Hello Everyone,
This month’s BLOG will begin with a chance to view my slideshow GALLERY of Books and focus on the offered Extended Book Reviews. The slideshow shows the book covers, divided into the following categories ~
AMAZING ADVENTURES
DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL
SAVVY SOLUTIONS
SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, academics, and all people #Autism, in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey. March's BLOGs give snippets of my Extended Book Reviews; find full reviews on website MENU; along with a LINK to purchase the eBook. You will find each Autism story to be engaging, compelling, and as different as each family's Autism journey.
'From the Category – SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS Read the full reviews, plus LINKs to eBooks, on www.sarasautismsite.com.
This month’s BLOG will begin with a chance to view my slideshow GALLERY of Books and focus on the offered Extended Book Reviews. The slideshow shows the book covers, divided into the following categories ~
AMAZING ADVENTURES
DIAGNOSIS, DOCTORS, DENIAL
SAVVY SOLUTIONS
SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, academics, and all people #Autism, in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey. March's BLOGs give snippets of my Extended Book Reviews; find full reviews on website MENU; along with a LINK to purchase the eBook. You will find each Autism story to be engaging, compelling, and as different as each family's Autism journey.
'From the Category – SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS Read the full reviews, plus LINKs to eBooks, on www.sarasautismsite.com.
A Spot on the Wall by Martha Squaresky, eBook 2014; an Extended Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker
Excerpts from the book – (8% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
8% Jay and I strolled out of the Regal Cinema… We waited on the carpet in the long corridor for our friends…Jay turned, glanced to his left and saw Greg. Our son.
Jay said “Martha. Look! There’s Greg.” Jay tugged on my sleeve.
I heard him, turned to look at my son and said, “Greg! Hi, Greg! Are you going to the movies? We saw a movie with Charlene and David.”
A bit confused to see Jay and me at the theater, he peered into my eyes, and then looked away as if mentally processing our presence in his life…
Evidently his private world no longer included us. He moved forward, ignoring me.
< My Thoughts > “…his private world no longer included us.”
When your child is small, you want him or her to learn to become independent individuals. But then when it happens, after all the years of vigilant preparation, somehow parents are not ready for their child to leave the nest.
4% “Go away. This is my life now,” I’m sure he would have said had he been able to communicate his thoughts.
I convinced Jay they would call if there was a problem.
3% You encourage your children to live independently in this chaotic world. That’s what all parents seek for their children. This story is about that seeking.
Note: More about PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), go to MENU for – Know Autism, Know Your Child with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker. Read on this website under – UNIT 2 – Why Is It Autism? Chapter 1, Diagnosis & DSM-5;; APPENDIX B – PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder).
In the DSM-5, individuals who previously met the criteria for PDD-NOS are now diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD encompasses a broader range of symptoms and severity levels, including: Social communication impairments, Restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests, and Symptoms present early in development.
Therefore, PDD-NOS is no longer a recognized diagnosis in the current edition of the DSM. Individuals who previously received this diagnosis may be reevaluated and diagnosed with ASD or another appropriate condition based on the DSM-5 criteria.
85% Greg’s fingers showed evidence of his own personal attacks. For years during tantrums, he bit his fingers. Calluses built up to the point that when we held his hand, we felt the hard spots on each side of his index fingers.
Greg felt better when he bit his fingers. Maybe there was a release of endorphins that brought relief from whatever was causing Greg’s tantrums, thus making it a compulsive behavior. In many ways his puking mirrored cutting.
My hope was that Greg understood the pain inflicted on him by a fellow sufferer of autism as nothing personal. I wanted him to find peace from his personal demons as well.
< My Thoughts > “Greg felt better when he bit his fingers.”
While often 'risky behavior', also known as Self-Injurious Behaviors (SIBs). SIBS are possibly necessary for stress relief. The child bits his fingers repetitiously, until it becomes a dangerous fixed behavior.
Boesch, M., Taber-Doughty, T., et al. (2015) believe that “… an individual may not exhibit impairment in current functioning until environmental demands outweigh the individual’s capabilities.” One of those impairments causing Self-Injurious Behaviors (SIBs) is communication and/or language deficits. “SIB’s are behaviors causing direct physical harm to one’s own body, resulting in physical injury and tissue damage,” (exhibited through self-hitting, self-pinching, self-biting). Occasionally they will bite others nearby.
99% Greg is heroic. He is living life independently despite having severe challenges in communication, meeting simple demands and making meaning out of life. That’s what I have to accept, and it’s the most difficult acceptance there is.
Greg doesn’t need me anymore.
< My Thoughts > "Greg doesn’t need me anymore."
Ah, but that is not the end of the story... saga to be continued.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Martha Squaresky. See the full Extended Book Review on my website.
Thank you for reading and sharing my BLOGs. Comments are welcomed, to be viewed and answered privately. My goal is to assist families, clinicians, educators, and all people ‘autism’, to continue their journey on the Autism Highway. At the end of each website Extended Book Review, please find a source to have the whole book to read.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Paid Link Disclosure -
These Extended Book Reviews have an Amazon Link for actual book purchases. Please read this Paid Link Disclosure AKA Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Sometimes there are paid links, also known as affiliate links, used on this site. My website, www.sarasautismsite.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I may earn or receive a small paid commission from referrals for book purchases made through posts, pages, and links on this site. But I try to remain unbiased and I do not accept paid reviews. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There is no extra cost to you when purchases are made using the provided links. By using the links I provide you agree that you’ve read this paid link disclosure statement.
Thank you!
Sara Luker
Excerpts from the book – (8% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
8% Jay and I strolled out of the Regal Cinema… We waited on the carpet in the long corridor for our friends…Jay turned, glanced to his left and saw Greg. Our son.
Jay said “Martha. Look! There’s Greg.” Jay tugged on my sleeve.
I heard him, turned to look at my son and said, “Greg! Hi, Greg! Are you going to the movies? We saw a movie with Charlene and David.”
A bit confused to see Jay and me at the theater, he peered into my eyes, and then looked away as if mentally processing our presence in his life…
Evidently his private world no longer included us. He moved forward, ignoring me.
< My Thoughts > “…his private world no longer included us.”
When your child is small, you want him or her to learn to become independent individuals. But then when it happens, after all the years of vigilant preparation, somehow parents are not ready for their child to leave the nest.
4% “Go away. This is my life now,” I’m sure he would have said had he been able to communicate his thoughts.
I convinced Jay they would call if there was a problem.
3% You encourage your children to live independently in this chaotic world. That’s what all parents seek for their children. This story is about that seeking.
Note: More about PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), go to MENU for – Know Autism, Know Your Child with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker. Read on this website under – UNIT 2 – Why Is It Autism? Chapter 1, Diagnosis & DSM-5;; APPENDIX B – PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder).
In the DSM-5, individuals who previously met the criteria for PDD-NOS are now diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD encompasses a broader range of symptoms and severity levels, including: Social communication impairments, Restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests, and Symptoms present early in development.
Therefore, PDD-NOS is no longer a recognized diagnosis in the current edition of the DSM. Individuals who previously received this diagnosis may be reevaluated and diagnosed with ASD or another appropriate condition based on the DSM-5 criteria.
85% Greg’s fingers showed evidence of his own personal attacks. For years during tantrums, he bit his fingers. Calluses built up to the point that when we held his hand, we felt the hard spots on each side of his index fingers.
Greg felt better when he bit his fingers. Maybe there was a release of endorphins that brought relief from whatever was causing Greg’s tantrums, thus making it a compulsive behavior. In many ways his puking mirrored cutting.
My hope was that Greg understood the pain inflicted on him by a fellow sufferer of autism as nothing personal. I wanted him to find peace from his personal demons as well.
< My Thoughts > “Greg felt better when he bit his fingers.”
While often 'risky behavior', also known as Self-Injurious Behaviors (SIBs). SIBS are possibly necessary for stress relief. The child bits his fingers repetitiously, until it becomes a dangerous fixed behavior.
Boesch, M., Taber-Doughty, T., et al. (2015) believe that “… an individual may not exhibit impairment in current functioning until environmental demands outweigh the individual’s capabilities.” One of those impairments causing Self-Injurious Behaviors (SIBs) is communication and/or language deficits. “SIB’s are behaviors causing direct physical harm to one’s own body, resulting in physical injury and tissue damage,” (exhibited through self-hitting, self-pinching, self-biting). Occasionally they will bite others nearby.
99% Greg is heroic. He is living life independently despite having severe challenges in communication, meeting simple demands and making meaning out of life. That’s what I have to accept, and it’s the most difficult acceptance there is.
Greg doesn’t need me anymore.
< My Thoughts > "Greg doesn’t need me anymore."
Ah, but that is not the end of the story... saga to be continued.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Martha Squaresky. See the full Extended Book Review on my website.
Thank you for reading and sharing my BLOGs. Comments are welcomed, to be viewed and answered privately. My goal is to assist families, clinicians, educators, and all people ‘autism’, to continue their journey on the Autism Highway. At the end of each website Extended Book Review, please find a source to have the whole book to read.
Regards,
Sara Luker
Paid Link Disclosure -
These Extended Book Reviews have an Amazon Link for actual book purchases. Please read this Paid Link Disclosure AKA Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Sometimes there are paid links, also known as affiliate links, used on this site. My website, www.sarasautismsite.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
I may earn or receive a small paid commission from referrals for book purchases made through posts, pages, and links on this site. But I try to remain unbiased and I do not accept paid reviews. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There is no extra cost to you when purchases are made using the provided links. By using the links I provide you agree that you’ve read this paid link disclosure statement.
Thank you!
Sara Luker