41 Things to Know About Autism

41 Things to Know About Autism by Chantal Sicile-Kira is a great book for those of us who don’t really know very much about autism, but would like to learn. It is setup in a fantastic way that allows readers to find the questions they have (the 41 things) and read about it from there.

This book covers essential questions such as:
• Do vaccines cause autism?
• What causes autism?
• What is a sensory processing disorder, and how is it related to autism?
• My child has just been diagnosed with autism. How do I cope?
• Can autism be cured?
• What hope is there for the future for people on the autism spectrum?

Autism isn’t a disorder that is the same for everyone that has it, that is why it is referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder. While it is different for each person who has it, they do all have challenges in the same three areas including: communication, social interactions, and imaginative play or thought. Recently, it has been found that many with autism also have gastrointestinal and immune medical problems as well.

Autism isn’t something I can honestly say I knew very much about until reading this book. I’d seen children with it on TV (like Jagger’s son on General Hospital’s spinoff). Most recently though, I watched the movie called Temple Gradin. Claire Danes plays Temple, who is autistic and goes on to be a very successful woman (based on a true story). If you haven’t seen this movie yet, watch it, it too is well worth your time!

If you are touched by a family member who is autistic, or a friend who is (or their child has it), are in the medical field, teach a child with autism, or you just want to learn more about autism – this is the book for you! Chantal Sicile-Kira does such a fantastic job explaining about autism and the book sorts it out in a very readable and relatable way.


For more information about autism, check out other books by Chantal Sicile-Kira, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, and Autism Life Skills.

Websites on Autism:
Autism Society of America (ASA): http://www.autism-society.org
Talk About Curing Autism Now (TACA): http://meetup.tacanow.org
National Autism Association: http://www.nationalautismassociation.org


* Thank you to the publisher of 41 Things to Know About Autism, Turner Publishing for providing me with a review copy of this book.