Hello Everyone,
This month’s BLOG will continue the opportunity 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. This April's 2025 BLOG will continue to 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 – AMAZING ADVENTURES. Read my full Extended Book Review, with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker; plus LINKs to eBooks, on this website, www.sarasautismsite.com.
This month’s BLOG will continue the opportunity 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. This April's 2025 BLOG will continue to 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 – AMAZING ADVENTURES. Read my full Extended Book Review, with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker; plus LINKs to eBooks, on this website, www.sarasautismsite.com.
3500: An Autistic Boy’s Ten-Year Romance with Snow White, by Ron Miles, eBook 2013; an Extended Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
Excerpts from the book – (2% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
2% Much of this book has been constructed based on contemporaneous journal entries or blog posts I wrote at the time these things happened. A significant part of this book is based purely on my (author Ron Miles) memories of past events.
While it was Walt Disney World and Snow White’s Scary Adventures that provided the fulcrum to move Ben’s world, to a very large degree it has been the dedicated educators who have given us the lever to take advantage of that opportunity.
5% At Ben’s twelve-month check-up he showed no significant improvement over his nine-month exam. By now the pediatrician was genuinely concerned and referred us to specialists for additional testing.
At fourteen months, Ben finally received his initial diagnosis of (PPD-NOS) Pervasive Developmental Delays-Not Otherwise Specified. That diagnosis would later be upgraded to Autism.
At the word “Autism”, my entire body went numb. I didn’t even know what autism was. Rainman? The Boy Who Could Fly?”
We soon discovered that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which, for some reason, the brain does not build the same kind of neural connections that happen in a “normal brain.”
11% My wife’s childhood, growing up in Florida included regular trips to Walt Disney World. Although we had been to Disneyland in California a few times and had some happy memories, we both dreamed of taking our child on his first trip to a Disney Park and we decided that maybe it was time to try.
14% For our vacation we had four touring days with a travel day on each side. We really had no idea whether Ben would love the experience or be driven insane by all the stimulation. But the next morning we boarded a shuttle bus to the Magic Kingdom. For his part, Ben just seemed mostly confused.
17% We stood in front of a mural – a lush painting depicting Snow White and all seven dwarfs … with Prince Charming holding the reins of his proud white stallion. Ben thought the mural was nice, but he had no idea why we were standing in line.
Eventually we reached the loading area and were ushered into a mine cart ride vehicle. As we rolled past the Wishing Well and made the first big turn, Ben suddenly perked up. There was Snow White, sitting in rags on the castle steps, scrubbing the stone.
19% Ben was practically vibrating with intense joy and engagement… he was living inside one of his movies.
The music surged on the final turn… the dwarfs were waving goodbye to Snow White and Prince Charming as the young couple rode off.
Ben was so happy he hardly knew what to do with himself. His first ride at Walt Disney World – his first ride on Snow White’s Scary Adventures.
Excerpts from the book – (2% indicates location in the Kindle version of the book, instead of page numbers).
2% Much of this book has been constructed based on contemporaneous journal entries or blog posts I wrote at the time these things happened. A significant part of this book is based purely on my (author Ron Miles) memories of past events.
While it was Walt Disney World and Snow White’s Scary Adventures that provided the fulcrum to move Ben’s world, to a very large degree it has been the dedicated educators who have given us the lever to take advantage of that opportunity.
5% At Ben’s twelve-month check-up he showed no significant improvement over his nine-month exam. By now the pediatrician was genuinely concerned and referred us to specialists for additional testing.
At fourteen months, Ben finally received his initial diagnosis of (PPD-NOS) Pervasive Developmental Delays-Not Otherwise Specified. That diagnosis would later be upgraded to Autism.
At the word “Autism”, my entire body went numb. I didn’t even know what autism was. Rainman? The Boy Who Could Fly?”
We soon discovered that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which, for some reason, the brain does not build the same kind of neural connections that happen in a “normal brain.”
11% My wife’s childhood, growing up in Florida included regular trips to Walt Disney World. Although we had been to Disneyland in California a few times and had some happy memories, we both dreamed of taking our child on his first trip to a Disney Park and we decided that maybe it was time to try.
14% For our vacation we had four touring days with a travel day on each side. We really had no idea whether Ben would love the experience or be driven insane by all the stimulation. But the next morning we boarded a shuttle bus to the Magic Kingdom. For his part, Ben just seemed mostly confused.
17% We stood in front of a mural – a lush painting depicting Snow White and all seven dwarfs … with Prince Charming holding the reins of his proud white stallion. Ben thought the mural was nice, but he had no idea why we were standing in line.
Eventually we reached the loading area and were ushered into a mine cart ride vehicle. As we rolled past the Wishing Well and made the first big turn, Ben suddenly perked up. There was Snow White, sitting in rags on the castle steps, scrubbing the stone.
19% Ben was practically vibrating with intense joy and engagement… he was living inside one of his movies.
The music surged on the final turn… the dwarfs were waving goodbye to Snow White and Prince Charming as the young couple rode off.
Ben was so happy he hardly knew what to do with himself. His first ride at Walt Disney World – his first ride on Snow White’s Scary Adventures.
Ben with Snow White at Walt Disney World (2013).
38% I saw Walt Disney World as a massive lever that could move his world and teach him social interaction on a grand scale.
47% “Mama/Daddy, I want more Snow White, please!” Eventually, we would only allow him to go three times before he had to go do something else. This kept him engaged while forcing him to expand his interests and spend time in other areas of the park.
49% I suppose that life would be a lot easier if Ben was like other kids, but then again it would be a heck of a lot less interesting.
< My Thoughts > “…I want more Snow White…”
Ben and Snow White’s adventures don’t stop here. Ben became a celebrity at Disney World, having ridden Snow White’s Scary Adventures a record number of 3,500 times, before the ride permanently closed.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Ron Miles, eBook 2013. See the full Extended Book Review here 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
38% I saw Walt Disney World as a massive lever that could move his world and teach him social interaction on a grand scale.
47% “Mama/Daddy, I want more Snow White, please!” Eventually, we would only allow him to go three times before he had to go do something else. This kept him engaged while forcing him to expand his interests and spend time in other areas of the park.
49% I suppose that life would be a lot easier if Ben was like other kids, but then again it would be a heck of a lot less interesting.
< My Thoughts > “…I want more Snow White…”
Ben and Snow White’s adventures don’t stop here. Ben became a celebrity at Disney World, having ridden Snow White’s Scary Adventures a record number of 3,500 times, before the ride permanently closed.
End of excerpt from the eBook by Ron Miles, eBook 2013. See the full Extended Book Review here 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
RSS Feed