RESOURCES & REFERENCES

A Wealth of Resources

Google autism and you’ll get over 240 million hits. Many of these pages provide factual information that is reliable and scientifically-based. Others have an agenda and only provide information that supports their position. All Ways Autistic is based on science and evidence: The latest studies, conclusive research, as well as the experiences of Dr. Williams (the parent of an autistic daughter) and Mr. Freed (who is on the spectrum himself).

Family & Children's Books

Through the Eyes of Us

by Jon Roberts (2019)

Kya and Martha are ‘two different colors sitting on a beautiful rainbow’. Both are on the autistic spectrum, but that doesn’t mean they are the same. Illustrated by Hannah Rounding, this book shares the autism experience — how some activities can be stimulating, and why different textures are appealing.

All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome

by Kathy Hoopmann (2006)

A delightful book that uses photographs of cats to illustrate some of the characteristics of Asperger’s.

Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women

by Dr. Sarah Bargiela and Sophie Standing (2019)

A lovely graphic novel that introduces autism. It explains the experiences and difficulties women face as well as the differences between autistic men and women.

The State of Grace

by Rachel Lucas (2017)

Grace has Asperger’s and her own way of looking at the world. She has a horse and a best friend who understands her, and that’s pretty much all she needs. She describes life as living in a different language without the rulebook so that by the end of the day you’re exhausted.

The Rosie Project series

by Graeme Simsion (2013, 2014, 2019)

In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges. There are three books in the series: “The Rosie Project,” “The Rosie Effect,” and “The Rosie Result.” We highly recommend that you read them all.

House Rules

by Jodi Picoult (2010)

Jacob is a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. He is hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, but he is brilliant in other ways. His special focus is forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room leads him to crime scene but his autistic behaviors look a lot like guilt to the local police.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by Mark Haddon (2003)

Fifteen-year-old Christopher lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbor’s dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened. Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favorite (logical) detective, Sherlock Holmes. In 2013, the story of Christopher opened as a stage play in New York and won 5 Tony Awards including Best Play.

Non-Fiction & Biographies

Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome

by Luke Jackson (2002)

This guide to Asperger’s Syndrome is written by 13-year-old Luke who introduces us to his bustling and chaotic home. Luke and his six siblings, several of whom are also somewhere on the autistic spectrum, share his family life, school, relationships, strategies and aspirations.

Pretending to Be Normal

by Liane Holliday Willey (2015)

This memoir was originally written in 1999, before Liane was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. It shares her account of growing up “different” and pretending to be normal, and what it means to finally be diagnosed as an adult.

How Can I Talk If My Lips Don’t Move?

by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay (2011)

This book is a window into an autistic mind. When he was three years old, Tito was diagnosed as severely autistic. His mother decided to help him and taught him to read and write. Between the ages of eight and eleven he wrote stories and poems of exquisite beauty, which Dr. Oliver Sacks called amazing and shocking.

Just Add Water

by Clay Marzo (2015)

This is the remarkable story of Marzo’s rise to the top of the pro surfing world, and the personal trials he overcame in making it there. In school, his undiagnosed Asperger’s made it tough for him to relate to his peers and fit in, but his relationship with the wave was elemental.

The Reason I Jump

by Naoki Higashida (2017)

Naoki Higashida is a very smart, very self-aware, and non-verbal thirteen-year-old autistic boy. This is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. This book is currently being made into a movie.

The Autistic Brain, Thinking Across the Spectrum

by Temple Grandin (2013)

With the advent of brain-scan technology Grandin tells the story of how her autistic brain differs from the normal brain and what it might mean. The book offers enlightenment to readers with little exposure to autism and hope and compassion to those who are autistic or have other neurological differences.

Nerdy, Shy and Socially Inappropriate

by Cynthia Kim (2015)

Cynthia Kim explores all the quirkiness of living with Asperger Syndrome (ASD) in this accessible, witty and honest book. It is rich with personal anecdotes and useful advice. This book will help adults with ASD as well as their friends and families.

Carly’s Voice

by Arthur Fleishmann (2012)

A father blends his daughter’s own words with his story of getting to know his remarkable daughter. One of the first books to explore firsthand the challenges of being a non-verbal autistic person, it brings readers inside a once-secret world and in the company of an inspiring young woman who has found her voice and her mission.

Thinking in Pictures

by Temple Grandin (1996, 2006)

Temple Grandin is an autistic woman who thinks, feels, and experiences the world in ways that are incomprehensible to the rest of us. She gracefully and lucidly bridges the gulf between her condition and our own and sheds light on the riddle of our common identity.

Uniquely Human

by Barry Prizant (2015)

Essential reading for any parent, teacher, therapist, or caregiver of an autistic person. Written by one of the world’s leading experts, who portrays autism not as a tragic disability, but as a unique way of being human. It is one of the most empathetic and understanding books about autism.

The Un-Prescription for Autism

by Janet Lintala (2016)

This book explains detailed protocols and examples to help parents lead their child to their full potential. This is a descriptive book that seeks to improve autistic symptoms and overall health by focusing on intestinal flora and nutrition.

Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism

by Peter Hotez (2018)

In 1994, Peter J. Hotez’s nineteen-month-old daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed as autistic. Dr. Hotez, a pediatrician-scientist who develops vaccines, became concerned by the growing influence of the anti-vaccine community and their inescapable narrative around childhood vaccines and autism. This is his story.