New Book Added to Resource Library of Leading Autism Organization

New Book Added to Resource Library of Leading Autism Organization

SOURCE: The Adams Group

Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, has added the book Life Not Typical: How Special Needs Parenting Changed My Faith and My Song (Carpenter’s Son Publishing) to their Resource Library. The book was written by top 40 Billboard recording artist and speaker, Jennifer Shaw, who shares her son Toby’s struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).   SPD is closely aligned with autism in that every autistic child has some form of SPD. To date, the medical community is unclear of the exact connection. SPD is also often misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD. One study estimated that 1 in 20 children in the U.S. are affected by the disorder.

Touted as the first book of any genre to detail Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) from the parent’s perspective, Life Not Typical: How Special Needs Parenting Changed My Faith and My Song, describes the Shaw family’s journey with their son, describing moments of frightening behavior.  “He could not touch anything or be touched by anyone other than my husband or me,” says Shaw.  “He would hardly eat anything and made no sounds except for crying all the time.  He would scream in terror if water touched him unexpectedly.  SPD is just unrelenting.  It was extremely intense,and he could never stay with anyone else, so there was no respite, even at night.  There was the fear of not knowing what would happen to him, not knowing if he would ever be ‘okay’ or if he would be able to live a normal life. You have to rethink what dreams you have from your child.  We went from’maybe he’ll be a great this or that’ to ‘maybe he’ll be able to walk on grass someday.’ When you work for eight months, every day, just to get him to eat apiece of bread, it changes your definition of success for your child.”

Shaw includes five informative appendices in her book, including an in-depth Signs and Symptoms section on SPD as well as original interviews that Shaw conducted with a Certified Early Childhood Intervention Specialist, a Speech and Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist who were all instrumental in helping her own son.

“We were told that therapeutic methods used before age three would actually be ‘re-wiring’ his brain,” says Shaw. “After age three, the brain is not pliable enough, and the therapy shifts to coping techniques.  Our friend’s son is in that situation, and it is hard.  It is also very common since SPD is not usually diagnosed at a young age.  In hindsight, we consider it a blessing hat Toby’s behavior was so severe at an early age that it was obvious something was really wrong.  A year after his diagnosis, when he was retested, they described his progress as miraculous, and told us repeatedly that they’d never seen anything like it.  One therapist told us that given his intake profile, it ‘should not have been possible.’  When I share my story at concerts or women’s events,I have people come up to me and tell me I am describing their child, but they have never heard of SPD.  I want this book to be a quality resource for parents who are facing similar circumstances as well as give them hope that there is help available.”

Shaw is currently working on a new recording project entitled Someday with Lifeway Christian Resources’ Producer of the Year, Paul Marino.  Shaw and Marino co-wrote the song “Life Not Typical” which became a music video directed by Jeffrey Kubach whose credits include the hit television show “Survivor” as well as a Best Pop Music Video nomination from Gospel Music Channel.

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ABOUT JENNIFER SHAW:
With degrees in both piano performance and vocal performance, Shaw completed her graduate work in opera performance at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. A former professor of voice at Cedarville University, Shaw is a top 40 Billboard artist and has garnered a #3 hit song on the national Inspirational radio charts. Her CD, Love Broke Through , also introduced the song “God Loved the World” which was used in Lifeway’s Christmas musical last year and was recently the #1 best-selling Easter choral anthem for Lifeway Christian Resources. Jennifer and her husband, Nathan, live with their three children in central Ohio. Visitwww.JenniferShaw.comfor more information.

ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKS:
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more, visit www.autismspeaks.org.