TITLE: Parenting a Child with Autism: A Modern Guide to Understand and Raise Your ASD Child to Success (Kindle Edition)
AUTHOR: Bass, Richard
SUBJECT AREA: Autism-Parenting
PUBLISHER (for paperback edition) RBG Publishing
PUBLICATION DATE: 2022
NUMBER OF PAGES (for paperback edition) 188
Among the veritable treasure trove of parenting books out there purporting to guide perplexed and frustrated parents in raising their ASD sons and daughters, Parenting a Child with Autism: A Modern Guide to Understand and Raise Your ASD Child to Success, by Richard Bass, stands out as one of the best I’ve seen. Starting out with the usual description of what autism is, the author describes different diagnostic categories such as PDD-NOS, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder; while some of these may seem dated in light of the newer umbrella ASD category in the DSM-5, it is helpful to learn about these, anyway.
After that first chapter, Bass then segues into chapters on treatments, recent advances in understanding autism such as the role of the Vagus nerve, sensory processing and most important of all-safety at home and out in the community.
Each chapter has a thorough description of each topic covered and at the end there is an exercise for the reader to complete that start with an example that is easy follow; these include charts with rating scales from 1-5, as in the safety section with 1 being the safest and 5 being the most dangerous.
Every chapter includes step-by-step instructions and suggestions on each topic such as dealing with sensory overload and helping with communication so that the reader has clear guidance on what to do. No stone is left unturned here-diet, dealing with anxiety and information about distinguishing between ASD and ADHD is included as the two conditions are often confused with each other and many folks with ASD also are diagnosed with ADHD in one form or another.
I was impressed with the chapter on treatments as the author takes a non-biased approach informing the reader so that the parent can decide which one suits their child best. Not only is ABA discussed but also DIR and Floortime! I found this to be, at the risk of overstatement, an amazing book that no parent of a child with ASD or who shows signs of the condition should be without. And one final word-the author does not think that autism is a disease that needs to be cured!
