Overview

Bill Davis is the father of Chris, who has autism. Breaking Autism's Barriers: A Father's Story chronicles Bill's fight to overcome the physical, emotional, public, educational, and therapeutic obstacles to his son's disorder. Few books about autism have been written from a father's perspective. None so effectively walks the reader through each moment of a family's experience. It is an honest, direct account from a father's point of view of bringing up a child with autism, and the pressures and pleasures this brings to him, his wife Jac and his daughter Jessica. Now a leading autism advocate, Bill Davis gives advice and support to families trapped in a frustrating, unyielding system. Every facet of daily life with autism - including potty-training, aggression, marriage, family support, and finances - is discussed, with humour and realism. Breaking Autism's Barriers gives useful information to help parents jump the hurdles necessary to get a diagnosis, effective education, skilled therapists, and funding. Professionals will gain great insight on how to work better with families struggling with autism. And families will take comfort in knowing they are not alone, and be inspired by an ordinary man like Bill who is overcoming autism's obstacles.

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9781853029790

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Reviews

I learned more about children with autism spectrum disorders in one day with Bill Davis and his family than in all the time I have spent on this issue before or since. Also, I discovered the remarkable dedication and tenacity of parents whose children are challenged by disabilities. This book will be an inspiration to every parent of a special child. -- Congressman Jim Greenwood - Sponsor of the Advancement in Pediatric Autism Act and Autism Advocate As a therapist, the insights afforded by a personal account are invaluable. Bill Davis's easy-to-read narrative makes a refreshing change from textbook accounts of the characteristics of autism. -- The British Journal of Occupational Therapy

'Bill Davis says in his introduction that he wrote this book in the hope 'he can open up somebody's eyes and give them some understanding of autism.' Well, he has done that, and I have learnt more about what it must be like to bring up a child with autism than I ever imagined I would... This book takes us through the struggles which a family has from the moment of suspecting that 'something's not right'...Davis has to fight medical, educational, therapeutic and other professionals in order to get the help that his son Chris needs...the strategies he uses - never taking no for an answer - will fortify many a parent fighting so that their child receives the help he or she needs and which is badly needed right now. Parents of an autistic child are struggling, and Breaking Autism's Barriers will come as a comfort to many fathers and mothers who feel they are in the dark about how to help their child' -Jill Curtis, family2000onwards.com 'I learned more about children with autism spectrum disorders in one day with Bill Davis and his family than in all the time I have spent on this issue before or since. Also, I discovered the remarkable dedication and tenacity of parents whose children are challenged by disabilities. This book will be an inspiration to every parent of a special child.' - Congressman Jim Greenwood - Sponsor of the Advancement in Pediatric Autism Act and Autism Advocate

Author Information

Bill Davis is actively involved in autism advocacy work, has lobbied congressmen and senators for CAN (Cure Autism Now) and is a board member of the local Pennsylvania Autism Society. The Autism Society of America has also asked Bill to serve on its national committee. He is one of the founders and board members of Pathfinders, a new organization dedicated to forming a state-of-the-art autism center for research, training, autism-support education and therapy. He is Pennsylvania State Representative for Unlocking Autism, an advocacy group, and has been involved in training emergency service personnel. Wendy Goldband Schunick has a Master's degree in social work and has been a television news producer in Washington DC and Baltimore. She was presented the World Hunger Media Award at the United Nations for a series about hunger in America, before deciding to start a family. She has written oral histories for private publication and owns Tooth Fairy Tales, a children's audiotape company.

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