Abstract

Intimate, bold, and inspiring, Autism Heroes provides a compelling and sensitive account of the experiences of 38 families from different walks of life confronting the challenges of autism with courage, tenacity and love. With empathy and expertise gained from her three decades of leadership of The Help Group and commitment to children with special needs, Dr. Barbara Firestone engages the families in candid, powerful and deeply affecting conversations about their lives. Each family narrative is set against the backdrop of her insightful essays about dignity, hope, opportunity and love, which are fundamentally important to all families living with autism.

The families offer their experiences openly and honestly, sharing their challenges, triumphs, and hopes. Their candor helps demystify and destigmatize autism and embraces other parents just beginning or already on the journey. Their reflections chart the course through the many stages of coping with autism and seeking solutions for their children, and they offer a lifeline of support, insight and encouragement and hope.

Fully illustrated with stunning photographs by Joe Buissink, Autism Heroes is an invaluable resource for families as well as educators, clinicians, researchers and policy makers.

This book provides a beautiful account of experiences of different families with children on the Autism Spectrum. The courage and love that is seen in these families is inspiring. This book offers experience in the triumphs and challenges of ASD, which will aid others that are just beginning on this path. Autism Heroes reminds us that each child is different and beautiful in their own way regardless of their ability or disability.
AEFCT Quarterly Newlsetter
Intimate, bold, and inspiring, Autism Heroes provides a compelling and sensitive account of the experiences of 38 families from different walks of life confronting the challenges of autism with courage, tenacity and love.
Handicap Info
What makes this book stand out, aside from its attractive design and coffee-table size, it as overwhelmingly positive and supportive message. Professionals who work with families will find these glimpses into the lives of those they serve illuminating.
GAP
Few have the combination of compassion, rigorous knowledge, passion for the field, and accomplishments in helping literally thousands of children with autism spectrum disorders as does Barbara Firestone. She is also an extraordinary listener, and a great observer of people, making her repertoire of stories and perspectives extremely rich, inspiring, and instructive.
Michael E. O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Autism and Asperger's syndrome have many faces - with this wonderful book, we get to see 38 of them. Readers are treated to a showcase of different aspects of living with autism through short vignettes (organized into sections titled `Dignity', `Hope', `Opportunity' and `Love') and brilliant photographs by Buissink. Firestone is the president and founder of the Help Group of Los Angeles, which serves children with a variety of special needs, including autism. The book is closely tied with the group; all of the families featured come from Southern California, including actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Cole and baseball pitcher Jim Gott… An excellent entry in the literature of autism and disability; strongly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with disability studies collections.
Library Journal

Barbara Firestone, PhD is President, CEO and founder of The Help Group, the largest and most comprehensive non-profit organization of its kind in the U.S. serving children with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs. Widely recognized for her leadership, vision and innovation, Dr. Firestone was appointed Vice Chair of the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, and The Help Group - UCLA Autism Research Alliance was recently launched in conjunction with UCLA's Semel Institute. At state and national levels, she actively promotes autism awareness, early identification and intervention and the expansion of education and treatment opportunities for children, adolescents and young adults.

Joe Buissink is an internationally acclaimed photographer and world-renowned teacher and lecturer. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the International Leadership Award in Photography by the International Photographic Council at the United Nations. He is part of Canon's distinguished group of Explorers of Light, has been featured on Good Morning America and many other programs, and his work has appeared in numerous publications. As the parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder, Joe brings a special sensitivity and artistry to portraying the families in Autism Heroes and has generously donated his time and talent to this project.

Families living with autism spectrum disorders face many challenges most people will never encounter. Autism Heroes is a tremendous resource for those who want to better understand what these families are going through. The fantastic photography and the family profiles give the reader a glimpse of the many faces of autism.
The Old Schoolhouse
Autism Heroes is easy to read and beautifully illustrated. It is a fascinating collection of parents' accounts of their child's development, educational and social expereinces... Autism Heroes would be a valuable resource for parent support group libraries and is very well priced. Students and therapists who work in this field may find this book encourages reflection about the nature of autism and how to support young people and families.
National Association of Professionals concerned with Language Impairment in Children
Is an overwhelmingly positive and supportive message. In contrast to the scare stories purveyed by some, these families have found ways to survive and thrive despite their children's challenges. Any reader would be won over by the heartwarming stories of these families, who no matter what their background have usually encountered some of the roadblocks as all families coping with autism.
GAP