesting insights into the life of Tito (though admittedly from her perspective only), who is truly an fascinating individual in his own right. What's more, Iverson's own theories about low-functioning autism and brain functioning are intriguing, and do leave the reader wondering if anyone's ever followed up on them. So it's not that I don't think people should be interested in or read the book, it's just that I found it rather... strange.

*I will admit that her claim early on in the book about there being "no research" on autism before she and her husband started CAN really put me off. Just what is it my mother and all her colleagues were doing all those years while I was growing up, then? So, yeah, take things in this book with a shaker of salt.

ASNC Conference 2007 Report

2007-03-27T15:53:00.000-04:00

We're back from the ASNC Annual Conference in High Point! As you can see, we took a few things with us. Actually, these pictures only show a fraction of what we took with us, and that in turn is only a fraction of what we have in the store! The conference was quite a success this year, the first year it's been in the western part of the state for quite some time. The pre-conference workshop on Friday had 182 attendees, and the conference itself on Saturday had 349!

Those of you who were at the conference know that our fabulous pre-conference workshop speaker was Dr. Jed Baker. He got rave reviews from all the attendees we overheard in the bookstore. For those of you who weren't able to attend, or who don't live anywhere near North Carolina, you can still buy Dr. Baker's fantastic books! His first two books, Social Skills Training and The Social Skills Picture Book, have long been bookstore favorites, and his two latest books, Preparing for Life and The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond, continue this tradition. We highly recommend you take a look at these books:

Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Asperger Syndrome
This book contains 70 skill lessons that were created to help teach social skills to children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and social-communication problems. These skill lessons are grouped in the following categories: conversational skills; cooperative play skills; friendship management; self-regulation; empathy; and conflict management. It is Dr. Baker's view that intervention should not focus solely on the child with a social skills deficit. Rather, he believes that skills should also be taught to typical children who may be ignoring, teasing, or rejecting the child who has communication difficulties. As a result, the last chapter of the book is devoted to sensitivity training for typical peers and incentive programs to promote peer acceptance. This is an indispensable social skills curriculum for parents and professionals.

Social Skills Picture Book: Teaching Play, Emotion, and Communication to Children with Autism
In this book, Dr. Baker demonstrates approximately 30 social skills in the areas of communication, play, and emotion. Each social skill is formatted sequentially through photographs and conversation bubbles, similar to a comic strip. These picture stories show children exactly what to say and do in social situations, and they will be of particular value to those children who have difficulties with auditory and language processing, abstract thinking, and sustaining attention. This book is a dynamic teaching tool for educators and parents, and is appropriate for students ages 12 and under.

Preparing For Life: The Complete Guide to Transitioning to Adulthood for Those with Autism and AS
Dr. Baker has written this guide to help parents and professionals teach valuable social and life skills to adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger Syndrome. He focuses on the importance of allowing persons with HFA and AS to continue to be unique and accepted, rather than judged. However, he also recognizes the need to help adolescents build specific skills that they can utilize throughout their lives, and this book emphasizes adding to those skills rather than replacing behaviors, which can empower young adults to attain goals while still remaining true to themselves. Specific targeted skills include: respecting personal space; dealing with anger; conversation strategies; advocacy; conducting a job search; interview skills; managing money; and many more. The program encourages person-centered goal setting, as well as planning and training to help ensure a successful transition to adulthood.

Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond
Dr. Baker has created this picture book edition for adolescents and young adults. Part one describes how to implement and individualize this book, and it also focuses on the importance of visual aids. In addition, an emphasis is placed on helping students generalize the information provided. Part two of the book teaches specific social skills through conversation bubbles and photographs of teens interacting in real-life situations. These skills are illustrated with step-by-step instructions and examples of the right way and the wrong way to approach specific situations. The social skills featured range from greetings and interrupting a conversation to dealing with mistakes and interviewing for a job, and older students will learn expected behavior as well as how to make good social choices. This resource is especially helpful for individuals who have difficulty with abstract thinking, sustaining attention, and auditory processing.

Finally, our readers may be interested to know that Dr. Baker is also featured in the Asperger Syndrome: Success In the Mainstream Classroom DVD. Locally-owned Coulter Video, located in Winston Salem, does a fantastic job producing these videos, and they come highly recommended.

Please visit our website through any of these links to read more about the books or to place an order! Feel free to contact us with any questions.

ASNC Annual Conference 2007

2007-03-22T11:17:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again! The bookstore will be traveling to the ASNC Annual Conference, being held this year at the Radisson Hotel in High Point, NC.

The bookstore will be open in the Kittinger Room:
Friday 3/23, 7:30am-9:00pm
Saturday 3/24, 7:00am-3:00pm

We will have a large selection of books available, and all of our staff* will be available to help you, so please, feel free to stop by!

*Since we will all be at the conference, the regular bookstore will be closed Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.

Brotherly Feelings: Me, My Emotions, and My Brother with Asperger's Syndrome

2007-03-21T10:47:00.000-04:00

Local authors Robin Schiffmiller and her son Sam Frender wrote this book together to help Sam deal with some of the issues he faces having a brother on the spectrum. He writes about the feelings of being: worried, protective, guilty, hurt, optimistic, loved, etc. He writes about his full range of emotions, including his own struggle with the need to be perfect and always responsible so that he is not a burden to his parents. I think this is what makes the book stand out. Although the range of emotions Sam writes about are brought about by his relationship with his brother, the reader can't help but be aware of Sam's sense of responsibility not only for his brother but for his family as a whole. I am sure this is one reason Robin suggested they write some of these issues down so that Sam and his family could work through them together. Sam's wish is that other children and families will identify with some of his experiences and know that they are not alone.

Robin and Sam live right here in Raleigh, NC! It is great to have a local family letting others know about life with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Robin is also the coordinator for the Wake County Autism Society Sibling Support Group for children ages 9 to 12. The group (now in its second year) has been a wonderful addition to the support groups offered and has filled a need to not only support the parents of individuals with ASD but also the growing number of siblings.

Visit our website to purchase a copy of this book. It is located in our Sibling Issues category.

For a preview of Sam's book, go to NBC17 News and see Sam and his mother Robin interviewed.

An Excellent Documentary Featuring Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum

2007-03-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

For those of you who were fortunate enough to see MTV's documentary series True Life last night, I'm sure you would agree that it offered a compelling look at three teenagers who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Titled I Have Autism, this episode highlighted the aspirations and daily challenges of three amazing young men: Jeremy Sicile-Kira, who is 17 years of age; Jonathan Lerman, who is 19 years old; and Elijah Wapner, who is 16.

Jeremy Sicile-Kira is a cheerful teenager who is nonverbal, and he was diagnosed with severe autism at age 3. His mother, author Chantal Sicile-Kira, knew that Jeremy had thoughts and feelings that he wanted to communicate, so she introduced a letter board that he learned to point at to show in words what he could not say aloud. When Jeremy was 15, Chantal bought a handheld device for him called a Lightwriter, which utilizes a speech synthesizer that reads aloud what is typed. Jeremy became encouraged by his ability to communicate with others (including his peers), so he decided to use the device to invite his classmates to his 18th birthday party, which turns out to be a huge success. I would like to note here that Jeremy's mother Chantal is the author of two popular (and highly recommended) books in our bookstore: Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent's Guide, and the award-winning Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide.

Jonathan Lerman, 19, is a sensitive, language-impaired young adult with autism who has difficulty with abstract thought and is severely affected by loud noises (he often wears headphones). However, he has been given the label of autistic savant because of his extraordinary artistic ability. His drawings have been featured in several solo shows in New York, and a book of his artwork was published in 2002 titled Jonathan Lerman: Drawings By an Artist with Autism, which we also sell in our bookstore. Jonathan is shown with his family, attending school (a high school for kids with disabilities), and drawing in his art studio. He has been experiencing increasing episodes of outbursts and tantrums, and his source of frustration appears to be his autism and his inability to fit in. He is shown visiting a neurologist, who is uncertain what is causing Jonathan's outbursts. However, Jonathan does have another successful solo art show (without a tantrum), and his parents decide that next year he should be mainstreamed into a high school with typical teenagers. In the meantime, he is also being tested for a possible seizure disorder.

Elijah Wapner is a charming, humorous, 16-year-old teenager who has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. His deep interest in comedy has helped him learn how to communicate with the world, and he has aspired to make people laugh since he was a young boy. He decided at an early age to become a stand-up comedian, and he eventually learned to write his own material. He is shown both at home and on the road with his mother, author Valerie Paradiž, who is his biggest supporter. Elijah begins to prepare for his appearance at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, and it is at this event that Elijah decides, for the first time, to talk about his autism in front of an audience. Although he experiences anxiety about revealing his diagnosis to strangers, his show turns out to be a success, and Elijah decides that revealing his autism should be a permanent part of his future performances. (Elijah has a new website, so be sure to check it out.) Elijah's mother, author Valerie Paradiž, wrote the book Elijah's Cup, which we also have available in our bookstore. This book has become a classic, and it is now in a revised edition.

Born on a Blue Day Offers Entry into a Savant's Mind

2007-03-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

Honestly, who isn't fascinated by savants? Everyone dreams of discovering they have some amazing, superhero-like powers, and savants come closer to living that dream than almost anyone else.

Daniel Tammet seems particularly more blessed than ordinary mortals. He is a savant with Asperger Syndrome (AS). In his autobiography, Born on a Blue Day, he lets us in on what it's like to live inside his superpowered brain. He describes in detail his synaesthetic relationship with numbers, and how this aids his phenomenal memory. He is perhaps most famous for his record-setting recitation of pi to 22,514 digits in one sitting, as a fundraising event for the UK's National Society for Epilepsy. When describing his trip to the US for the filming of the documentary Brainman, he talks about some of the tests specialists did with him to try to understand his unique mental processes. As one of the highest functioning savants known, many researchers consider Daniel an important key to understanding these amazing brain functions.

His most fascinated talent to me, though, is his facility with learning languages. He speaks some 10 languages fluently, including one he created on his own. (Believe me, constructing a functional language system is harder than it may seem.) For the last part of the Brainman documentary, he was sent to Iceland to learn Icelandic, determined to be one of the most complex languages the producers could find, in less than a week! And yet, as Daniel describes it, it is clear he managed to take this challenge in stride, too. He now runs his own website, where he writes online language-learning courses. Basically, he has the very superpower I wish I had. (Alas, to date, I can only speak Spanish passably and Japanese moderately-poorly.)

Like any superhero, Daniel does have his weaknesses. He talks about the problems he has faced with social interactions, with inflexibility with regard to routines, with learning to drive, and other typical issues many people with AS deal with every day. But he has managed to cope with them all, and indeed seems quite happy with who he is, AS, savant syndrome, and all.

Daniel covers a lot more of the details of his life in the book, such as his childhood epilepsy, and his relationship with his partner, much more than I can go into here, and I can't recommend the book enough. A fascinating, and fast, read.

Daniel has been featured by The Guardian, the New York Times, and 60 Minutes.