Death Is Forever

Practicaladviceandinformationfromtheworld'sforemostexpertsonautism—andamother'sownhard-wonlessonsfromhelpinghersonrecoverfromthedisorderWhenKarenSiffExkorn'sson,Jake,wasdiagnosedwithautism,shestruggledtopulltogethercomprehensiveinformationaboutthedisorder.Fortunately,shewasabletoeducateherselfquickly,andherextensiveat-hometreatmentofhersonledtohisamazingfullrecovery.Butthejourneywasn'teasy,andnow,inTheAutismSourcebook,SiffExkornoffersparentsthewisdomshewishesshe'dhadatthebeginning.Recentstudiesshowthatthereisaworldwideepidemicofautism.Morethan1.5millionpeopleareaffectedintheUnitedStatesalone,withoneinevery166childrendiagnosed.Earlydetectionandearlyinterventionaretwoofthekeyfactorsinimprovingprognosis—buttoooften,writesSiffExkorn,parentsgetboggeddownindenialorconfusionaboutthestillmysteriousdisorder,andareunabletotakethenecessarysteps.Providingaccessiblemedicalinformationgleanedfromtheworld'sforemostexperts,SiffExkornoffersaninsidelookatfamilieswithchildrenwhohaveautism,andtiesinherownfirsthandexperienceasaparent.Theauthorsharesvaluableknowledgeaboutthefollowing:WhatthediagnosisreallymeansUnderstandingandaccessingtreatmentoptionsKnowingyourchild'srightsintheschoolsystemCopingwithcommonmaritalandfamilialstressMakingthestigmaofautismathingofthepastWithextensiveappendices,includingtheModifiedChecklistforAutisminToddlers,DiagnosticCriteriafortheFivePervasiveDevelopmentalDisorders,andcarefullyselectedlistsofInternetresources,recommendedreadings,andtopautismorganizationsworldwide,TheAutismSourcebookisthesinglemostcomprehensive,practicalresourceavailabletoparentsandlovedonesofchildrenwithautism.