The Reason I Jump - Naoki Higashida

'Composed by a writer still with one foot in childhood and whose autism was at least as challenging and life-defining as our son's. The Reason I Jump was a revelatory godsend. It felt as if, for the first time, our own son was talking to us about what was happening inside his head.

David Mitchell

Published By: Sceptre - Non-Fiction

Year: 2013 - Hardback

Pages: 180

ISBN: 978-1-444-77675-1

Introduction by David Mitchell

Translated by KA Yoshida & David Mitchell

Summary

What is Autisn?  Well I suppose most of us have preconceived ideas as to what Autism is, myself included until my number 3 came along.  Naoki Higashida is severely autistic and communicates by using a cardboard keyboard.  Naoki wrote this book in order to help us neuro-typical types have a better understanding of what it's like to be part of his world.  We are fortunate that our number 3 is verbal but even so a lot of what he says isn't always in the right context and has to be worked through to fully understand what the point is that he is trying to get across.  This book gives a very useful insight into the world of autism and will dispel some of the myths as well as informing you of what it is like to be autistic in today's society.  Naoki was 13 when he wrote this book and as my number 3 has just hit double figures I have found it very useful.  What was most reassuring was that a lot of the strategies we have put in place at home since his diagnosis Naoki has described within his book. Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who has a family member or who works with autism.   

You can find more books on Autism and Asperger Syndrome  at Jessica Kingsley Publishers and are available to order direct or through Amazon.