Empowered Autism Parenting Celebrating (and Defending) Your Child's Place in the World

How parents can appreciate their autistic children prevent them from being pathologized, over-medicated, and marginalized In this groundbreaking book, William Stillman, an expert and passionate advocate on behalf of those with autism, offers a commonsense guide for parenting children with autism.

EMPOWERED Autism Parenting

In this thought-provoking book, William Stillman, an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome, offers hope and real-world information for parents of children with autism. The author clears aside the common misperceptions of autism to reveal the truth: people with autism are intelligent, insightful, and inspired human beings entitled to participate and contribute to the fullest. He also shatters myths about high-cost therapies and “autism medications”—grist for an industry that promotes a culture of fear about autism.

PRAISE FOR Empowered Autism Parenting

“William Stillman, with his sensitive and compassionate gift for understanding, explodes the ‘myth of autism.’”—Sally Patton, Ed.M.; author, Welcoming Children with Special Needs; executive director, The Creative Soul of Children, Inc.; and principal consultant/trainer, Embracing the Spirit of the Child

“William Stillman offers hope, understanding, and critical thinking for those who are affected by autism.”—Robin Rice, author, A Hundred Ways to Sunday

“Wonderful.…This book moves us into a new paradigm of understanding autism as neither pitiable nor tragic, but as another way of thinking, one that adds value to the world.”—Susan Senator, author, Making Peace with Autism

“This book is a valuable addition to the literature from the inside out—important insights from someone who himself lives and thrives within the spectrum.” —Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D., Creative Learning Environments

“The new Dr. Spock for parents of children with autism.” —Frankie Picasso, CPC; certified master coach trainer; author, Midlife Mojo; and broadcaster, Champion for a Compassionate Consciousness

How parents can appreciate their autistic children prevent them from being pathologized, over-medicated, and marginalized

In this groundbreaking book, William Stillman, an expert and passionate advocate on behalf of those with autism, offers a commonsense guide for parenting children with autism. He gives mothers and fathers, caregivers, and teachers the information they need to recognize the child with autism's unique personality, passions, and intellect and therefore liberate them from today's culture of fear. He shows why the current conventional incentive and reward systems send the wrong message to kids with autism and just don't work. This book offers a sensible ten-step guide for enriching relationships with kids with autism through a belief in their essential competence.

• Includes information that liberates parents from the culture of fear surrounding autism
• Explains how kids with autism are intelligent but may have unconventional methods of communication that need to be understood and appreciated
• Shows why your child doesn't need traditional therapy or medication to "treat" autism
• Written by an acclaimed expert on the topic of autism, who is himself an adult with Asperger's Syndrome