Amanda Baggs and DJ Savarese on Anderson Cooper 360°

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

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!

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

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

October 2007 Top 10 Bestsellers

1. Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew
   
   
2. Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew
   
   
3. Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships: Decoding Social Mysteries Through the Unique Perspectives of Autism
   
   
4. Tasks Galore
   
   
5. Tasks Galore: Making Groups Meaningful
   
   
6. TEACCH Transition Assessment Profile (TTAP)
   
   
7. Tasks Galore for the Real World
   
   
8. Parenting Across the Autism Spectrum
   
   
9. Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
   
   
10. How To Take the Grrrr Out of Anger
    

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.