Book Review: Understanding Autism the Essential Guide for Parents Edited by KatrinaWilliams, JacquelineRoberts. Australia: Exisle Publishing, 2015 £14.95 (Paperback), pp 240 ISBN‐10: 1921966726 ISBN‐13: 978‐1921966729

Abstract

The authors of this book, Professors Williams and Roberts, have extensive experience in the field of autism as clinicians, academics, and writers. All three areas of expertise are abundantly apparent in this clear, concise, and well-focussed guide. At a time when parents have access to so much information about autism through the Internet, producing a book that can be regarded as ‘essential’ is quite a challenge. This book is deserving of the title for a number of reasons. Understanding Autism is clear and well written. It provides sensible, accessible information and has an air of calm reassurance about it. Whether parents have had to fight for a diagnosis or have had a diagnosis made before they are ready, the period post-diagnosis can seem very daunting and confusing. This book provides a combination of professional advice and personal support, as a knowledgeable friend might. The authors provide an extensive discussion of the range of problems that children with autism and their families can face, including behavioural problems, specific learning difficulties, and psychological difficulties, as well as social communication problems. They use case studies to demonstrate how the issues discussed look in real-life situations. They cover the phases of childhood and the different problems that can emerge as children mature. They address educational issues and what parents should expect of schools, providing advice that is applicable in any school setting. The chapter on the needs of parents and siblings was sensitively covered. The downside of covering such a breadth of topics is that the authors are not able to provide a detailed discussion of areas covered and, because of the accessible way they presented topics, I often wanted more information from them. One strength of this book is its synchrony with the Internet and, in particular, the chapter on how to judge the reliability of information from other sources, evaluate the likely utility of interventions, and assess progress in an objective way. It enables parents to venture into the unregulated world of Internet information and provides a sensible reference point when trying to put into context some of the more fanciful ideas they will encounter. Understanding Autism provides a useful framework for parents when conducting their own research into understanding and meeting their child's needs. The authors have achieved their objective in producing an essential guide for parents and it would also make useful reading for educators and health professionals as well.