TN Parent Co-Authors Autism Book

Submitted by Todd Hash on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 7:48am.
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Cover of bookJohn Shouse, a member of the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee and long-time disability advocate, is co-author of a new book titled: The Autism Checklist.  His co-author is Paula Kluth, Ph.D., a consultant, teacher, advocate, and scholar who works with teachers and families of children with disabilities. 

John speaks on the experience

I was fortunate to be able to meet Paula Kluth in 2004, after the publication of her book "You're Going to Love This Kid!", a book about creating positive and supportive inclusive educational opportunities for students with autism.  Reading that book was one of those classic "aha moments" for me.  Not only was Paula someone who "gets it", but someone who had gotten it down in writing!  In the years since, having gotten to know Paula and having heard her presentations several times, I was very flattered when she approached me to help with this new book, "The Autism Checklist".  Part of Wiley's "Checklist" series.  

From the start, we wanted this book to be a handy and easily accessible reference for parents, educators, therapists, service providers, and anyone who interacts with individuals with autism.  We hoped it would be one of those books that gets dog-eared from use, finds itself full of bookmarks, and is never far from reach as folks would go back to it again and again for the great tips and ideas it contains.  

Paula and I approached this project very much from our shared mindset of creating supportive environments, maintaining high expectations, and finding the joy in helping those individuals with autism to achieve their greatest potentials.  The book is chock-full of everything from very specific and practical suggestions for classrooms, home, and community settings, etc., to broader suggestions to help create and maintain balance in family life, despite the the challenges inherent in parenting a child on the autism spectrum.  

I certainly give Paula so much credit for bringing energy, vision, and passion to this project, and I am just very, very proud to have been able to be a part of it.  

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