This book empowers parents of autistic young people aged 11 to 20 to help them promote resilience in their child. Full of suggestions and simple activities, this easy-to-use resource will help guide parents on how to build the foundations of resilience and independence for situations such as negotiating sexuality and relationships, entering employment or living away from home.

It includes information about the main developmental stages for preteens and teens on the autism spectrum, and will take parents through life events and milestones at different ages and identify where difficulties and barriers to resilience may arise and how to address them. 

Building resilience and independence in young people with autism can be hugely beneficial in helping them live an independent and rewarding life. This book is a practical resource based around major life events; each milestone includes exercises that you can work through to more effectively build resilience and independence in preteens and teens.

Contents:

• Chapter 1. Resilience and Autistic Preteens, Teenagers and Young Adults.
• Chapter 2. Resilience and Autistic children aged 11-15 Years.
• Chapter 3. Autistic Children aged 11-15: Strategies and Activities around Building Resilience.
• Chapter 4. Common Characteristics of Autistic Young People aged 16-20 Years.
• Chapter 5. Young Autistic Adults ages 16-20: Strategies and Activities around Building Resilience.
• Chapter 6. Failing Successfully.

Author Bio:

Yenn Purkis is an autistic and non-binary advocate, author and presenter. Yenn has a Masters degree in Fine Art from RMIT University. Yenn has given a presentation for TEDx Canberra and has been a frequent keynote presenter at autism and disability events for several years. Yenn has a number of awards, including the 2016 ACT Volunteer of the Year award and a number of other awards for community leadership including being nominated for the Australian of the Year award in 2017. Yenn has worked full-time for the Australian Public Service since 2007. They have facilitated a support group for autistic women and gender diverse folks in Canberra since 2011. Yenn has featured in media interviews for many years and was one of four autistic adults featured in the ABC TV documentary Alone in a Crowded Room. Yenn lives in Canberra, Australia.

Review:

“This book offers parents a range of practical strategies to meet the challenge of re-orienting their children towards self-confidence, optimism and hope.” – Vicki Bitsika, AM, PhD, MAPS, Professor of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Director for the Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bond University.