Abstract

Nine-year-old Adam dreads Sports Day - he usually comes last in the races and never gets chosen for the team events. So he is delighted when Mr Williams, the head teacher, announces that this year there will be an Alternative Sports Day with some very different challenges. There will be quizzes, riddles to solve, and a treasure hunt - all the things that Adam enjoys. At last he'll have a chance of winning something.

But as the competition runs high, how will Adam feel if his best friend Josie beats him to the Challenge Cup? And what will they do when they discover that James, the new boy in the class, is cheating?

A fun and absorbing children's story, Adam's Alternative Sports Day is suitable for children aged 7 and over.

'This is a very useful book for any staff involved in teaching students on the autism spectrum. Its strength is its easy-to-read structure and the engaging illustrations, lists and notes. It meets the needs of many students and adults who find it hard to understand and cope with competition and unstructured events. I can strongly recommend this book to pupils between the ages of 6 and 13 years. It is a good idea for teachers or parents to read it to children and allow them to participate in the activities. It is also a good read for children who do not have Asperger's syndrome as it will help to develop their awareness.'

- Good Autism Practice

...in a situation with parents and children working well within a team attending to the full range of difficulties, and the OT determines that some sensory integration techniques would be helpful, this would be a useful support to both children and family.
Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Jude Welton has a 10-year-old son with AS. Originally trained as a child psychologist specializing in autism, she is a freelance writer, writing mainly on the arts. She has also written Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome? A Guide for Friends and Family and What Did You Say? What Do You Mean? An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Metaphors, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.