Seven Keys to Unlock Autism: Making Miracles in the Classroom

As a teacher of young children with autism and parent of an adolescent child with autism, I can assure you that you want to read this book! It is the MOST respectful and creative perspective available on autism today. If you question what is available out there to bring balance to the strictly behavioral approach to autism...THIS book is the answer to your question. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Buy two copies...you'll want to give one away to a colleague or parent. BUY IT!

I'm 78% done reading but it has been a most helpful tool in dealing with Autistic afflicted world citizens. It helps you in understanding how they might see the world around them and how they deal with issues through withdrawal or secluding themselves from the painful world they were tossed into.

As the mother of a teenager with Asperger Syndrome, I appreciate this book's emphasis on loving your autistic child as they are and putting love and relationship ahead of conformity. All children on the autism spectrum do have hidden gifts which only love and acceptance will uncover.I also found the examples, whether hypothetical or true-to-life, of days in the life of autistic students and those who work with them, very realistic. The author inspires us not only to open our hearts to autistic students, but to forgive ourselves our own failings as well. And I loved the authors' emphasis on the fact that WE-- whoever "we" are who is reading this book for the love of a child or children--need to be the constant, calm center for the autistic child.As an Educational Therapist, I found a few things could have made the book more useful. First, in the chapter "Autism 101," the authors' usage of certain terminology was a bit fuzzy. Second, in describing the typical challenges of autistic students, the authors do not make a clear distinction between those with Asperger Syndrome for whom words are often everything, and more severely autistic children who may be nonverbal and highly visual.As with the kids in the Miracle Project, theater was a lifeline for my son-- funny how kids with a so-called "social disability" can get up on a stage and work in collaboration with others. I think part of it is the opportunity to learn about how someone else thinks and acts by "being" that person. It's a chance to try on different personalities, motivations, etc. AND have fun.I did not like or appreciate the meditations in the book. Maybe more examples could have been given. For me, I am more drawn to prayer than meditating on golden light. That's just me...but "me" is someone who would like not to feel excluded by a particular spiritual emphasis in the book. I know I am free to use whatever relaxation or stress reduction techniques I choose and that this was only a suggestion, but again, it would have been possible to write on this subject in a more inclusive way.The book makes the point repeatedly that we need to enter the world of the autistic child, not always expect the reverse. I agree wholeheartedly that autistic children are not a subgroup of humanity but just different, unique, offering their own gifts to the world. That being said, it IS necessary for those of us who love and work with autistic children to help "bridge" the two worlds. These kids DO need to be able to function in the world and to relate to others every bit as much as we are obligated to enter their world and acknowledge its value.Along those lines, I highly recommend the work of Reuven Feuerstein, who has refined a process called "Mediated Learning" in which the mediator helps the child find meaning in a world which otherwise makes no sense to them-- and is himself cognitively modified in the process. It is process of reciprocity. Feuerstein first saw the need for this process, and developed it, in working with child survivors of the Holocaust who were sent to Israel, had suffered severe trauma, and were completely at sea in a new and foreign environment.The book is an interesting read that will give you fresh energy to start a new day with your student or students. You'll just need to untangle a few threads to see exactly where your student fits into this composite picture.

One of my Core beliefs is "Perception is Reality". I think Elaine Hall and Diane Isaacs write about this perception issue. Both have children with autism, so they are personally connected. They write about how they approached helping their own children with the wrong perception. So they tweaked their Perception.....which tweaks reality. Why is this important? It is important because we all need to work smarter.I have been a Special Education (SPED) teacher for over a decade in a very large public school district. In fact, our district ranks as one of the 30 largest districts in the nation. Parents move to our district because of their Perception of what our district can do for their children. Two years ago, our district cut the entire SPED department in HALF......you all know, no money. This year they cut more....... affecting all aspects of education.....from busing to cleaning staff. BUT our SPED population is as large as it was 3 or 4 years ago. The Reality is we need to continue to innovate and work smarter. I advance a theory that books like "Seven Keys to Unlock Autism" and ideas to work smarter are a must......if we are to succeed.I found "Keys" extremely interesting, in part because it validated some of the successes I have had working with a severely disabled students with both MR and autism. My methodology has always to engage in a helpful way. I vividly remember about 10 years ago when I was working with an "active" young 3rd grade student. She was not engaged in the class activity, unless you consider laying under a table in the room and screaming. I was having some successes and she had stopped screaming (I sat directly by her and talked to her in a calm and happy voice) when my principal came into the room. My principal (25 years as a principal) merely went to the desk, pointed her finger at the student and told her to "get out". Guess what happened......she started screaming again. My principal left. Point made. Get to the ASD students level = Success. Yell and point fingers = Fail. Instinctively I knew what to do. Now all I needed to do was get some "book learnin" to be able to explain what I was doing "from my heart". My quest for the past decade is to find sources to learn more about my students."Keyes" has now entered my core library as a very useful book. This book is now along with Howard Gardner's books (Multiple Intelligence), Temple Grandin's books (Autism), and Harry Wong's book (teaching).Yes, this book is primarily written for teachers, but it is not written by teachers. So as parents of children within the ASD spectrum, wouldn't this give you a leg up about what might "work" for your special little one within the classroom (something you could talk with their teachers about). I think so.Addressing the detractors who say this book doesn't "Fix" the children, or doesn't "cover all questions". Hey, people on this Amazon site........those who read, compile information, and make informed decisions.........when was the last time you found something that FIXED everything. This is just a marketing technique to sell things to the sheeple. If you are reading this you are NOT sheeple......but someone who wants to know before you buy something. That puts you in an entirely different place than most.This book will not fix everything. It will open your mind to what is ACTUALLY going on with children on the ASD spectrum in another part of the country. If you gain knowledge you expand your ability to change and adapt. "Seven Keys to Unlock Autism" is positive, upbeat, and encouraging, and I think that is helpful. I recommend the book to the highest degree.

All reading material is useful for those looking after a child with Autism. Helps in our understanding of how to deal with the difficulties they may have.