Overview

Back from the Brink is an honest, no holds barred autobiography by Tim Chan, a young man with severe autism. His story of his childhood without functional speech, plus severe developmental delays, is enriched by the voice of his mother Sarah, a trained psychologist, and her tireless efforts to facilitate Tim's understanding of and engagement with the world. The story describes their perspectives on Tim's journey to overcome immense challenges and stigmatisation to achieve communication and connection with people, graduate from mainstream school to study at university, and gain recognition as an autism advocate and speaker. ""I admit to having problems with the book. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down."" Dr. Mike Steer AM. Director, NSW Office on Disability, Senior Lecturer University of New Castle. ""Tim is determination personified!"" Chris Varney, CEO and Founder of the I Can Network ""I really love this book: it made me smile in parts, wince and cringe in others, and cry... it comes from a deep awareness and sensitivity."" Amanda Marshall, CEO of Kevin Heinze Grow 2006 -2017 Tim Chan Born the last of four children into a Chinese Australian family, Tim was diagnosed with autism at age 3. His determined efforts to manage his autistic challenges and engage with the world have resulted in unprecedented achievements, including being the first autistic person without speech to present a TEDx Talk via assisted typing. Tim's experiences with challenges at both the personal level and in the wider community have inspired him to pursue advocacy and social justice for people with disability. Sarah Chan PhD Sarah is Tim's mother and primary carer. Coming from Hong Kong to Australia as a tertiary student, Sarah worked in research and resources in the Victorian Education Department before retraining as a school psychologist. After Tim's diagnosis, Sarah devoted her time to learning about autism to support Tim on his journey, including effective interventions and her own doctoral research into autistic self-awareness, memory and narrative skills.

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9780648522706

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Reviews

"""The autobiography of Tim Chan, a young man with severe autism, provides a powerful theme of the unrelenting struggles in pursuing inclusion for a meaningful and productive life. He comes face to face with daunting obstacles of autistic challenges, as well as non-acceptance and stigmatisation in the wider world. Tim's insights into these challenges are testament to his resilience. His unstinting efforts in finding strategies to overcome them pave a way to understanding autism from an insider's perspective and address issues of inclusion and social justice. Additionally the story includes the voice of Tim's greatest supporter and advocate - his mother, Sarah, and her tireless efforts to help translate the world to Tim and help Tim translate himself to the world. We see Tim through her eyes - compassionate, insightful and ever ready to explore ways for Tim to develop mentally, emotionally and socially."" Anne Carson Poet, Author, Artist, Editor ""Back from the Brink is a must-read book for many: For people with autism and other vulnerabilities, Tim provides the voice of a peer with insights. He shares the pain, the elation and the resilience that provides a path to guide especially when the times are tough. For families of people with disability, Tim and his mother Sarah provide a roadmap identifying the setbacks and the breakthroughs and offering insights for people discouraged by the 'system'. For anyone who works or hopes to work with people with vulnerabilities, Tim shows the impact of suppression of voice and the way in which staff attitudes and values can fundamentally respect or deny personhood and enable or hinder opportunities that others take for granted. Tim Chan has a great deal to offer - a thinker, a researcher, a motivational speaker, a peer worker. This book is a taster and a testament to the power of voice."" Belinda Epstein-Frisch, OAM Disability Consultant and Advocate ""Tim and Sarah's story is at times bleak, but it is, from beginning to heart-warming conclusion, spellbinding and moving. What impressed me most about this unusual book are the thought-provoking, often deeply moving insights emerging from the interplay of Tim and Sarah's mutual perspectives. Resurfacing after the last page is turned was an effort. This is a compelling read, at times heartbreaking, invariably uplifting and intellectually stimulating."" Dr Mike Steer, AM NSW Office on Disability, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Sensory Disability, RIDBC Renwick Centre & The University of Newcastle, NSW ""I reread many passages, some because they are so perfectly evocative and moving; I want to fix them in my memory, to influence my thinking moving forward. Others are very visual and provide strong sensory connection. I think the encounter at the end is most significant to fully comprehend the story in its entirety, with a richer perception for the reader. I really love this book; it made me smile in parts, wince and cringe in others and cry at times. It is very rich in so many ways as it comes from a deep awareness and sensitivity."" Amanda Marshall CEO, Kevin Heinze Grow, 2006-2017 ""Tim is determination personified! He has great depth to his writing and his written voice is an authentic one."" Chris Varney CEO and Founder, I Can Network"

The autobiography of Tim Chan, a young man with severe autism, provides a powerful theme of the unrelenting struggles in pursuing inclusion for a meaningful and productive life. He comes face to face with daunting obstacles of autistic challenges, as well as non-acceptance and stigmatisation in the wider world. Tim's insights into these challenges are testament to his resilience. His unstinting efforts in finding strategies to overcome them pave a way to understanding autism from an insider's perspective and address issues of inclusion and social justice. Additionally the story includes the voice of Tim's greatest supporter and advocate - his mother, Sarah, and her tireless efforts to help translate the world to Tim and help Tim translate himself to the world. We see Tim through her eyes - compassionate, insightful and ever ready to explore ways for Tim to develop mentally, emotionally and socially. Anne Carson Poet, Author, Artist, Editor Back from the Brink is a must-read book for many: For people with autism and other vulnerabilities, Tim provides the voice of a peer with insights. He shares the pain, the elation and the resilience that provides a path to guide especially when the times are tough. For families of people with disability, Tim and his mother Sarah provide a roadmap identifying the setbacks and the breakthroughs and offering insights for people discouraged by the 'system'. For anyone who works or hopes to work with people with vulnerabilities, Tim shows the impact of suppression of voice and the way in which staff attitudes and values can fundamentally respect or deny personhood and enable or hinder opportunities that others take for granted. Tim Chan has a great deal to offer - a thinker, a researcher, a motivational speaker, a peer worker. This book is a taster and a testament to the power of voice. Belinda Epstein-Frisch, OAM Disability Consultant and Advocate Tim and Sarah's story is at times bleak, but it is, from beginning to heart-warming conclusion, spellbinding and moving. What impressed me most about this unusual book are the thought-provoking, often deeply moving insights emerging from the interplay of Tim and Sarah's mutual perspectives. Resurfacing after the last page is turned was an effort. This is a compelling read, at times heartbreaking, invariably uplifting and intellectually stimulating. Dr Mike Steer, AM NSW Office on Disability, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, Sensory Disability, RIDBC Renwick Centre & The University of Newcastle, NSW I reread many passages, some because they are so perfectly evocative and moving; I want to fix them in my memory, to influence my thinking moving forward. Others are very visual and provide strong sensory connection. I think the encounter at the end is most significant to fully comprehend the story in its entirety, with a richer perception for the reader. I really love this book; it made me smile in parts, wince and cringe in others and cry at times. It is very rich in so many ways as it comes from a deep awareness and sensitivity. Amanda Marshall CEO, Kevin Heinze Grow, 2006-2017 Tim is determination personified! He has great depth to his writing and his written voice is an authentic one. Chris Varney CEO and Founder, I Can Network

Author Information

Born the last of four children into a Chinese Australian family, Tim was diagnosed with autism at age 3. His determined efforts to manage his autistic challenges and engage with the world have resulted in unprecedented achievements, including being the first autistic person without speech to present a TEDx Talk via assisted typing. Tim's experiences with challenges at both the personal level and in the wider community have inspired him to pursue advocacy and social justice for people with disability. Sarah is Tim's mother and primary carer. Coming from Hong Kong to Australia as a tertiary student, Sarah worked in research and resources in the Victorian Education Department before retraining as a school psychologist. After Tim's diagnosis, Sarah devoted her time to learning about autism to support Tim on his journey, including effective interventions and her own doctoral research into autistic self-awareness, memory and narrative skills.

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