My Andrew

Book excerpt: Discovering that your child has a permanent pervasive developmental disorder is a shock to any parent. At first, it is hard to believe that the diagnosis is true. But quickly, you begin to immerse yourself in information to learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can. When the author's son was diagnosed with ASD at the age of four, she began collecting files of paperwork from doctors and therapists, test results, IEPs, and her own journal writings. She later combined it in chronological order and used it as a resource to explain her son to teachers, grandparents, caregivers, therapists, and other parents. The result is My Andrew, a heartfelt look into the first eight years of a family's journey to raise their son with autism. Presented in a journal format, this book presents what ASD means to a family's everyday life ? it highlights the ups and downs, the victories and the setbacks.