Helpful Resources
Supporting someone with autism comes with its own set of joys and challenges, requiring patience, empathy, and the right resources. To assist families, educators, and caregivers in this journey, we’ve put together a collection of 12 thoughtfully selected resources. These tools are designed to nurture independence, creativity, and personal growth, while also offering practical advice and meaningful strategies for navigating daily life.
Books to Read
1. "Sincerely, Your Autistic Child" by Sharon daVanport
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child is a heartfelt book written as a series of letters from an autistic child to their parents, offering insight into their experiences and challenges. It helps foster empathy and understanding by highlighting the child's unique perspective on social interactions, sensory sensitivities, and emotional needs. The book encourages better communication between parents and their autistic children, promoting acceptance and unconditional love.
This book was rated a 4.29 on Good Reads with numerous good reviews.
2. "The Reason I Jump" by Naoki Higashid
The Reason I Jump is a memoir written by Naoki Higashida, a 13-year-old boy with autism, offering an intimate and profound look into his thoughts and experiences. Written in the form of a question-and-answer style, the book explores topics such as sensory overload, communication, and emotions, providing insights into how he perceives the world. Through his unique perspective, Higashida helps readers better understand autism, challenging misconceptions and fostering empathy for individuals on the spectrum.
This book was rated a 4.70 on Good Reads with extremely good reviews.
There was not a single rating below 4 stars.
3. What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic: Unpuzzling a Life on the Autism Spectrum by Annie Kotowicz
What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic: Unpuzzling a Life on the Autism Spectrum by Annie Kotowicz is a personal memoir that offers a candid, insightful look into the author’s experience of living with autism. Through a collection of reflections, essays, and stories, Kotowicz unpacks the challenges and nuances of daily life on the spectrum, addressing topics such as sensory overload, social interactions, and the process of self-acceptance. The book provides a valuable perspective from someone who has navigated the complexities of autism, aiming to promote understanding and challenge stereotypes about what it means to be autistic.
This book was rated a 4.40 on Good Reads with good reviews–many from people with autism.
Websites
1. Autism Speaks
Offers a wealth of resources on understanding autism, tips for caregivers, and life skills development.
2. Cooking With Autism
Focused on cooking resources, tips, and recipes tailored for individuals with autism
3. National Autistic Society
Includes information on autism support, educational resources, and family-focused advice
4. The Autism Helper
A practical website featuring strategies, visuals, and tools for working with PODs
Videos and Tutorials
1. Youtube Channel: "Special Books by Special Kids"
Features inspiring interviews and stories of individuals with autism and other disabilities
2. Cooking Tutorials by Autism Eats
Step-by-step video tutorials tailored for individuals with autism.
3. TED Talk: "What I've Learned From My Autistic Brothers" by Faith Jegede Cole
A short, inspiring talk offering insights into the strengths and abilities of people with autism.
4. A Teen's Guide to Autism
A short video explaining what autism is as a whole. Target audience is teenagers with expert reviews describing it as, "Not your typical dry educational presentation." and "Speaks to students of all ages."
Apps and Tools
1. Visual Recipe Apps: Cookpad
Helps create visual, step-by-step recipes, perfect for learners who benefit from visual aids.
2. First Then Visual Schedule App
A visual scheduling app that can help PODs follow routines and steps in cooking.
3. Skillchamp by Infiniteach
Skill Champ focuses on teaching foundational skills such as color and letter matching, and happy/sad face recognition. It offers 10 customizable lessons with different themes and includes printable curricula to reinforce learning. (Only available on Ipad)