Books can offer a wealth of information and be a great help and comfort to families raising
• Dana DeRuvo Davis, a Greenburgh resident, and her son, Jackson, began writing The Ties That Bind two years ago as a way to share memories and experiences of growing up with and as a child with special needs. Dana’s son Nicholas, now 17, is afflicted with multiple disabilities and cerebral palsy. While attending the United Preschool Center in White Plains, Nicholas met Louise Chandler, who became his personal care assistant. As Nicholas grew up with Louise’s constant guidance and friendship, Louise’s family and Dana’s family became intertwined. The Ties That Bind is the moving story of two mothers with little in common coming together to care for a child, and the bond that is formed between the families. The Davis family hopes that readers will learn from the memoir that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but with a little bit of love, those weaknesses can be turned into strength. The Ties That Bind by Dana DeRuvo Davis, R.N and Jackson Davis (Tate Publishing, 2010).
• Coloring Outside Autism’s Lines does not feature information on therapy, education or advocacy. Here you’ll find very valuable guidelines on how to put the fun back in childhood for children with autism. The guide suggests many creative and fun things to do at home and in the backyard from baking and talent shows to swings and zip lines. Walton, the mother of a child with autism, also offers advice on having fun away from home at bowling alleys and ice rinks and how to prepare your child before the trip. If your family is ready to dream big, there is a whole world of accessible water parks, resorts, and even extreme sports centers just waiting to be explored, and this guide notes a few. A separate section for aunts, uncles and grandparents offers advice on how the rest of the family can get involved. Everyday questions about holidays, playdates and travel are answered, and parents will find a convenient resource guide at the back of the book. Coloring Outside Autism’s Lines by Susan Walton (Sourcebooks, 2010).
• The first thing parents will learn from Barbara Coyne Cutler of the Autism National Committee and the mother of a son with autism is that all children have the right to a free, appropriate, public education through an IEP, or an individualized education program. Cutler says the most influential figure in determining what the best education program is for a child is the parent. However, facing a resistant school system can be an intimidating challenge. You, Your Child and “Special” Education offers the guidance parents need to participate in IEP planning, conduct classroom observations, communicate with school personnel, and fight for the child’s rights. The guide features sample dialogues, practice letters, a checklist for classroom observations and lists of important questions to ask. Cutler’s no-nonsense advice is an important tool in finding what is best for parent and child alike. You, Your Child and “Special” Education: A Guide to Dealing with the System by Barbara Coyne Cutler and Sue Pratt (Brookes Publishing Company, Revised edition 2010).
