Book Description
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 Jae 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 humor 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.
Book Info
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers) The story of a father's journey through autism with his son. Describes the stages of realization, intervention, and therapy the family went through in their search to find a lifestyle and a therapy that would help their son overcome the powerful spectrum disorder, providing inspiration for other families undergoing that process. Softcover.
About the Author
Bill Davis is actively involved in autism advocacy work and has lobbied congressmen and senators for CAN (Cure Autism Now). A board member of the local Pennsylvania Autism Society, he has recently been nominated to be the chapter's Vice-President. 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.
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.
