Thinking in Pictures

BHS 204:Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities
Assignment: BOOK REVIEW

Our most important resource in understanding the challenges and joys of life on the autism spectrum are the voices of individuals with autism and their families. To deepen your insight of the lived experience of autism, you must select one book from the list attached which has been written by an individual on the autism spectrum or by a family member. There is a list below of books from which you may choose your selection. Please note that many of these books are available at the public library. Otherwise you can order through Amazon or get them at a local bookstore.

If you would like to select a book that is not on the list, please check with your professor first.

You must prepare a book review of no more than 4-5 pages, which includes the following:

A. A summary of the book’s key points and narratives.

B. A description of the diagnosis received by the individual in the book, including key diagnostic criteria used to make the diagnosis.

C. An explanation of the services and interventions that the individual with autism and their family received, and how effective these interventions were, from the individual’s or family’s perspectives.

D. The impact of the diagnosis on the individual and family, including sociocultural impact (for example, how was the experience of the individual and family impacted by being in a society that is more or less inclusive of neurodiversity and the differently-abled? Were there any cultural values or beliefs held by the family that impacted their perspective of the diagnosis? Of the services sought or accessed?)

E. A reflection on the most important things you learned from reading this book, and how it might change your work with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

Your book review must be typed and double-spaced. It must be in an essay-format with an introduction and conclusion. It must be in APA format with APA reference list.

Link to access book: Grandin, T. (1995). Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports From my Life with Autism. NY:Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing. 1st LINK ON GOOGLE!