Description
Professor Hale has produced a ground-breaking and timely book which I recommend. It fills a vital gap in current knowledge, and it challenges us to use the information sensitively and intelligently in researching, understanding, and applying it for ourselves.
It will also be of general interest because it includes science-based advice about genetics, allergies, general health, and some of the ways humans can have ‘differently wired’ brains. It is illuminating and written from a new sympathetic and humane perspective.
Ian writes as an author and expert medical scientist who is on the spectrum himself and is therefore in an ideal position to contribute insights into this subject. For example, the book gives an informative overview of current scientific research as well as well as explaining the experience from his own unique insider point of view. He explains for example that, “Autism is for life, including senior care, a fact seldom considered by social agencies. No-one “grows out” of Autism; it is not ‘a phase’.”
He informs us about ‘mild,’ ‘moderate,’ ‘severe’ and ‘profound’ conditions that may involve
Dyslexia; Dyscalculia; Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD); Attention Deficit Hyperactive
Disorder (ADHD); Asperger’s Syndrome, (AS); Pervasive Developmental Disorders-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS); Williams Syndrome; Hyperlexia; Dyspraxia; High Function Autism; Crohn’s Disease, and many more.
We are told it is vitally important to acknowledge that ‘Autists’ are individuals first and patients who happen to have a form or forms of autism second. He explains the possible attributes; kinds of symptomatic presentations; the need for an understanding of their definably different and quantifiable ways of behaving; the stresses they may experience, and the importance of love and acceptance. I agree, my own research confirms that equality of opportunity defined as skilled support funded towards improvement for all benefits society.
Ian pulls no punches in his critical commentary of the historical and current abuse autistic people have suffered and still suffer. There have been patchy, uninformed, though perhaps well-meaning intentions by those who legislate and apply the law, but this book gives us a range of new factual insights. It will inform and empower professionals, officials, parents, carers, and Autists to speak out, and resist discrimination and harassment by those who are dismissive or violently abusive. It will also provide them with the information needed to stand up to and inform those administering unsuitable treatment of the sort that demonstrates ‘professional ignorance.’
This is a thoughtful book and an act of self-acceptance, which I admire. I am impressed with Ian’s authenticity, honesty, proud ownership, and empathy in writing insightfully about himself and others on the spectrum. He has created a book packed with practical advice that autists, parents, carers, therapists, teachers, medics and even the public will find extremely useful. It is a ground-breaking book which fills a gap in the market.
– Dr. Jennifer A Hawkins, (PhD) Author— “Feelings and Emotion-based Learning: A New theory” (2017) Palgrave
Macmillan and “Brain Plasticity and Learning: Implications for Educational Practice”
(2021) Palgrave Macmillan
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.