[.ca] Growing Up Severely Autistic (ISBN 1853028916)

A classic in the literature of autism:
Like Josh Greenfeld's "Noah" books, this is an honest and beautifully-written account of the development of the author's son, a "low-functioning" person with autism. It is warm, unsentimental, loving, and often very funny. It communicates the many struggles of those living with and caring for Gabriel; at the same time, it also gives a strong sense of who Gabriel himself is as a person in his own right, quirky and stubborn. This surely deserves to be regarded as one of the classic personal accounts of autism.

Gabriel Resounds:
Kate Rankin's personal account of her son Gabriel provides an excellent understanding of autism. The second of 3 sons, Gabriel remains profoundly autistic and nonverbal and will require custodial care for the rest of his life. In addition to having very severe autism, Gabriel also fits the profile for severe cognitive impairment/developmental delay. He has remained incontinent and nonverbal. Some of his more overt autistic behaviors included twirling sundry objects (called "twirlers" in the book) and an inordinate attachment to rubber gloves, which started in 1984 and lasted for several years. Written with candor and straightforward honesty, Rankin introduces readers to her middle son and the challenges his severe brand of autism has on him and how this impacts on the rest of the family. She also describes the services for clients with major needs like Gabriel in the United Kingdom, which is invaluable information. Widowed at an early age in 1994, Rankin bangs on the drum for the need for respite care and has been fortunate to find good placements for Gabriel where he receives humane treatment and never ending lessons in self help skills.