For the families who have contributed to this book, living with
autistic spectrum disorders has been a journey of self-discovery. With
honesty and humor, they describe the ways autism has affected their
daily lives, the challenges they have faced and the approaches they
have found beneficial. They share their practical and original
strategies for dealing with issues such as helping children to develop
empathy and humor, developing and maintaining friendships and
explaining their autistic spectrum disorders to other people. This book
will be a source of advice and inspiration for families of children
with autism and the professionals who work with them. It is practical,
realistic and positive - autism is seen as something to be understood
and celebrated. As 11-year-old Glen states in the Appendix, written by
some of the children with autism featured in the book, `I like myself
and consider my difference something positive.'