The Learning Commons has many great resources to learn about Autism and resources to support learners.
I Am Aspiengirl: the unique characteristics, traits and gifts of females on the autism spectrum.
Have you ever wondered why she says she feels different to her peers? Her peers seem to gracefully and naturally meet their milestones, yet she has reached some developmental milestones early and some late. She may have been an overly active child, had sensory issues, or had a speech delay. You knew she was bright from early on, with a sprinkle of some anxiety, social and eating issues, yet the professionals just cannot find an explanation that completely fits her. Yet, she struggles socially and emotionally, acting and appearing younger than her peers. Maybe she is “Aspien”, a young female with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism. She has a unique constellation of super-abilities, strengths and challenges. If you are looking for a book on the often perplexing and unique female Autism Spectrum traits, then this is the book for you.
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-year-old Boy with Autism
A story never before told and a memoir to help change our understanding of the world around us, 13-year-old Naoki Higashida’s astonishing, empathetic book takes us into the mind of a boy with severe autism. Naoki Higashida was only a middle-schooler when he began to write The Reason I Jump. Autistic and with very low verbal fluency, Naoki used an alphabet grid to painstakingly spell out his answers to the questions he imagines others most often wonder about him: why do you talk so loud? Is it true you hate being touched? Would you like to be normal? The result is an inspiring, attitude-transforming book that will be embraced by anyone interested in understanding their fellow human beings, and by parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends of autistic children.This book is mesmerizing proof that inside an autistic body is a mind as subtle, curious, and caring as anyone else’s.
