What Is Autism?

Introduction    xiii
What is autism, and why is it called a spectrum
disorder?    1
Is there really more autism now?    3
Do vaccines cause autism? If not, what does?    7
What are the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum
disorders?    11
What is sensory processing disorder, and how is it
related to autism?    15
I think my child has an autism spectrum disorder.
What can I do?    19
I think I have Asperger’s syndrome. What should
I do?    23
My child has just been diagnosed with autism. How
do I cope?    27
What do I do after the diagnosis?    31
Can autism be cured? Does everyone think it
should be?    35
What are the treatments and therapies for autism?    37
What can be done to help with sensory processing
challenges?    41
How do I make sure my child gets a good education?    45
How do I determine my child’s educational needs?    49
Why is it hard to know how much they understand?
How can we gain a better picture of the child?    53
How can their special interests or obsessions help
them to learn?    57
Why do children, teens, and adults act the way
they do?    61
Self-stimulatory behavior: What is it, and what is
its purpose?    65
What are the emotional and financial effects of
autism on the family?    69
What are the effects of autism on the siblings?    75
Why are holidays difficult for families with autism?    79
I am the grandparent of a child with autism. What
can I do to help?    83
A friend or relative I know has a child with autism.
What can I do?     87
I’m a neighbor or community member. How should
I react to or approach someone with autism?    91
Do those on the spectrum want friends? If so, why
is it so difficult for them to make friends?    93
What are the safety concerns for someone on the
autism spectrum?    97
What communication difficulties do they have?    103
Why are transitions from one place to another, or
one activity to another, problematic?    109
How can we teach the concept of private and public
behavior?    113
How can we teach them to be more independent,
but also teach them interdependence?    115
How can we teach them self-regulation?    119
Why don’t they look me in the eye?    123
Why are emotions hard for them to understand?    125
How can we teach them self-esteem and
self-advocacy?    127
What are the thirteen things to know about raising
and educating a teenager on the spectrum?    131
Why do preteens and teens have a hard time with
the body changes that puberty brings?    135
Why does it seem like their autism is getting worse
at puberty?    137
Are adults on the spectrum interested in long-term
relationships, marriage, and sex?    141
What is college like for young adults on the
spectrum?    145
Why is it so hard for adults with autism to find
and keep a job?    149
What hope is there for the future for people on the
autism spectrum?    155