Best Books to Understanding Autism

Autism is a disorder that is profound and has affected many adults as well as children over the years. According to the Autism Society of America, "Roughly translated, this means as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. And this number is on the rise." Especially when it comes to children autism a disorder that is difficult to handle. Most autistic children some are verbal and some aren't, seem to be living in his or her own world. Some behaviors that autistic children do are waving of the hands and making loud noises. Understanding autism can be a frightening task especially for parents who have a newly diagnosed child. This is why parents who wish to understand autism should refer to the Autism Society of America and read books to help better understand autism. Two best books for understanding autism are: In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin, Ph.D. and Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform by Lynn Kern Koegel and Claire LaZebnik.

In Pictures: and Other Reports from My Life with Autism explains the life and disorder of Temple Grandin. This autobiographical account was written by Dr. Grandin recounting her life and times with autism. This book comes highly recommended by literary critics and other scholarly associations. Temple Grandin, Ph.D. is an animal scientist and she overcame autism. In the book she details her life with the disorder. This book is designed to help those understand a little about the disorder. Dr. Grandin is well known for her contribution to the study of autism and is by far one of the most credible scholarly researchers on the subject. This book can help parents, teachers, and anyone else who cares for someone with the disorder. It is also a good reader for those who desire to understand autism.

The other book, Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform written by Lynn Kern Koegel and Claire LaZebnik is a good reader but can be more used as a reference guide to understanding autism. The book is written from a parent's point of view and is by far comprehensive. The writers help people understand what autism can do to the dynamics of a family and how to overcome obstacles. LaZebnik is a parent of a child with autism and Koegel is one of the founders of the Autism Research Center at the University of California Santa Barbara. Together they created this book for parents, clinicians, and others to learn more about autism. The primary goal of this book make readers aware and perhaps, prompt more people to be proactive with autism.