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The Real Experts: Readings for Parents of Autistic Children
“Full of practical advice and transcendent ‘Aha!’ moments, The Real Experts offers young autistic people and their families the kind of wise mentorship from tribal elders that was unavailable in previous generations. It’s a landmark book.” – Steve Silberman, NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
How do I help my child to thrive? To be healthy and happy, to fulfill his or her positive potentials, and to grow up to lead a good life? Every parent of an autistic child struggles daily with this question. Just trying to understand an autistic child’s actions, feelings, and needs can seem like an overwhelming challenge. It doesn’t help that professional “experts” and the mass media bombard us with all sorts of harmful and terrifying misinformation about autism.
Fortunately, more and more parents are discovering an essential source of insight into autism: the writings of autistic adults. Who better to help us understand autistic children and their needs, than the people who have actually been autistic children?
Listening to the insights and experiences shared by autistic bloggers has helped Michelle Sutton to help her two autistic children to thrive. In The Real Experts , Michelle has collected writings from a dozen autistic authors, containing “insider” wisdom on autism that has been invaluable to her family. The result is an extraordinary resource for families with autistic children, and also for educators, therapists, and other professionals.
“This book is a gift to parents who want to get the real scoop from the real experts on autism — autistic people themselves. Michelle Sutton has gathered excellent first-person accounts of what it’s like to grow up, live, and thrive as an autistic person. More than anything, autistic people and their families need to see and hear autistic role models who can help them understand, support, and celebrate their unique autistic loved ones. The Real Experts is a wonderful contribution to the autism community, and to us all.” – Karla McLaren, M.Ed., The Art of Empathy and The Language of Emotions
“Wow. What a breath of fresh air. I read this book with unfolding delight… Finally, people on the spectrum are being heard, and it is a phenomenon that gathers momentum as parents and others realize they can learn from what is being said.” – Dawn Prince-Hughes, Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism
The Real Experts features essays by Nick Walker, Ally Grace, Emily Paige Ballou, Alyssa Hillary, Cynthia Kim, Kassiane Sibley, Sparrow Rose Jones, Michael Scott Monje Jr., Elizabeth J. Grace, Briannon Lee, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, and Amy Sequenzia, with a introductions by Michelle Sutton.
How do I help my child to thrive? To be healthy and happy, to fulfill his or her positive potentials, and to grow up to lead a good life? Every parent of an autistic child struggles daily with this question. Just trying to understand an autistic child’s actions, feelings, and needs can seem like an overwhelming challenge. It doesn’t help that professional “experts” and the mass media bombard us with all sorts of harmful and terrifying misinformation about autism.
Fortunately, more and more parents are discovering an essential source of insight into autism: the writings of autistic adults. Who better to help us understand autistic children and their needs, than the people who have actually been autistic children?
Listening to the insights and experiences shared by autistic bloggers has helped Michelle Sutton to help her two autistic children to thrive. In The Real Experts , Michelle has collected writings from a dozen autistic authors, containing “insider” wisdom on autism that has been invaluable to her family. The result is an extraordinary resource for families with autistic children, and also for educators, therapists, and other professionals.
“This book is a gift to parents who want to get the real scoop from the real experts on autism — autistic people themselves. Michelle Sutton has gathered excellent first-person accounts of what it’s like to grow up, live, and thrive as an autistic person. More than anything, autistic people and their families need to see and hear autistic role models who can help them understand, support, and celebrate their unique autistic loved ones. The Real Experts is a wonderful contribution to the autism community, and to us all.” – Karla McLaren, M.Ed., The Art of Empathy and The Language of Emotions
“Wow. What a breath of fresh air. I read this book with unfolding delight… Finally, people on the spectrum are being heard, and it is a phenomenon that gathers momentum as parents and others realize they can learn from what is being said.” – Dawn Prince-Hughes, Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism
The Real Experts features essays by Nick Walker, Ally Grace, Emily Paige Ballou, Alyssa Hillary, Cynthia Kim, Kassiane Sibley, Sparrow Rose Jones, Michael Scott Monje Jr., Elizabeth J. Grace, Briannon Lee, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, and Amy Sequenzia, with a introductions by Michelle Sutton.
106 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2017
11 people are currently reading
456 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Sutton
1 book4 followersMichelle Sutton is an Australian writer and neurodiversity rights advocate, with a background in education and psychology. She is involved in a variety of advocacy and peer support projects, as well as authoring her own website.
Michelle's website, michellesuttonwrites.com, offers a collection of written and infographic resources that are used internationally. Michelle writes on a variety of topics, including neurodiversity and neurodivergence, identity, autism, bipolar, depression, self care, human rights, injustice, inclusion, acceptance, homeschooling, parenting, advocacy, and occasionally chickens and gardening. Her first book "The Real Experts: Readings for Parents of Autistic Children", a collection of essays by Autistic authors, was published by Autonomous Press in 2015.
Michelle lives with her husband and their 6 children in the Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia. As part of a neurodivergent and neurodiverse family, Michelle has 20 years experience parenting children with extra support needs.
Michelle's website, michellesuttonwrites.com, offers a collection of written and infographic resources that are used internationally. Michelle writes on a variety of topics, including neurodiversity and neurodivergence, identity, autism, bipolar, depression, self care, human rights, injustice, inclusion, acceptance, homeschooling, parenting, advocacy, and occasionally chickens and gardening. Her first book "The Real Experts: Readings for Parents of Autistic Children", a collection of essays by Autistic authors, was published by Autonomous Press in 2015.
Michelle lives with her husband and their 6 children in the Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia. As part of a neurodivergent and neurodiverse family, Michelle has 20 years experience parenting children with extra support needs.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 20, 2019
I am the allistic parent of an autistic child, and I am very, very grateful to the editor and authors for creating this book. This book is incredibly helpful to me in many ways. I hope what I read will influence my beliefs about my child, my approaches to parenting, my ability to empathize with my child, my definitions of disability and functioning, my search for strategies and go-arounds that might help my child function in a less than supportive world, and my approaches to advocating for my child. I really wish that the person who diagnosed my child nine years ago had recommended this book. It is much more critical and valuable a read than the stack of books I read written by "experts" and other allistic parents.
January 9, 2016
The book that should be read by all parents of autistic children, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, and assorted professionals. These are the real experts on autism: autistic people. A lovely and powerful selection of essays about autistic experiences of the world that convey what autistic people most want the world to know about us.
April 6, 2018
Incredibly helpful collection of essays written by autistic adults. I wish I had known about this book when my son was first diagnosed - it would have prevented some mistakes and helped me be a better and more supportive parent. I will definitely be seeking out more writing by the authors represented here.
February 16, 2017
A great short reader of essays by autistic people. It made me start to think in new terms about acceptance and support and realize that the goal is not to "fix" anybody.
January 15, 2018
Found this book very disappointing for all of the hype it has received. I did not find anything practical about it. I would barely even call any of this advice.
October 26, 2019
Eye opener
This book should be required reading for anyone who has a person in their life “on the spectrum.” Potentially life saving.
This book should be required reading for anyone who has a person in their life “on the spectrum.” Potentially life saving.
November 2, 2023
This book has aged well considering that it was published in 2015. A must for anyone who loves an autistic person.
September 11, 2020
This book is critically important. If you know any neurodivergent people (and you probably do), please read it. And, perhaps most importantly, parents of newly diagnosed Autistic kids, please please read it. It’s a fantastic, compassionate resource and may very well improve your child’s life and your own. It’s also a quick-read, but worth rereading over and over again!
September 5, 2022
It may only be 104 pages, but it is packed with insight from those who know best, Autistic people. Besides their writings on varying topics there are URL links to websites, articles, blogs, and such for further exploration.
December 16, 2015
Must read for any parent of an Autistic kiddo who truly wants to help and understand them.
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October 9, 2017I'm in it and also did the cover art, so, you know, a bit biased.
That said, I think everyone else's essays are great.
That said, I think everyone else's essays are great.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews