Autism therapy typically focuses on ridding individuals of “autistic” symptoms such as difficulties interacting socially, problems in communicating, sensory challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns. Now Dr. Barry M. Prizant offers a new and compelling paradigm.
The most successful approaches to autism don’t aim at fixing a person by eliminating symptoms, but rather seeking to understand the individual’s experience and what underlies the behavior.
Instead of classifying “autistic” behaviors as signs of pathology, Dr. Prizant sees them as part of a range of strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming. Rather than curb these behaviors, it’s better to enhance abilities, build on strengths, and offer supports that will lead to more desirable behavior and a better quality of life.
Filled with humanity and wisdom, Uniquely Human offers inspiration and practical advice drawn from Dr. Prizant’s four-decade career. It conveys a deep respect for people with autism and their own unique qualities.
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“[Uniquely Human] should reassure parents and caregivers of kids with autism and any other disability that their kids are not broken but, indeed, special.”
— Booklist (starred review).
"Refreshing…and constructive...It should be required reading for all educators and practitioners working with autism...Breathtakingly simple and profoundly positive."
— Chicago Tribune“A must-read for anyone touched by autism...Uniquely Human is a crucial step in promoting better understanding and a more humane approach.”
— Associated Press“A remarkable approach to autism...A truly impactful, necessary book.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, is among the world’s leading authorities on autism, with more than forty years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and international consultant. He is an adjunct professor at Brown University and coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. He has published more than 120 articles and chapters and has received many awards, including the 2014 Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2005 Princeton University-Eden Foundation Career Award in Autism, and the 2013 “Divine Neurotypical Award” of GRASP.