Let Me Hear Your Voice by Catherine Maurice is an autobiographical story from a mother’s perspective. It is a narrative that uses multiple different concepts that have been the focus of class lectures and textbook materials. It touches on different therapies used for children with autism and even focuses briefly on the controversial subject of inclusion verses exclusion. This book provides insight on a myriad of different emotions that parents experience, which is tough for an educator to otherwise understand. The individuals were relatable and the context was extremely easy to understand, without taking away from the medical terminology. This book was a useful resource, as well as an enjoyable heart warming tale. Let Me Hear Your Voice is about a woman who has a daughter named Anne-Marie. Anne-Marie seems to be developing normally. Slowly the little girl begins to withdraw and perform repetitive tasks. Worried that something is seriously wrong with her two year old daughter, Catherine takes her to several different doctors, starting with her pediatrician. This doctor recommends that Catherine take Anne-Marie to a specialist, who diagnoses her with “Infantile Autism.” Several other professionals agree with this conclusion. After doing a great deal of research, Catherine decides to start a home based program for her daughter. Anne-Marie goes through a series of different therapies and eventually “recovers.” During this time period, Catherine becomes pregnant and has a happy baby boy. His name is Michel. Again, around the age of one and a half, Michel begins to decrease his talking and to throw severe temper tantrums. Catherine, now being able to relate to some of the symptoms, take Michel to the specialists. Several of them agree o... ... middle of paper ... ... it was nice to not feel overwhelmed by the language used in the book. Overall, this book was insightful, entertaining and extremely helpful. I loved this book and highly recommend it. This book was a great read. The heartwarming tale of two young children who manage to overcome the disability under the category of autism. The author, the mother of these two children, uses her language to make the reader feel connected with the struggles of the family and the elated feeling when the children are deemed functioning within normal levels. This book gives insight on several different therapies, some that seemed helpful and others that seemed silly. It touches on the subject of inclusion as well. This book allows individuals to relate to those who have children with autism and gives parents of children with autism hope that their child's disability is not a permanent one.
My overall opinion of this book is good I really liked it and recommend it to anyone. It is a good book to read and it keep you interested throughout the whole book.
To begin defines what autism is, and the stress that is bestowed onto the caregivers that support a child with this type of mental disability. Adam M. Hutton, the author, had conducted an interview of 21 families about the recognition, diagnosis of autism in their child, services accessed, and the impact of having a child with autism on their family. A common thread throughout the thesis is the empowerment of families, that have to endure the joys and hardships that come with having a child with specific needs. The author also encourages families to use the resources available to them to better care for this type of
The Case of Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman’s determination and hard work while struggling with autism during a time when the disorder was unknown. This case discusses Grandin’s challenges, early diagnosis, growth and development in school, and support from her mother. Temple Grandin could not speak like the other children at the age of two, so because doctors could not find any physical issues she had been subsequently labeled as brain-damaged. To communicate with others, she would throw tantrums and scream. She could speak by three and a half years old with the help of speech therapy. A few years later at the age of five, Grandin was diagnosed with autism so her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to keep her from being placed in an institution. At her aunt’s ranch, Grandin develops the “squeeze machine” a device used to apply pressure without being stimulating. Grandin excelles in school and receives her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. After her graduation from college in 1970, Grandin attends Arizona State University where she earns a master’s degree in cattle in 1975. In 1989, Grandin earns her doctoral degree from the University of Urbana-Champaign in animal science. Grandin has never married, but she is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and notable lives (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).
Unfortunately, a lot of parents may have a difficult time accepting their child, and coping with their needs and the responsibilities. From the book “The Elephant in the Playroom,” some families dealt with depression and physical and mental deterioration of their health. These struggles were shown in the story by Laura Cichoracki. Laura’s son’s name was Patrick. Patrick was a 6-years-old boy with autism. “I wasn’t eating right, I wasn’t showering regularly, I wasn’t sleeping well” (Brodey, p. 64). I also read the story told by Susan Marrash-Minnerly, which highlighted emotions that parents face. Susan also shed light on how wonderful children with special needs can be to a family, such as her ten-year-old third grader who had autism. Susan talked about how it was normal to feel angry at times, especially with the ups and downs a child’s disability may come with. “When I look back, I want to tell other parents that a child’s future is worth grieving over – but it’s not the end of the world” (Brodey, p. 75). After reading these stories, it became apparent to me that families who are raising kids with special needs, need support, kindness, and available resources. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by other moms who understood my pain…who could be supportive and emphatic.” (Brodey, p. 67). Overall, educators can use this kind of information that was shared in “The Elephant in the Playroom” about family systems and risk/resiliency by creating lines of open communication between families. This is to connect parents together that share similar struggles. By creating open communication is can allows for the teacher and parents to be on the same page when it comes to the issues affecting special needs students and
helped me to find the book enjoyable. However, this is not a book I would recommend
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, issue, alludes to a scope of conditions described by challenges with social abilities, monotonous practices, discourse and nonverbal correspondence, and in addition by remarkable qualities and contrasts. Autism spectrum disorder falls under the developmental disability category. We now realize that there is not one type of autism but rather many sorts, caused by various mixes of hereditary and natural impacts. there is no cure of autism yet but there are other options as in treatments and education approaches that can help a person to lessen disruptive behavior and can teach basic skills for one’s independence
Hamilton, Lynn M. Facing Autism: Giving Parents Reasons for Hope and Guidance for Help. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2000. Print.
"A Parent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder." NIMH RSS. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
This book was a good read for me, but I also read book reviews to help me keep track on what I am reading. These book reviews just made a better understanding of what I was reading.
...l awareness to the ability to process language and sensory experiences and integrate with ones own environment. Until research on autism and other developmental disabilities yields more information about how autism affects neurological function, children and adults who are affected will not be served to the fullest extent of our capabilities as providers of equal education and health care to all. It is only with more information about the neurological differences in the autistic brain that we will fully understand the best way to teach persons with autism so that they might participate to their fullest potential within their community. It is my personal belief that great progress will be made during my own lifetime and that a new level of outcome will be the normal expectation for parents when their child receives this shattering diagnosis during the next generation.
Autism is a problem that people with the disability have with communicating. It can affect many contrasting types of people in divergent ways and there is not yet a complete cure for it. People need to know about this disability and what people can do with people who have it.
Over all the book was very good. The concepts went right along with what was in the book. This was a very interesting, and fun book to read.
The number of children that display autistic traits keeps rising and the need for services is at an all-time high. Out of 10,000 children born, 60 to 100 children and families will be affected by autistic spectrum disorder (Gulberg, 2010). Autism is characterized by a lack of connection to other people, even parents, and an avoidance of interpersonal situations (Feldman, 2011). Children with autism also show limited, repetitive and stereotypical patterns of behavior, interest, and activities. Not one child with autism is the same as the next; each child has their own severity and indicators of autism. A child with intellectual disabilities and a gifted child can both be given the diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum, because of the wide range of severities. Many of these children will not attend special schools, but instead be included in the general education population by inclusion. Inclusion has been found to have a number of benefits for children with autism. In addition, negative perspectives have also come into play when discussing autism and inclusion. Furthermore, parents have the right to make decisions for their child on an individual basis.
I enjoyed reading was Ian’s Walk: A story about autism by Laurie Lears and illustrated by Karen Ritz. This book was about a girl and her brother with autism. I love how this book addresses autism. At first the sister is looking at her brother as someone without autism that is she does not treat him any different, but by the end of the story she tries to see things the way that her autistic brother sees them. She begins to have an understanding that she should not care of what others think and that certain things that he doe...
Jordan, R., & Powell, S. (1995). Understanding and Teaching Children with Autism. New York: Wiley.