The Hidden World of Autism: Writing and Art by Children with High-functioning Autism

A celebration of the talents and insights of children on the autism spectrum, The Hidden World of Autism presents a collection of writings and drawings contributed by 21 autistic children. The children's work covers topics that are of primary importance in understanding some of the common experiences that children with autism, and their families, go through. These include life before diagnosis, friendships, relationships, feelings, bullying and the future. A key characteristic of having autism is the inability to express emotions; but too often that prevents children with autism from being listened to. This book gives them both a voice and a forum for creative expression and provides direct insight into what having autism means for the children themselves and how they feel about their experiences. This unique collection provides invaluable insights into the autistic experience for professionals, families and friends of children with autism, as well as the children themselves.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction. 2. What's so Different about Me? Life on the Autistic Spectrum. 3. School. 4. Me, My Friends and my Family. 5. Those things that I Do - Obsessions and Special interests. 6. The Future. References. Biographies. Index.

About the Author :
Dr Rebecca Chilvers is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in neonatal care. She has worked with hundreds of families who have been through the neonatal journey with a wide range of experiences, backgrounds and outcomes and was one of the first neonatal psychologists to work in the UK developing the service at Evelina London. She now works as the Lead Psychologist for the East of England region and is actively involved in teaching, training, research and a range of initiatives to improve the psychological care of babies, parents and staff within the NHS, the chartable sector and as an independent consultant and clinician.

Review :
The Hidden World of Autism by Rebecca Chilvers is a good quality and well presented publication. It is very clearly written without reliance on technical language...The ASD triad of impairments is very well explained and the insights and perceptions of those with Asperger's, expressed though art, poetry, and narrative, add a richness that makes this book unique. An emphasis is place on the need for the public and professionals alike to be aware of the difficulties that individuals with Aspreger's experience with respect to understanding of social rules, following instructions, interpreting non-verbal behaviour, stopping unfinished tasks, and literal interpretation. The pictures are particularly interesting in unlocking the thoughts and ideas of some of the autistic children who find it difficult to express themselves in words... The commentary and discussion in each chapter are informative and clearly written... The book will be of interest to all those who work with children and young people on the autistic spectrum and also to parents and siblings of children with ASD. As a professional, I found this book a truly inspirational read. The mixture of the children's work combined with scientific research and theory worked extremely well. The children's contributions showed an insight into their world which can often be difficult to enter and comprehend. An extremely readable and informative book. This is a wonderful collection of artwork, poems and essays by children and young people on the autistic spectrum. These are interspersed with notes providing context and background information on what the children are communicating. The notes are accessible to families affected by autism, teachers and other professionals who are relatively new to the condition. Their poignant and honest expressions of real-life experiences at home,school and in the community highlight the gaps in services. A celebration of the talents and insights of children on the autism spectrum, this book presents a collection of writings and drawings contributed by 21 Autistic children. The children's work covers topics such as life before diagnosis, friendships, relationships, feelings, bullying and the future. The author points out that, as a key characteristic of autism is the inability to express emotions, too often that prevents children from being listened to. The book sets out to provide them with both a voice and a forum for creative expression and to provide direct insight into what having autism means for themselves and how they feel about their experiences. Throughout the book all the personal accounts are interspersed with concise information from various studies and recent scientific research, which help to dispel many common misconceptions about autism. For instance, the view that autistic children do not form close relationships is untrue for most high-functioning children. This is such a refreshing book. Interleaved with valuable theoretical and practical information about autism, I was left feeling I had really heard the voices of these young people with a new clarity. The Hidden World of Autism provides a poignant, present and private perspective that both teaches and touches the reader as to the triumphs and tribulations of this complex neurodevelopmental disorder. The reflections from the children with autism provide a deep awareness often unspoken in typical children, much less from those that experience a disorder marked by assumed limited insight. The drawings are revealing in playful, charming ways. Further, the clarity and simplicity of many of the statements are memorable, such as, "I'm like you, I just think different" (Janet Barber, 17) or "autism is like being on the reflective side of a two way mirror - the other kids see you, but you can't see them" (Louise Parker, 12). This delightful read is a gift that all of us that find ourselves in the world of autism, whether professionally or personally, must receive with openness and gratitude. This book will be of interest to anybody who works with, lives with or knows someone with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The delightful illustrations invite the reader to explore the text. This book would make an excellent addition to a school or setting library and would be a useful introduction to Autism and to understanding Autism from the perspective of young people with a diagnosis. This book is a refreshing read and would be a great book to give to grandparents, schools or friends who know little about autism. It is also a great book for professionals too, because it really describes the world of autism well. The Author integrates basic information about the disorder with artistic renderings from over 20 individuals with autism. It's an enlightening book that offers insight into autism by the children of autism themselves. This is not a book you read; you experience The Hidden World of Autism. The experience provokes sadness by the plight of children with autism and also joy because they have channeled their uniqueness into creative expression. All things considered whether the reader is an experienced practitioner, a caregiver or just an individual related to autism, this book speaks in an enlightening and informative tone. Overall, this book will serve as a useful tool not only for understanding high-functioning Autism, but will also offer parents and caregivers constructive templates and concrete ideas to meet the specific needs of individuals with Autism.