Autism is a different way of being human: it offers possibilities and opportunities, not disabilities. By understanding autistic behaviours as responses based on an individual's experiences, as strategies to cope with a chaotic world, Barry Prizant seeks to enhance a child's abilities, to teach new skills, help individuals build on their strengths and develop coping strategies that could aid the fulfilment of every child's promise. ESSENTIAL READING FOR ANY PARENT, TEACHER, THERAPIST OR CAREGIVER OF A PERSON ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. In understanding those on the autism spectrum as developing human beings Uniquely Human debunks many of the false, and antiquated, negative stereotypes that surround autism. It is a first step towards a greater understanding of people with autism and an essential part of their successful participation in and contribution to society. With a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice that shares all that Barry Prizant has learnt from thousands of children and older people with autism and their families over forty years Uniquely Human conveys a deep respect for the qualities in people on the autism spectrum that make them special. It offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that could be life-changing as well as uplifting.
Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, is among the world's leading authorities on autism, with more than forty years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and international consultant. He is an adjunct professor at Brown University and coauthor of
The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. Dr. Prizant has published more than 120 articles and chapters and has received many awards for his career in supporting autistic persons and related disabilities and their families. Dr. Prizant lives in Cranston, Rhode Island, with his wife, Dr. Elaine Meyer.
Tom Fields-Meyer is author of the memoir Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love from His Extraordinary Son, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. A former senior writer for People, he has coauthored many books, and his articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times Magazine,
The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. He lives with his wife, Shawn Fields-Meyer, and their sons in Los Angeles, where he teaches in the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.