Ebook
It seems that nearly everyone knows a family with an autism spectrum child. Most recent figures suggest that the prevalence of all autism spectrum disorders in the United States is an astonishing 1% of the population in the United States, translating to twelve million parents and grandparents that are seeking answers.
There are many books available on how to cure an autistic preschooler, but none on how to raise one to adulthood. These promised cures raise parents’ hopes, but most parents will find that they are dealing with a lifelong challenge no matter what they do. Dr. Laura Hendrickson is a trained psychiatrist, biblical counselor—and the mother of an autistic child. She understands the struggles parents face as they try to communicate with their autism spectrum child and manage behavior challenges.
With an approach that is grounded in a deep understanding of the challenges those caring for autism spectrum children face, Finding Your Child’s Way on theAutism Spectrum gives the reader sound, practical tools for understanding how to guide an autism spectrum child to function more fully as the person God created them to be.
“Oh, the joy when he finally got it!”
Laura Hendrickson knows the challenges and victories of raising a child on the autism spectrum.
She believes your child has been uniquely made by God. And rather than wishing your child could be like everyone else, you can instead begin to hope that he’ll grow up to be the adult God designed him to be, differences and all.
Dr. Hendrickson discusses social skills, rituals, friends, options for education and career, managing emotions, discipline, and more. You’ll learn the importance of lavish praise and quiet correction, gentle pressure to learn, firm limits and consistency, and discipleship.
And wherever your child is on the autism spectrum, whether high or low functioning, verbal or nonverbal, you’ll find helpful and hopeful information so you too can know the joy of your child “getting it” in his or her own unique way.
Introduction
Chapter One - In His Way
Chapter Two - First Steps in the Way
Chapter Three - Shepherding Hearts
Chapter Four - Educating Minds
Chapter Five - Stims, Rituals, and Obsessins
Chapter Six - Managing Emotions
Chapter Seven - The Relationship Puzzle
Chapter Eight - Mad Elephants and maturity
Chapter Nine - For This Child I Prayed
Appendix - Is My Child on the Autism Specturm
Appendix: Selecting a Treatment Program
Appendix: Eric’s Valedictorian Speech
Finding Your Child’s Way on the Autism Spectrum will help the reader to understand the varying degrees of symptoms and the individuality of each child. Laura’s experience with and commitment to raising her own son s one of her greatest assets in her mission to help other parents. Using her medical, parental, and theological backgrounds, she walks the reader through some very practical help and hope, regardless of where one’s child may fall on the continuum.
-Dr. Stuart Scott, associate professor of Biblical Counseling; director, Center for Biblical Counseling, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Finding Your Child’s Way on the Autism Spectrum will help the reader to understand the varying degrees of symptoms and the individuality of each child. Laura’s experience with and commitment to raising her own son s one of her greatest assets in her mission to help other parents. Using her medical, parental, and theological backgrounds, she walks the reader through some very practical help and hope, regardless of where one’s child may fall on the continuum.
-Dr. Stuart Scott, associate professor of Biblical Counseling; director, Center for Biblical Counseling, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary