Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism

I love specific examples and this one has plenty. Very good-nurtured look into the anxious world of Autism. This didn't provide me with all the answers I was looking for but, helped me to understand more about my son.

Beautifully written and very relevant. This book affirms that communication comes in many ways. It helps expand the lens of observation by reminding us to look for the "why" which in turn reminds us that all people have the right to communicate.

If anyone needs to be educated about autism and the approaches for dealing with the disorder, this is THE book to read. I have been a school counselor for many years and have worked with autistic children and their families. I am also the grandmother of an autistic child. Dr. Prizant covers the disorder of autism with an unmatched thoroughness and over forty years of personal experience working with autistic children, teenagers, adults and their families. It is a must read for any professional or family dealing with anyone on the autism spectrum. He approaches dealing with autism in new and creative ways. A great piece of work!

A.A.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who’s recently received an ASD diagnosis for their child. I was lost and incredibly scared of the unknown when we were told our 3 year old son is on the Spectrum. I went to the internet and I was met with fear mongering and people trying to make a buck off of people who were in my shoes. I found this book on the store and it has changed my entire life. All I wanted was a positive perspective- that this wasn’t a death sentence and to notice all the beauty instead of the stigma this world places with the term Autism. I’m forever grateful.

This could be the most important book on education ever written. It reveals the folly of experts who think they know best on how to parent a child, when it is the parents themselves who know best. Every child is different, Prizant says. We are shuffling them through a system, forcing them to adapt to structured teaching methods rather than us adapting to their individuality. And, while that is especially true of us who are autistic, it is also true of every child. Teachers force children to behave. Parents are advised to medicate those that cannot. Then we pass them through whether they learn or not. And then we wonder why the system is failing. It's a mess.

Prizant presents us with a new way of thinking about the problem. We should take his advice and create individualized learning plans for every child, find out his or her strengths and weaknesses at an early age, determine how they learn, determine the appropriate environment, and so on. The problem with experts, however, is that they cannot be wrong, for to admit they are wrong is to admit their life has been a waste. As Prizant says, there is no magic bullet, no one size fits all. Yet, it is the nature of experts to pontificate from above, issuing edicts on the proper way to do this or that as if it were that simple. Every child deserves love, just as every child deserves an opportunity to learn on his or her own terms. It is high time that our education system adapted to the child rather than the reverse. Thank you Barry Prizant for explaining that fact in a way that even the most educated of educators can understand.

A really valuable book for parents and professionals! Dr. Prizant has provided us with a "unique" insight into better understanding individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Uniquely Human is masterfully and sensitively written, highly informative, and very perceptive. This book clearly brings to light many important ways of comprehending autism from the perspective of Dr. Prizant's dedicated career, and from the many individuals with ASD he has worked with and met, their parents, and the countless practitioners he has encountered on his professional journey. As a retired Director of Special Education, I see this book as an invaluable resource to learn how we can better support individuals with ASD and their families. Dr. Prizant beautifully frames the many uniques qualities of individuals with ASD and how we as practitioners can better use this knowledge to engage them in more meaningful instructional and treatment practices. He very effectively dispels some myths about ASD while he simultaneously opens our minds to countless ways to better educate/treat this often misunderstood group of individuals. I'm honored to have been a recipient of Dr. Prizant's knowledge in my role as Director of Special Education and the excellence of this book is no surprise. A must read !

We are awaiting an official diagnosis of whether our son has ASD. Assuming that he is on the autism spectrum, I have been absorbing as much information as I can. This book has actually helped with my own anxieties of how I can help my son. I highly recommend this book if you are overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

I cried when I read the introduction to this book. It stated so beautifully what I knew in my gut. My son isn't broken and in need of being fixed. He is a human being who needs to be heard even if it takes a lot of work to figure out what he is trying to say. Everyone effected by autism should read this.

One of the better new books on Autism, font size (regarding reading book) bit small, but otherwise can read and get it.
Sadly so few books of any value done in Australia, hence again a USA publication. Does cover Autism in Adults despite kids on cover.
Many rubbish books on Autism as a 'disease' or as 'super special' - both wrong. This one avoids those traps. For those who want another option regarding a good Autism account, look up recent books by Digby Tantum, a UK author. Delivered fine, no problems.