Autism parent handbook : start with the end goal in mind / Raun Melmed, Wendela Marsh, foreword by Temple Grandin

Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-205).

Foreword / Temple Grandin, author of "The way I see it" -- part I. First steps: They say it's autism... what does that mean? -- Hearing the news -- Responding to the news -- Looking forward (oh, for a crystal ball) -- part II. Home base: Create an environment that works for everyone ; Home, safe home ; Home, sweet school ; Home, sweet home -- part III. Healthy habits start at home: The right path from day one ; Nutrition needs ; Exercise needs ; Sleep needs ; Stimulation needs ; The well-child checkup -- part IV. Learn to love the parade: Get the most out of your team ; Who are all these people ; What should my child be learning? ; What shouldn't my child be learning? -- part V. Out and about: Venturing forth into the community ; The unwritten rules of the park and the playground ; How to go to the grocery store without going crazy ; Navigating barber shops, dentists' offices, and the rest of the world ; Safety first... but what if they get lost anyway? : prepare first responders to find your child -- part VI: Emotional roller coaster: When there is no emoji to express how they feel ; Negative feelings : anxiety, anger, sadness ; Positive feeings : joy, delight, ecstasy ; Strategies for dealing with overstimulation -- part VII. School days: Navigating the IEP process ; What is an IEP, anyway? ; Transition : vocational -- part VIII. Transitions: Looking the future in the eye without blinking ; Pre-adolescence and the dreaded teen years ; Transition planning : educational ; Transition planning : financial ; Transition : recreation -- part IX: Parents & children in the time of COVID -- Postscript: Congratulations! You are on the right track & moving forward.

"Once a diagnosis of autism is made, a myriad of questions arises. Why is this happening? What can I do? How will I cope? What will the future bring? Will I ever smile again? A roadmap is needed, a handbook to refer to when all seems overwhelming. The priorities are to begin the healing process and to start treatment. The way to ensure success is to begin with the end goals in mind. It is remarkable how things fall into place once a vision of the future is formulated – a productive, upstanding, and most important, happy adult! The Autism Parent Handbook walks parents through the steps of early intervention by demonstrating ways to achieve the most optimal outcomes." -Book Jacket