Recommended Reading - Hussman Institute for Autism

Recommended Reading

This page contains a sampling of the many books and films that address autism. We’ve hand-picked several that share the Institute’s values of presuming competence, providing positive supports, and promoting inclusion in school and the community.

Some of these films and books provide background knowledge about autism, and others provide practical advice to improve your interactions with individuals on the spectrum. Still others–including some of our favorites–are written by individuals with autism and provide a window into their lived experience. Each section is split into films and books, and entries are listed in alphabetical order by title.

We at the Institute hope these suggestions provide optimism, encouragement, and perspective to help you on your autism journey. Enjoy!

Voices on the Spectrum

FILMS

Temple Grandin, 2010

“Based on the writings by its title subject, HBO Films’ Temple Grandin is an engaging portrait of an autistic young woman who became, through timely mentoring and sheer force of will, one of America’s most remarkable success stories.” –Amazon.com

We Thought You’d Never Ask: Voices of People with Autism, 2008

“Renowned Autism researcher and advocate Paula Kluth, the Hussman Foundation, and Landlocked Films co-produced this half-hour documentary that gives voice to a range of perspectives from adults with autism.” –landlockedfilms.com

Wretches and Jabberers, 2011

“In Wretches & Jabberers, two men with autism embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to put a new face on autism, Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland. At each stop, they dissect public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful challenge to reconsider competency and the future.” –wretchesandjabberers.org

BOOKS

myth person alone

Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone

Douglas Biklen, 2005

“This book challenges the prevailing, tragic narrative of impairment that so often characterizes discussions about autism. Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone seriously engages the perspectives of people with autism, including those who have been considered as the most severely disabled within the autism spectrum…The volume allows a look into the rich and insightful perspectives of people who have heretofore been thought of as uninterested in the world.” — Amazon.com

how can i talk

How Can I Talk if My Lips Don’t Move?

Tito Mukhopadhyay, 2011

“An astounding new work by the author of The Mind Tree that offers a rare insight into the autistic mind and how it thinks, sees, and reacts to the world. When he was three years old, Tito was diagnosed as severely autistic, but his remarkable mother, Soma, determined that he would overcome the “problem” by teaching him to read and write… ‘Brave, bold, and deeply felt, this book shows that much we might have believed about autism can be wrong.’—Boston Globe” — Amazon.com

mind tree

The Mind Tree

Tito Mukhopadhyay, 2011

“At the age of three, Tito was diagnosed with severe autism. But his mother, with boundless hope and determination, read to him and taught him to write in English. She also challenged him to write his own stories. The result of their efforts is this remarkable book—written when he was eight to eleven years old—comprised of profound and startling philosophical prose and poetry. During a New York Times interview, Tito scrawled on a yellow pad, ‘I need to write . . . It has become a part of me.'” — Amazon.com

the reason i jump

The Reason I Jump

Naoki Higashida, 2013

“You’ve never read a book like The Reason I Jump. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it 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. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within.” — Amazon.com

thinking in pictures

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism

Temple Grandin, 2006

“Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a gifted animal scientist who has designed one third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the United States. She also lectures widely on autism—because Temple Grandin is autistic, a woman who thinks, feels, and experiences the world in ways that are incomprehensible to the rest of us.

…What emerges in Thinking in Pictures is the document of an extraordinary human being, one who, in gracefully and lucidly bridging the gulf between her condition and our own, sheds light on the riddle of our common identity.” — Amazon.com

Teaching and Inclusive Education

give him the whale

Just give him the whale!: 20 ways to use fascinations, areas of expertise, and strengths to support students with autism

Paula Kluth & Patrick Schwarz, 2008

“Just Give Him the Whale! is packed from start to finish with unforgettable stories based on the authors’ experience, firsthand perspectives from people with autism themselves, research-based recommendations that are easy to use right away, and sample forms teachers can adapt for use in their own classrooms. An enjoyable read with an eye-opening message, this short book will have a long-lasting impact on teachers’ understanding of autism—and on their students’ social and academic success.” –Amazon.com

Find many more books for teachers by Paula Kluth at her website: http://www.paulakluth.com/books-and-products/

love this kid

“You’re Going to Love This Kid!“: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom, Second Edition

Paula Kluth, 2010

“Thousands of educators have turned to “You’re Going to Love This Kid!” for fresh ways to welcome and teach students with autism—and now the book teachers trust is fully revised and more practical than ever! Gathering feedback from teachers across the country during her popular workshops, autism expert Paula Kluth targeted this second edition to the specific needs of today’s primary- and secondary-school educators.” –Amazon.com

Find many more books for teachers by Paula Kluth at her website: http://www.paulakluth.com/books-and-products/

About Autism

sensory-movement diffs

Autism: Sensory-Movement Differences and Diversity

Martha Leary & Anne Donnellan, 2012

“The trend of our best work in behavioral difficulties has been to move from coercion and control to understanding and accommodation. Martha Leary and Anne Donnellan have made a crucial advance with their groundbreaking research.” –Herbert Lovett, author of Learning to Listen.

My Brother Charlie

Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, 2010

“From bestselling author and actress Holly Robinson Peete–a heartwarming story about a boy who happens to be autistic, based on Holly’s son, who has autism.” –Amazon.com

neurotribes

Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity

Steve Silberman, 2015

“A groundbreaking book that upends conventional thinking about autism and suggests a broader model for acceptance, understanding, and full participation in society for people who think differently.” –Amazon.com

overcoming autism - koegel

Overcoming Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform a Child’s Life

Lynn Koegel & Claire LaZebnik, 2014

“Since Overcoming Autism was first published nearly a decade ago, many theories about autism have fallen by the wayside. But the interventions described in this book have been shown to be the best approach to improving the development and quality of life of children with autism. Together, Lynn Kern Koegel, the nationally recognized head of the Autism Research Center at the University of California, and Claire LaZebnik, a professional writer and the mother of a child with autism, have updated their classic guide with today’s cutting-edge research.” –Amazon.com

autism neuroscience

The Neuroscience of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Joseph Buxbaum & Patrick Hof (Editors), 2012

“Edited by two leaders in the field, this volume offers a current survey and synthesis of the most important findings of the neuroscience behind autism of the past 20 years. With chapters authored by experts in each topic, the volume explores etiology, neuropathology, imaging, and pathways/models.” -Amazon.com

for dummies

Understanding Autism for Dummies

Stephen Shore, Linda Rastelli, & Temple Grandin, 2006

“Despite the frivolous title, one of the most comprehensive and accessible introductions to autism in the literature.” -John Hussman

Positive Supports

FILM

BE SAFE: The Movie, 2013

“BE SAFE The Movie uses video modeling to show viewers how to interact with the police in everyday encounters. Positive models help viewers of all abilities learn what to do and say when meeting the police.

Crucial safety skills are clearly demonstrated in 7 Episodes, ranging from following instructions to the right to remain silent. In each scene, real police interact with special needs individuals, giving BE SAFE true authenticity.

BE SAFE is great for teens and adults with disabilities and EVERYONE else for that matter!” –besafethemovie.com

BOOKS

1.0 cover w border mini

Presume Competence: A guide to successful, evidence-based principles for supporting and engaging individuals with autism

John P. Hussman, Ph.D., 2017

This comprehensive, research-based guide, authored by Dr. John P. Hussman, provides fundamental information to help parents, teachers, and others who support individuals with autism. It provides useful strategies for communication, instruction, positive behavior supports, inclusion, relationship-building, and more, emphasizing the competence, dignity, strengths, and equality of those with autism.

communication-based intervention

Communication-Based Intervention for Problem Behavior

Edward Carr, Len Levin, Gene McConnachie, Jane Carlson, Duane Kemp, & Christopher Smith, 1994

“Based on extensive field-testing and the dual principles that problem behavior often serves a purpose for the individual displaying it and that intervention should take place in the community, this user-friendly manual details methods for conducting functional assessments, communication-based intervention strategies, procedures for facilitating generalization and maintenance, and crisis management tactics.” -Amazon.com

engaging autism

Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think

Stanley Greenspan & Serena Wieder, 2009

“Grateful parents and professionals worldwide have welcomed this essential guide to the highly recommended Floortime approach for treating children with any of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Now available in paperback, Engaging Autism includes new, exciting information on neuroscience research into the effects of this approach, plus guidance for parents navigating the controversies surrounding the treatment of autism.” -Amazon.com

optimistic parenting

Optimistic Parenting: Hope and Help for You and Your Challenging Child

V. Mark Durand, 2011

“Happier lives. Less stress. Family harmony. That’s what all parents of children with challenging behavior want. Learn how to get there with this groundbreaking guide to confident, skillful, and positive parenting.” -Amazon.com

PRT pocket guide

The PRT Pocket Guide: Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Robert Koegel & Lynn Koegel, 2012

“What is Pivotal Response Treatment? What’s the research behind it, what does it look like in practice, and what are some good examples of how to use it? Now one concise book gives professionals and parents all the basics of the widely used PRT—an empirically supported treatments for autism recognized by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the National Standards Project.” -Amazon.com

Science of making friends

The Science of Making Friends: Helping Socially Challenged Teens and Young Adults

Elizabeth A. Laugeson, Psy.D., with foreword by John Elder Robinson, 2013

“This book offers parents a step-by-step guide to making and keeping friends for teens and young adults with social challenges—such as those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, bipolar, or other conditions. With the book’s concrete rules and steps of social etiquette, parents will be able to assist in improving conversational skills, expanding social opportunities, and developing strategies for handling peer rejection.” –Amazon.com

teaching of talking

The Teaching of Talking: Learn to Do Expert Speech Therapy at Home With Children and Adults

Mark Ittleman, 2012

“The goal of Teaching of Talking is to make sure that any loved one, caregiver or speech-language pathologist is thoroughly knowledgeable in methods to help people improve talking since it is never known when the plug will be pulled on speech and language therapy services.” -Amazon.com

toilet-training

Toilet Training for Children with Severe Handicaps

Glen Dunlap, Robert Koegel, Lynn Koegel, 1984

“A short but effective manual on one of the common early challenges faced by parents.” -John Hussman

“The soul must be loved as it is.”

Jamie Burke
“Autism awareness can’t stop with a list of what makes people with autism different from us. Because what is essential is the constant awareness of what makes us the same.”

John P. Hussman, Ph.D., Director
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“We agree with the view that presuming competence is the least dangerous assumption.”

John P. Hussman, Ph.D., Director
“Autism is not disability.”

Jamie Burke
“We are just like you, with the same desires, and just need help to be typical members of society.”

Sue Rubin
“In the end, the best argument for inclusion is the simplest. It’s the one we know by heart – that all of us are created equal.”

John P. Hussman, Ph.D., Director