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The following is a list of books, videos, DVDs, CDs, links and other products specifically for children with Autism and their caregivers. Please feel free to contact me with any products, services or links to websites you believe would be an asset to such families.
This page will be updated as we discover or hear about new products. Keep checking back!
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BOOKS:
1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Veronica Zysk and Ellen Notbohm): A time-saver. A life-saver. Parents and professionals can now bypass countless hours spent seeking answers to the mystifying day-to-day challenges of autism. In snappy, can-do format, 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders offers page after page of try-it-now solutions that have worked for thousands of children grappling with sensory, communication, social, behavior, self-care issues and more.
Autism Spectrum Disorders from A to Z (Barbara T. Doyle M.S. and Emily Doyle Iland B.A.): This book goes step-by-step through the complex of symptoms, definitions, assessments and diagnoses of the variety of autism spectrum disorders. The authors focus on the role of the school system, parents, teachers, and medical professional, adult service providers and agencies in their analysis. The authors provide practical strategies to improve the assessment process and help the child or adult deal with the stress of the evaluations, which include everything from psychiatric or neurological audiology or visual processing. They cover the impact of the diagnosis on the individual with ASD, as well as the emotional issues and impacts on the family and other people who interact with the child/adult who's been diagnoses. Finally, they tackle the controversial issues of causes and "cures" for ASD.
Autism? Asperger's? ADHD? ADD? (Diane Drake Burns): Suspect there's something "different" about your child? This book will help you navigate those early stages of your child's life when a diagnosis is nowhere in sight and you're either totally frustrated or frightened into inaction by a vision of what may lie ahead. Written by a mother who knows--because she had an uncanny ability to avoid her son's diagnosis--this book humorously and gently prods parents into action, beginning with the chapter "Was That the Exit to 'Normal?" and "Rules of the Road," to "Time to Take Off the Gloves" and "To School or Not to School."
  For those wanting to help their child's hungry brain by trying the wheat- and casein-free diet, this is an excellent cookbook. Not only will you learn the why's and how's of the diet but you'll have Mommy-tested and Kid-approved recipes. We interviewed Dana Laake, author of the book, in May 2009. We're testing out a few recipes and will share a few on the blog over the next week.
 A Is For Autism, F Is For Friend by Joanna L. Keating-Velasco. This is a great book for the older or stronger reader. It's told from the voice of an 11-year old girl named Chelsea who lives with Autism. She tells the reader what it's like to live with Autism, how it 'feels' and why she may not seem interested in the things other 11-year olds are 'in' to. She wants to be friends with you but she wants you to understand her and how the world around her seems from her perspective. She tells you that she really wants to be friends but that you each need to get to know one another better first. I just loved the voice in this book. It gives the reader all the information without any of the technical stuff. This is an excellent book not only to give a child the tools/words to talk about her disorder to others, but also to get others looking beyond the surface and seeing how these children may see the world around them. GREAT book for the targeted age!!
I am Utterly Unique by Elaine Marie Larson. All four of my kids loved this little book but my three-year old son, Xander, especially loved it. It's an A-B-C book giving positive characteristics of children with Asperger's and high-functioning Autism. He loved the pictures and the words were simple enough that he could repeat some of them. (He has HUGE speech issues so that meant alot to me that he tried following and repeating words!)
Oliver Onion by Diane Murrell. This book actually had my older girls tearing up. Poor Oliver didin't feel good in his own skin so he tried pretending he was a BEAUTIFUL orange. Oranges looked better, smelled better and people seemed to like them better. One day, Oliver slipped an orange peel over himself and tried passing himself off as a real orange! Unfortunately, he was discovered and tossed from the truck! But he soon realized that being an onion was BEAUTIFUL too because it was unique. And he finally learned to accept and be himself. This book is a gem and an important book to have to help our kiddos whose self-esteems often take a beating. Be proud of who you are because you ARE a shining star in your own way!
Why Does Izzy Cover Her Ears? by Jennifer Veenendall. Jaimie really liked this book. She related to many of the experiences that poor Izzy had. Izzy started Grade One and is having some trouble transitioning into her new classroom. It's too loud, too busy and she doesn't like how other kids sit so close to her sometimes. She was frustrated and upset and decided she didn't like Grade One as much as her Kindergarten teacher said she would. But then her teacher looked at her with 'sensory glasses' on and helped Izzy adjust to her new situation and she started feeling much better. FANTASTIC book for teachers, peers and children with sensory issues who need a way to explain their needs to others.
 Autism/Asperger's Digest Magazine is put out on a bi-monthly basis. It is a phenomenal publication stuffed with therapy options, nutrition information, strategies for school and more. Although it's focus is children and families living with Autism, they also have awesome information on the sensory side of things. Editor, Veronica Zysk, donated a 1-year subscription to this magazine for our lucky winner, Peny Brown. I highly recommend this magazine to all parents of children with Autism, Asperger's and SPD. Please check them out: http://www.futurehorizons-autism.com/
LINKS
Autism Today is a site where you can find everything from information, conferences to sensory products. It's run by Karen Simmons (one of the editors for the Chicken Soup For The Soul: Children With Special Needs book) and has two special needs children of her own. In other words, she understands the needs of the parents of Autistic, Asperger's, ADD or other challenges and does her best to meet them. I found this site very helpful and informative, however, I had to take myself off of their newsletter list because they do bombard you with emails. But I still highly recommend this site as a resource tool: http://www.autismtoday.com/index.asp
Baby Bumblebee is an excellent resource site (just read the comments from happy parents!) They offer a wealth of products and learning resources. Here's their link: http://www.babybumblebee.com/autism.htm?gclid=CIrXzebir5ECFRUmawodYnUOeg
Autism Society Canada is a fantastic resource for Canadians who are parents, friends, caregivers or teachers of children with autism. It's also a great resource for anyone else interested in learning about autism as well as to learn about the latest research: http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/index_e.html
 
Generation Rescue: This is the incredible Website created by Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carey to help caregivers with children living with autism. It is their believe that if we help our children with their physical symptoms, their autism symptoms will decrease or disappear. I love the work they are doing with their foundation and their message is powerful. If you are a parent who needs direction, support or assistance, this is the place for you.
Pathfinders: This site has information on the latest research, information, activities to try, links to community support and a fantastic newsletter. I did a spotlight on them on our blog in April. This is an invaluable resource. Check them out! http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/
Autism Learning Felt: This is an amazing blog maintained by Tammy Lessick. She does product reviews, interviews and gives valuable and sound advice and tips. Her site is a must to add to your favorites. We'll be doing an interview with Tammy for our blog so she can tell others all about what she's doing.
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