Book Reviews
A Manual to Provide Support and Care for Adults with Autism Spectrum
by Anna Tullemans and Sue Larkey
ISBN 978-0-6483806-2-7
Here is another common-sense manual from Anna Tullemans and Sue Larkey; this time to benefit support workers of adults on the autism spectrum.
In this book, the authors show workers how to provide support to the individual in accordance with that client’s specific needs. They suggest how workers can teach empowerment to their clients and how to encourage inclusion of their clients in the community.
Larkey and Tullemans remind readers that support workers are role models to the people they support. It is without doubt that many clients see their support worker as a friend, so it’s important for workers to know they are seen as role models.
This is such a valuable book, and it should be in every workplace that practices inclusion.
Book review by Rhonda Valentine Dixon
Disclosing the Diagnosis – by Anna Tullemans
ISBN 978-0-9923000-3-6
Anna Tullemans’ books on Autism Spectrum Disorder always inform the reader from a place of personal experience (as a parent) and common sense.
In this book, Anna suggests sourcing current information from the Internet and from reputable books and organisations regarding ASD before disclosing a diagnosis to others.
Anna answers questions such as: –
- Who needs to know?
- When should you disclose a diagnosis?
- What changes are you looking for in your life – post disclosure?
- What are the potential outcomes for the significant people in your life after disclosure?
- Why do people need to know that you, or your child, are on the spectrum?
A ‘must read’ for families new to a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Book review by Rhonda Valentine Dixon
Working With Teachers – A Guide for Parents
by Anna Tullemans
Parents may perceive working with teachers as fraught with difficulties simply because the different parties have differing needs and expectations from the schooling process. Anna suggests that effective communication between parents and teachers is imperative to successful outcomes for the Autism Spectrum student. Productive communication leads to collaboration and with the latter, all challenges can be resolved.
Parents of newly diagnosed children will find this 50-page book very useful.
Book review by Rhonda Valentine Dixon
I’m Going to School – by Anna Tullemans
I’m Going to School is a workbook for parents and teachers to complete as children begin preschool or primary school. Each page depicts a single topic related to the early days and weeks of the school term.
Parents and teachers are encouraged to dedicate a single book to an individual student and fill in each page with the child. Youngsters will assimilate more easily when they become familiar with the locations, buildings, uniforms and belongings, rules, routines, and people they’ll encounter in the school day.
If a student obsesses over one or two issues, those pages alone may be photocopied and individualised for the child.
Whilst this book was written with the ASD student in mind, it is a valuable resource for all newcomers to preschool and primary schools.
This book is self-published and does not have an ISBN.
Book review by Rhonda Valentine Dixon
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder – An outline of ASD for professionals.
by Anna Tullemans
ISBN: 978-0-9923000-0-5
This is a book designed to assist health professionals to understand people on the Autism Spectrum.
Important issues are touched upon, such as: –
- The possibility of the autistic person interpreting language literally
- Many on the autism spectrum have a high pain threshold
- The importance of visual explanations in consultations
- Injections, Blood Tests and Medical Procedures
Many issues within the medical and human service fields overlap so challenges and suggestions are similar as the reader progresses through the book, though there are specific deviations such as incentives to take medication in the Nurses section, using sunglasses in the Dentist’s surgery, facing backwards and lying in the prone position in the Paramedics section, the use of a nylon or plastic cape at the Hairdresser’s and so on.
This book dispels the notion that unusual or inappropriate behaviour is bad behaviour.