Since it was first identified in 1943, autism has confounded and frustrated the medical and educational communities. To date, there is no agreed-upon cause and there is no cure. While the physiological aberrations that create autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remain a mystery, the personal perspective of those who live and work with children and adults in the spectrum can be illuminating.

Embracing Autism presents sensitive, sometimes humorous, experience-based stories from teachers, clinicians, and parent activists within the autism community. With insight and heart, this book offers parents and educators a way to better understand the world inhabited by ASD children and adults. Each story is compelling, inspirational, and informational-providing a vital and helpful perspective for anyone who is working or living day-to-day with ASD.

Embracing Autism gives readers encouragement for navigating the uncharted territory of working with an ASD child. As the book explains, while teachers and parents can be well prepared in autism approaches and educational training, they must also be willing to let go of expectations-they must get down to the basic task of getting to know the person beyond the diagnosis.

Filled with passion and hope, Embracing Autism shows what makes people with ASD tick and gives useful information on how they communicate, learn, and ultimately what it takes to help them succeed.