Autism Out Loud by Kate Swenson, Carrie Cariello and Adrian Wood

Years ago, when my daughter was in elementary school, I used to sit in Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings with my husband, Bill, and discuss with public school officials the plans for our daughter's future. I always had a terrible time concentrating in those meetings, no matter how much I slept, or no matter how much coffee I drank that morning. These meeting were very important, and yet I could not focus. It was not until I read this book that I realized what was wrong with me: I didn't want to be in the meetings, so I was disassociating from them. It had nothing to do with how much I loved my daughter, or how proud I have always been of her. It the chalkboard, cringe-worthy drudgery of the IEP meetings that dragged me into a quicksand of depression, and made me lose all focus. For that reason alone, I loved this book, but there are about 100 other reasons, too. It centers around three women, from different parts of the country, each with a son, who have all been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Their stories are similar enough to bond them together, but also different in the way the diagnosis presents itself in each boy. The women are all fierce advocates for their sons, but also carry the stress and worry about the future. What will happen to their sons when they pass? Where will they live? Who will take care of him? Will this be a responsibly too heavy to carry for their other typical children? Honest, articulate and extremely educational, I think this book is a must read for everyone. It gives true insight into not only the resilience of these three mothers, but also the strength and character of their  sons. There is so much that the world does not know about autism, and this book is a great start in learning more about how to support children with it, and other disabilities as well. To buy this book on Amazon click here.