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Summary: A classic in the literature of autism
Review: A beautifully written and moving account of the development of an autistic child who is now an acclaimed painter and semi-independent. Although it was written in an era when "refrigerator mothers" were routinely blamed for causing autism, Dr. Park had the courage and insight to trust her own instincts, and invent her own techniques to teach her daughter and understand her world. Oliver Sacks has described this as the best personal account of autism ever written.
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Summary: This is an excellent account written by a parent
Review: Clara Claiborne had a child with autism born in 1958. In those days autism was considered a purely psychological disorder due to poor parenting. Clara had the sense to reject this dogma and help her child even though the professionals at the time could not do anything for her. This was before the IDEA and other government supports. This book is remarkable for its time and will always be a classic. It totally blows away the garbage spewed out by Bruno Bettelheim and the likes.
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Summary: Strongly recommended for everyone
Review: Having lived with Jessy in the Park residence for two consecutive summers, and those summers being among the most eye-opening experiences I've ever had, I strongly recommend learning about Jessy and the world in which she lives. While it's tough to explain something that a non-autistic mind cannot fully grasp from the outside (or at all?), Clara's eye for detail and seamless prose paint a strongly emotional, wonderful, and strange picture of raising an autistic child. Look for the sequel to The Siege, which I believe is in the final stages of its authoring at this time.Knowing Jessy is a wonderful thing, and knowing David and Clara is always a fantastic journey. It's a pleasure to be part of The Siege, as everyone that really knows Jessy eventually becomes.
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Summary: The BEST book a mother can read...
Review: I have a 9 year old son with autism, and have aspergers myself, and I could not have written such an insightful book as did this mother.
I got concepts and ideas I hadn't had prior to reading this book, such as the reason behind all the pronoun reversal which she theorizes and explains so well.
I was then and am still now in awe of her meticulous record keeping and devotion to her daughter while still maintaining balance in her home and in her personal life. Our household seems to revolve around iep's, perseverations, dr.'s appts, everything 'autism'.
Anything I try to say, I fear will come no where close to describing how essential this book is to the library of any mother with an autistic child, or how much it meant to me.
Despite the fact I'm not especially fond of reading, I plan to read this book again, fearing I may have missed some wisdom there was so much.
I found everything she wrote accessible to my life, despite our difference circumstances. Can't say that about many books I've read. And, I got Exiting Nirvana at the same time, and was glad I did, and eager to read it directly after The Seige.
While all the books by Williams and Grandin and Attwood and the more medical type books by Shaw and Candles and Greenspan are super, this one was a STORY, you didn't have to DO anything or make appointments or grasp heavy medical info. Yet it gave me a more FOCUS and future vision and ideas for my child, to give him as successful, fulfilling and happy future.
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Summary: One family's story of ASD set in historical context
Review: If you are not the parent of a child who has been diagnosed with PDD or Autism, this book will provide a historical view of how one family dealt with a child with this diagnosis. As a parent of a now four-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with Autistic Syndrome Disorder at age 2, I was not helped much by this book. Clara's concerns and searches for help were valid, but we've come a long way in the decades since this story takes place. Parents of autistic children now know that time is our enemy. Read this book AFTER you have read more recent books about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Verbal Behavior, Play therapy, diet, sensory integration techniques, toilet training and speech therapy. Read this to confirm your feelings and parental intuition, but don't look to it as a source of answers and advice. Today many states have early intervention programs. Information is available in books and on the Internet. My daughter continues to receive a variety of therapies that were not available at the time that this book was written. I'm one of the "lucky" ones whose child can attend a normal preschool program. That said, I would still advise parents of autistic and PDD children to read this book, but only after you have read books that offer more practical and recent views of Autism and its treatment.
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Summary: A book about autism that is about more than the condition.
Review: In her account of the formative years of her autistic daughter, Clara Park gives a beautifully observed and written description of how dealing with a deficit can bring enlightenment as well as pain, satisfaction as well as struggle. Although the book is very useful for those who have or work with an autistic child, it should not be pigeonholed - the writing and the quality of observation and reflection that characterize the book make it deserving of a far wider audience. Read it.
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Summary: Very well written parent account
Review: Some of the vocabulary was long and tedious, but on the whole the story was well written. The struggles when her daughter started insisting on sameness was interesting. I felt like I could be reading my own daughter's future.
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Summary: The definitive source for parents of autistic children
Review: When I discovered that my son was autistic, I read literally everything written on the subject that I could find. When I discovered Ms. Park's book, I found the single most helpful resource for a parent dealing with a child with autism. I credit this book with giving me the tools the give my son language. Written in a style that often resembles poetry, Ms. Park was the first person to show me the potential beauty in the autistic personality
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