NOTE: This page offers book suggestions, links, and other
resources for parents who have children with ASD. It does not provide medical
advice and is not intended to be used for self-diagnoses. If you assume you, your
child, or someone you know has ASD, please seek the advice of a medically
trained professional.
As a Youth Librarian, my
main focus is to provide free and relevant services to parents and children
whether that be in the form of storytimes, books, summer reading, or blog posts
just to name a few. For most of the Youth Services provided at the library, we
try to promote early literacy, childhood development, and education for
parents. The Youth and Fun Van staff come in contact with a diversity of people
throughout Pinal County. We often serve children that have been diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Due to the number of families affected by
autism in our community, I have decided to create a page devoted just to book
suggestions, articles, and other resources available for parents about ASD.
During the past few
decades, there seems to have been a steady rise in numbers of children
diagnosed with ASD. As a result, it has become a growing topic of debate and
research. There are many opinions as to what causes the disorder and how to
alleviate the symptoms. Yet, there are no proven scientific causes or cures for
the disorder, which may be concerning for parents with children on the
spectrum. However, there are many support systems out there and therapies
parents can try to help alleviate the symptoms.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), "Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a
developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior" (2018). Asperger's Syndrome is a separate term that was used in the past to refer to a milder form of autism, but the term is used less now. In general, most people affected by the disorder have
"difficulty with communication and interaction with other people, restricted
interests and repetitive behaviors, and symptoms that hurt the person's ability
to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life" (NIMH). Even though people with ASD have these difficulties, that does
not mean they are not smart and do not wish to communicate with others. On the
contrary, people with ASD tend to be extremely intelligent and many go on to
live very full and active lives.
Some of the most common
symptoms of ASD are humming, hand flapping, keeping little to no eye contact,
intense interest in a single subject, robotic-like speech, difficulty with
changes in routine, and sensory issues (NIMH). Diet, exercise, supplements, medications, and counselling can
help with these symptoms. There also are many books, online resources and
public figures with ASD who have helped educate people on what it is like to
live with the disorder. One such figure is Temple Grandin who has written many
books on ASD and who also had a TV-movie made about her life and achievements. Lastly,
with the aid of new computer technologies, many non-verbal autistic individuals
now have a voice. There is still much to learn, but it is good to know there is
support out there and that we are learning more and more about ASD.
