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We Walk: Life with Severe Autism
In this collection of beautiful and raw essays, Amy S. F. Lutz writes openly about her experience―the positive and the negative―as a mother of a now twenty-one-year-old son with severe autism. Lutz's human emotion drives through each page and challenges commonly held ideas that define autism either as a disease or as neurodiversity. We Walk is inspired by her own questions: What is the place of intellectually and developmentally disabled people in society? What responsibilities do we, as citizens and human beings, have to one another? Who should decide for those who cannot decide for themselves? What is the meaning of religion to someone with no abstract language? Exploring these questions, We Walk directly―and humanly―examines social issues such as inclusion, religion, therapeutics, and friendship through the lens of severe autism. In a world where public perception of autism is largely shaped by the "quirky geniuses" featured on television shows like The Big Bang Theory and The Good Doctor , We Walk demands that we center our debates about this disorder on those who are most affected by its impacts.
200 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2020
22 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 24, 2023
Review I finally finished the book. The author's son is minimally verbal, motivated by food and videos, and loves to walk. He's intellectually-challenged in many ways, but taught himself to read at pre-school age. His rages are epic in their violence. A combination of drugs and ECT have calmed him down. The author loves and adores her son, as she does her other four more neurotypical children.
Chapter by chapter she explores autism, from diagnosis to therapy, from disability to achievement, and along the way she challenges all the loud activists pushing their view of autism and disability, sometimes practically and sometimes philosophically. Not often people are willing to do that these days.
It was a very enjoyable book, I don't know why it took me so long to get around to finishing it. Uprated to 5 star because it wasn't a simple memoir, 'so he did this' and 'we tried that' but really good writing, an intellectual book, and one that gave me a real feeling of what it is to have a child how does not know how to ask questions.
__________
Reading notes A good friend of mine has a nine year old son, nonverbal, not toilet-trained, handsome and loving. She was going to university doing science but now she works as a front desk agent in a hotel, refusing all promotions so she can keep the hours she needs to look after him. I knew her way back when, she's the same optimistic, joyous person, but it's no good pretending she has a fulfilling life, autism has taken away all possibility of that.
The father has long moved on and has two other children now. He sees him sometimes and is fighting for custody, not because he wants it but because he says he will give up the fight if she halves the amount of child support she has asked for. Looking after a severely autistic child even with government help and a school for the daytime, is very, very expensive.
When people talk about a spectrum and Hollywood stars say they are on it, it's not the same spectrum little Aro is on. He has profound disabilities in many areas, communication is the least of it.
I believe that autism and Asperger's are diametrically different. Autistic people don't want to communicate, it is hard work trying to find a way in to them, or a way out for them, they are not interested in social interaction at all. (I realise I am generalising). Asperger's people are desperately upset that they cannot communicate well and very much desire social interaction. I do not see that having one scale, that of autism is beneficial.
When people say they were diagnosed as on the spectrum at 35, people I've known years, I know they mean Asperger's. They do not have the deficits of autistic people, most of whom find it difficult if not impossible to live independent lives. This book is about those who were diagnosed at 2 or under. Those who will never live the kind of life that enables people to say cheerfully they were diagnosed at 35 and it all made sense of how they had been. Perhaps I wouldn't care so much, if it wasn't for my friend and her son.
Review on finishing the book 23 Aug 2023, took a long time to read, but actually I reread it from the beginning on 22nd Aug 2023
Chapter by chapter she explores autism, from diagnosis to therapy, from disability to achievement, and along the way she challenges all the loud activists pushing their view of autism and disability, sometimes practically and sometimes philosophically. Not often people are willing to do that these days.
It was a very enjoyable book, I don't know why it took me so long to get around to finishing it. Uprated to 5 star because it wasn't a simple memoir, 'so he did this' and 'we tried that' but really good writing, an intellectual book, and one that gave me a real feeling of what it is to have a child how does not know how to ask questions.
__________
Reading notes A good friend of mine has a nine year old son, nonverbal, not toilet-trained, handsome and loving. She was going to university doing science but now she works as a front desk agent in a hotel, refusing all promotions so she can keep the hours she needs to look after him. I knew her way back when, she's the same optimistic, joyous person, but it's no good pretending she has a fulfilling life, autism has taken away all possibility of that.
The father has long moved on and has two other children now. He sees him sometimes and is fighting for custody, not because he wants it but because he says he will give up the fight if she halves the amount of child support she has asked for. Looking after a severely autistic child even with government help and a school for the daytime, is very, very expensive.
When people talk about a spectrum and Hollywood stars say they are on it, it's not the same spectrum little Aro is on. He has profound disabilities in many areas, communication is the least of it.
I believe that autism and Asperger's are diametrically different. Autistic people don't want to communicate, it is hard work trying to find a way in to them, or a way out for them, they are not interested in social interaction at all. (I realise I am generalising). Asperger's people are desperately upset that they cannot communicate well and very much desire social interaction. I do not see that having one scale, that of autism is beneficial.
When people say they were diagnosed as on the spectrum at 35, people I've known years, I know they mean Asperger's. They do not have the deficits of autistic people, most of whom find it difficult if not impossible to live independent lives. This book is about those who were diagnosed at 2 or under. Those who will never live the kind of life that enables people to say cheerfully they were diagnosed at 35 and it all made sense of how they had been. Perhaps I wouldn't care so much, if it wasn't for my friend and her son.
Review on finishing the book 23 Aug 2023, took a long time to read, but actually I reread it from the beginning on 22nd Aug 2023
October 18, 2020
very good. The only thing that turned me off was the mention of summer home and nanny on the first page. Blind to her privilege which affords her access to better care for her son.
August 15, 2020
The author, a mother of five, describes her life caring for a child with autism who has been silent, violent, self-harming and loving, all rolled into one distant kid. She tells us how they walk each morning, especially along a seashore promenade. Life for the boy Aaron was better if it was predictable - he thought so, and that made it easier for those around him. Aaron started refusing all but one kind of pretzel and had to be taken to a clinic to be taught to eat.
As a twenty year old man, Aaron is no genius scientist or surgeon, as we may see depicted on TV or film. This is a book which never mentions 'Rain Man' but many other roles are mentioned. Asperger's versus other kinds of autism and the general 'on the spectrum' diagnosis are discussed. As, near the end is ADHD and bipolar disorder. What we see overall is the lifelong disruption for all the family members, the lack of options, the lack of payment for being a full time carer and medication administrator. The book discusses various treatments from cannabinoids to Ritalin at different stages.
Amy doesn't tell us about much solidarity with other families - there is some, but many of them, including those affected, communicate online and have bitter arguments about whether to say 'autistic person' or 'person with autism'. Amy is Jewish and describes helping get Aaron ready for a rite of passage in that community - although it seems to have meant little to him, it meant something to her and her family, so it was worth doing. Overall this condition seems to be isolating for the carers. For those of us lucky enough not to have this in the family, the book is a sobering reminder of why we need to be tolerant, patient, unsurprised and even, if we can manage it, helpful.
I found the style to jump around somewhat, from accepting and weary, to determinedly medical, to asking theological questions which seemed pointless. - The historical queries were more practical and yes, severely autistic folks probably died young back then from walking into the path of camels or not understanding that they needed to eat. If the family could afford to feed them. But Amy doesn't look much further than the Old and New Testaments for her historical examples, which doesn't indicate a lot of research. I've previously read a book on psoriasis by Guy Kennaway, which suggests that this skin condition accounts for the supposed lepers who lived long lives in leper colonies.
Families affected by autism may have read all Amy's content already on blogs, but those of us who don't have cause to read such matter, should pick up this book for a taste of a difficult life.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
As a twenty year old man, Aaron is no genius scientist or surgeon, as we may see depicted on TV or film. This is a book which never mentions 'Rain Man' but many other roles are mentioned. Asperger's versus other kinds of autism and the general 'on the spectrum' diagnosis are discussed. As, near the end is ADHD and bipolar disorder. What we see overall is the lifelong disruption for all the family members, the lack of options, the lack of payment for being a full time carer and medication administrator. The book discusses various treatments from cannabinoids to Ritalin at different stages.
Amy doesn't tell us about much solidarity with other families - there is some, but many of them, including those affected, communicate online and have bitter arguments about whether to say 'autistic person' or 'person with autism'. Amy is Jewish and describes helping get Aaron ready for a rite of passage in that community - although it seems to have meant little to him, it meant something to her and her family, so it was worth doing. Overall this condition seems to be isolating for the carers. For those of us lucky enough not to have this in the family, the book is a sobering reminder of why we need to be tolerant, patient, unsurprised and even, if we can manage it, helpful.
I found the style to jump around somewhat, from accepting and weary, to determinedly medical, to asking theological questions which seemed pointless. - The historical queries were more practical and yes, severely autistic folks probably died young back then from walking into the path of camels or not understanding that they needed to eat. If the family could afford to feed them. But Amy doesn't look much further than the Old and New Testaments for her historical examples, which doesn't indicate a lot of research. I've previously read a book on psoriasis by Guy Kennaway, which suggests that this skin condition accounts for the supposed lepers who lived long lives in leper colonies.
Families affected by autism may have read all Amy's content already on blogs, but those of us who don't have cause to read such matter, should pick up this book for a taste of a difficult life.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
May 1, 2020
As a mom who is new at navigating the autism journey I loved this book. It was so relatable everything from music class to not so nice comments at what's supposed to be a family restaurant. I loved the way he loved to make lists. The excitement over special foods. Huge thanks to #NetGalley for a digital copy. #wewalk
May 1, 2020
I work with children like Jonah and have always wondered how parents cope at times. It was lovely to read about life as a parent trying to keep the balance of the family. I could relate to behaviours and the need for routines. Thank you Net Galley for the advance copy.
May 20, 2023
Very mixed feelings about this book. I have an adult autistic child with many of the same experiences as Jonah and the descriptions of the challenges and daily behaviors were raw and highly relatable for me. I also loved how Jewish this book is and all the religious analysis especially in the last chapter- as a Jewish family with a significantly disabled autistic kid who has found comfort in our faith community to help us through challenges, I enjoyed the reiteration that there is a place for people with disabilities in our faith. Our kid is no longer the “child who doesn’t know how to ask”- despite her intense behaviors and severe daily living challenges, with intensive therapy she has emerged highly communicative and very intelligent and capable of abstract reasoning. I know this is something that the author’s family can only dream of so the experience isn’t exact equivalent, but I learned and related to so much in here.
The parts of the book I objected to were the politics and framing of the various movements and sub-communities within autism. I’m a bit biased because my daughter is a proponent and beneficiary of the neurodiverse activism the author decries. Autistic adults (some we’ve actually met through our progressive shul and radical Jewish community) have nurtured our family since day one, offering their insights into the workings of our kid’s mind before she could speak for herself and serving as mentors for her once she could. We have a high-functioning, activist autistic woman as my daughter’s current long-term caregiver and she has been so so valuable. She has worked as a DSP for kids like Jonah and my daughter for years. She is familiar with the raw realities of severe autism, and *still* advocates for human rights and self determination to the greatest extent possible. We both agree that the modern day movement has gone too far and the popularization of ND language has erased families and people with severe disabilities. But the movement in its original form, led by people with severe disabilities and their families, is valuable.
This is what I find troublesome about orgs like the Council for Severe Autism: the idea of having a specific group advocating for our severe population is so important, but I see it as more focused on being reactionary against disability rights advocates than providing direct support to families like mine and Jonah’s. Instead of fear mongering about language and censorship, why not help fund therapies and services? Why not join other disability rights groups in protesting against Medicaid cuts and cuts to services that people with severe autism depend on? Why not fight against abuse in group homes and the DD service system? Why not send “rescue kits” to families with things like protective equipment for self injurious behaviors, AAC devices, sensory items, etc?
The author uses some out of context quotes from disability activists to make her points that I find troublesome. She also uses a strawman argument on the concept of self determination. From my experience talking to disability activists, they have never argued that every developmentally disabled person is able to advocate for themselves, write blog posts and decide their future THIS INSTANT. They’re saying that everyone should get the opportunity to self advocate and be heard to the best of their abilities and everyone is capable of learning how to do that with intensive support. That’s still a radical idea that I don’t completely agree with- I trust the author when she says people like her son will never be able to fully communicate no matter how much effort is put in, and it’s a bit ableist in itself to dismiss the reality of severe intellectual disability. But there is a grain of truth to it and it’s different than saying “your son can get up and write a blog post or engage in a formal supported decision making process right now if you just let him.” can’t tell you the amount of times I have realized that by self injuring, eloping, being aggressive towards us, things we always considered just an inherent part of her faulty brain wiring like this author thinks, our daughter was trying to communicate in the only way she knew how. Whether it be physical pain or emotional pain or telling us about abuse, those behaviors were self advocacy, just not self advocacy that really worked.
This book was a touching insight into raising a severely autistic child, and I found it extremely candid and relatable. A lot of the points the author makes, about independence being over valued in our “every man for himself” society and our responsibility to provide collective care to the disabled, are ones self advocates (at least the ones In close to) would completely agree with. However, it’s politics did not sit well with me and I’d urge the author to be less confrontational toward people who also have personal experience, and are fundamentally on the same side.
The parts of the book I objected to were the politics and framing of the various movements and sub-communities within autism. I’m a bit biased because my daughter is a proponent and beneficiary of the neurodiverse activism the author decries. Autistic adults (some we’ve actually met through our progressive shul and radical Jewish community) have nurtured our family since day one, offering their insights into the workings of our kid’s mind before she could speak for herself and serving as mentors for her once she could. We have a high-functioning, activist autistic woman as my daughter’s current long-term caregiver and she has been so so valuable. She has worked as a DSP for kids like Jonah and my daughter for years. She is familiar with the raw realities of severe autism, and *still* advocates for human rights and self determination to the greatest extent possible. We both agree that the modern day movement has gone too far and the popularization of ND language has erased families and people with severe disabilities. But the movement in its original form, led by people with severe disabilities and their families, is valuable.
This is what I find troublesome about orgs like the Council for Severe Autism: the idea of having a specific group advocating for our severe population is so important, but I see it as more focused on being reactionary against disability rights advocates than providing direct support to families like mine and Jonah’s. Instead of fear mongering about language and censorship, why not help fund therapies and services? Why not join other disability rights groups in protesting against Medicaid cuts and cuts to services that people with severe autism depend on? Why not fight against abuse in group homes and the DD service system? Why not send “rescue kits” to families with things like protective equipment for self injurious behaviors, AAC devices, sensory items, etc?
The author uses some out of context quotes from disability activists to make her points that I find troublesome. She also uses a strawman argument on the concept of self determination. From my experience talking to disability activists, they have never argued that every developmentally disabled person is able to advocate for themselves, write blog posts and decide their future THIS INSTANT. They’re saying that everyone should get the opportunity to self advocate and be heard to the best of their abilities and everyone is capable of learning how to do that with intensive support. That’s still a radical idea that I don’t completely agree with- I trust the author when she says people like her son will never be able to fully communicate no matter how much effort is put in, and it’s a bit ableist in itself to dismiss the reality of severe intellectual disability. But there is a grain of truth to it and it’s different than saying “your son can get up and write a blog post or engage in a formal supported decision making process right now if you just let him.” can’t tell you the amount of times I have realized that by self injuring, eloping, being aggressive towards us, things we always considered just an inherent part of her faulty brain wiring like this author thinks, our daughter was trying to communicate in the only way she knew how. Whether it be physical pain or emotional pain or telling us about abuse, those behaviors were self advocacy, just not self advocacy that really worked.
This book was a touching insight into raising a severely autistic child, and I found it extremely candid and relatable. A lot of the points the author makes, about independence being over valued in our “every man for himself” society and our responsibility to provide collective care to the disabled, are ones self advocates (at least the ones In close to) would completely agree with. However, it’s politics did not sit well with me and I’d urge the author to be less confrontational toward people who also have personal experience, and are fundamentally on the same side.
November 8, 2020
We Walk by Amy S F Lutz is a true story of one mother’s journey navigating the world of severe autism with her son, Jonah. I actually discovered this book because Lutz was interviewed by Kate who is the blogger behind Finding Cooper’s Voice. I am a parent of 3 sons with autism, ranging from severe profound to highly gifted. I have also been trying to navigate the world of severe autism for 17 years. We hear a lot about individuals with high functioning autism (formerly known as Asperger’s), but the world of severe autism is still very much a secret mystery that not many people know about or even want to learn about. This world is differently from the characters who we are on the television shows such as The Big Bang Theory or The Good Doctor. It’s a world where individuals may not be able to effectively communicate or who have extreme behaviors. It’s a world where there are many hours of therapies and where we celebrate what may seem like small victories to people who do not know the world is severe autism. Lutz shows the readers a brief glimpse into her world of severe autism (for everyone’s world looks a bit different because individuals with autism are all unique) and she does so honestly. As a parent (and a teacher of students with severe autism), I appreciate someone who shows that autism is a spectrum and that there are many individuals who need constant supervision and support in order to be safe and happy. These individuals may have intellectual disabilities, sensory issues, and behavioral issues. These individuals need support and recognition in our society. I love that this was a story of her life, but she included a good deal of research throughout to support her beliefs and experiences in how she is dealing with her son. She does show that severe autism can have a scary side, but it can also have a beautiful side. I feel she helps give a voice to individuals with severe autism as well as their parents/ caregivers. These people often do not have speech and are unwilling to share the reality of severe autism.
April 14, 2021
I had mixed feelings about this collection of essays by a mother of five, including Jonah, the child with severe autism featured in these writings. On one hand, I truly felt for Lutz and the challenges she and her family faced as they tried to find ways to manage Jonah's outwardly aggressive, dangerous, and self-injurious behaviors. There is no doubt that our society and all of its systems fail to support those with severe developmental and intellectual disabilities, and that families are often put in unimaginably difficult positions. Lutz outlines this in many ways, and sounds a bit defensive as she describes some of the controversial therapies that they have tried. On the other hand, her attitude towards the self-advocacy of actually autistic individuals and activists is off-putting. She demonstrates the dangers of a scarcity mentality in the way she believes "higher-functioning" autistic people detract from those who, like Jonah, require near constant support. While I understand that she is coming from a difficult place, I wish that there had been more criticism of the systems that uphold this scarcity mentality and pit people against each other rather than of other autistic people. She also mentions Autism Speaks several times, and there is enough evidence that shows how that organization has been harmful so she lost a little credibility there as well. To be clear, I believe she is absolutely credible as someone who loves and cares for a severely autistic child. Her perspective is valuable, and we need to hear more from people like her to know how best we can support them and their families. That said, she isn't someone I'd necessarily look to for activism, or at least not until she sees the value in all autistic peoples' experiences and needs being respected.
August 2, 2021
I don’t agree with everything in this book but it made me think so much about Autism and so many elements of how we work with and identify students and people. It made me think so much of my favorite kiddos. I can’t wait to talk about it with the people I’ve recommended it to
July 21, 2020
*I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions depicted are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this book.*
4 stars.
This is a non-fiction book that describes the experience and thoughts of a mother who has a son with severe autism about their daily life, the fears about what the future might hold for both of them and some reflections regarding her religious views or current discussions surrounding autism.
Amy made it possible for me to get under her skin and feel every single experience she told in the first chapters. Of course, I cannot wholly understand what it is like to worry about a child's future when you know they will always need help for their daily activities; those who are so simple for many of us that we take them for granted. We should be grateful to be independent enough to cross the road by ourselves.
What I read really made me reflect on how much time and effort we spend on complaining about struggles that are, if we stop to think about it and see every in perspective, secondary.
As a psychologist focused on neuropsychology and neurosciences, I can understand a little bit better Jonah's (her son) experience as well as hers. This is why I was conflicted when I found the chapter in which she "makes him" have a traditional religious ceremony with her because it was important for the mother, wondering the rol of God in his autism. I know a person with no abstraction abilities can learn to do things but does not understand beliefs. Moreover, even though science has not yet come to discern the specific cause for autism, it has been clarified the reason does not belong to a supernatural being, but to external factors that affect the fetus during pregnancy and/or at birth. However, I do understand we tend to see things from our own perspective.
Another aspect this story helps us think about is how intolerant we have become to those who act differently. Every member of society (I'd say in the world) is so full of themselves that we do not accept any other way of thinking or acting; we don't even try to understand, which drags us further and further away from each other.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those who would like to understand autism and the concerns of family members of those who suffer from it severely.
4 stars.
This is a non-fiction book that describes the experience and thoughts of a mother who has a son with severe autism about their daily life, the fears about what the future might hold for both of them and some reflections regarding her religious views or current discussions surrounding autism.
Amy made it possible for me to get under her skin and feel every single experience she told in the first chapters. Of course, I cannot wholly understand what it is like to worry about a child's future when you know they will always need help for their daily activities; those who are so simple for many of us that we take them for granted. We should be grateful to be independent enough to cross the road by ourselves.
What I read really made me reflect on how much time and effort we spend on complaining about struggles that are, if we stop to think about it and see every in perspective, secondary.
As a psychologist focused on neuropsychology and neurosciences, I can understand a little bit better Jonah's (her son) experience as well as hers. This is why I was conflicted when I found the chapter in which she "makes him" have a traditional religious ceremony with her because it was important for the mother, wondering the rol of God in his autism. I know a person with no abstraction abilities can learn to do things but does not understand beliefs. Moreover, even though science has not yet come to discern the specific cause for autism, it has been clarified the reason does not belong to a supernatural being, but to external factors that affect the fetus during pregnancy and/or at birth. However, I do understand we tend to see things from our own perspective.
Another aspect this story helps us think about is how intolerant we have become to those who act differently. Every member of society (I'd say in the world) is so full of themselves that we do not accept any other way of thinking or acting; we don't even try to understand, which drags us further and further away from each other.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those who would like to understand autism and the concerns of family members of those who suffer from it severely.
April 5, 2022
As I have several relatives with varying degrees of autism in my family ( but none with the severity of autism described here), I was interested in this title.
Overall, I thought this was an exceptional collection of essays. Clearly she knows this experience, but also can communicate it to others exceedingly well.
Even for someone like myself who has been involved in this world since my childhood, I learned so much. I recall one of my relatives only eating a very limited diet, but I had not known about the connection between food and autism as she detailed in one of the early chapters.
I related to much of this collation. For example, I have also sat in restaurants with relatives who screamed in public and felt the antagonism of other diners. She understands all sides of this situation, and explains it all very well. But most of all, I agree with her assertion that disabled individuals should be part of everyone’s society and that society should be inclusive. Long before, “being on the spectrum” was part of common language, and even today, disability is not always well understood or tolerated.
Her love for her son is so apparent. The walks they took in Atlantic City is a story so full of love .
I did not agree with all of her assertions, but I respect the care and research she displays in this work. I was unaware of the recommendations about marijuana as a possible aid for autism, although she laid out all sides of this argument. I did question if she was, maybe on a subconscious level, pushing her son too far when she had him study for his bar mitzvah, although I understand the feeling of wanting him to be part of the community.
This is not an easy read, but it is brilliantly written and so full of wisdom and compassion that it should be widely read. I hope that it is.
I listened to this as an audiobook and narrator Amy Deuchler was a wonderful interpreter of these essays.
Overall, I thought this was an exceptional collection of essays. Clearly she knows this experience, but also can communicate it to others exceedingly well.
Even for someone like myself who has been involved in this world since my childhood, I learned so much. I recall one of my relatives only eating a very limited diet, but I had not known about the connection between food and autism as she detailed in one of the early chapters.
I related to much of this collation. For example, I have also sat in restaurants with relatives who screamed in public and felt the antagonism of other diners. She understands all sides of this situation, and explains it all very well. But most of all, I agree with her assertion that disabled individuals should be part of everyone’s society and that society should be inclusive. Long before, “being on the spectrum” was part of common language, and even today, disability is not always well understood or tolerated.
Her love for her son is so apparent. The walks they took in Atlantic City is a story so full of love .
I did not agree with all of her assertions, but I respect the care and research she displays in this work. I was unaware of the recommendations about marijuana as a possible aid for autism, although she laid out all sides of this argument. I did question if she was, maybe on a subconscious level, pushing her son too far when she had him study for his bar mitzvah, although I understand the feeling of wanting him to be part of the community.
This is not an easy read, but it is brilliantly written and so full of wisdom and compassion that it should be widely read. I hope that it is.
I listened to this as an audiobook and narrator Amy Deuchler was a wonderful interpreter of these essays.
November 22, 2020
I enjoyed this book more in the beginning than I did near the end, but it definitely gave me a lot to think about. I appreciated the idea of the value of care (giving and receiving) and the glimpses she shared into life with a severely autistic son.
October 3, 2021
This is intellectual version of an autism caregiver's memoir. I appreciated the references and research that went into this book's creation. I don't agree with all her points, but I don't regret hearing her out.
Want to read
October 15, 2020The author is a friend of a friend!
January 11, 2021
fantastic! a very realistic and yet loving portrayal of such a life.
June 20, 2022
A must read for practitioners in the field of development disabilities. This perspective provides a voice to a group of individuals and caregivers who work harder than most I know.
August 31, 2022
Excruciatingly good.
Read
April 16, 2025Good insight on the experiences of the families of individuals with severe autism/intellectual disabilites.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews