What to buy and why…

Books and resources read and endorsed by our clinicians

About The Neurodiversity Movement

NeuroTribes is one of the first widely read accounts of the history of the neurodiversity movement and the future of neurodiversity-affirming practices. This is a must read for any neurodivergent person, caregiver of a neurodivergent person, or neurodiversity ally

Why Not ABA?

Punished By Rewards is a classic but still very relevant. This book explores the unintended negative consequences of compliance-based methods of manipulating behavior. Learn how sticker charts, rewards, incentives, and prizes can do more harm than good when we look at the long-term impacts on mental health, motivations, and identity. This is a must read for anyone who has a school-aged child, is in the throws of toilet training, or who is considering pursuing ABA.

On Parenting A Neurodivergent Child

While Dr. Becky’s social media presence can be hard to take sometimes, her book “Good Inside” is actually quite an insightful and helpful book loaded with practical strategies to help improve the parent/child relationship starting immediately. She helps to understand the underlying needs being expressed when we see certain behaviors and describes how connection and co-regulation can be very powerful tools.

Heidi Mavir’s book “Your Child is Not Broken” provides opportunity to shift your perspective and better understand and accommodate your neurodivergent child. It also provides great information (including personal accounts) of common themes like masking, burnout, and appropriate accommodations.

On Advocating for your Child in the Schools

I Will Die On This Hill
By Ashburn, Meghan, Edwards, Jules
Buy on Amazon
I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism Parents, and the Children Who Deserve a Better World
By Meghan Ashburn, Jules Edwards, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu - foreword, Nathan McConnell - illustrator
Buy on Amazon

“I Will Die on this Hill” is an approachable and easy to read conversation between an autistic adult and the parent of an autistic child about what we are doing wrong and what we should be doing to support our autistic and neurodivergent children in the schools. This is a great resource for anyone trying to navigate the schools, special education, and teachers/professionals who don’t quite seem to “get” your child.

Perspectives of Neurodivergent Adults

All authors in this category are autistic. Their writings are inclusive of the experiences and needs of a range of neurodivergent identities. All neurodivergent children will eventually be neurodivergent adults. Reading about their experiences, thoughts, and hopes can help shape how we see and accommodate our children. It can also help us to better understand ourselves.

Perspectives of Neurodivergent Children

Autistic and neurodivergent children offer us amazing insights as to how we can be more supportive as parents, caregivers, and clinicians. These books are must reads for anyone with a neurodivergent child.

About Female and LGBTQ Neurodivergence

The Autistic Trans Guide to Life
By Purkis, Yenn, Lawson, Dr Wenn
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Females, trans, and BIPOC individuals are missed for diagnosis too often. Much of the classic research about autism and ADHD has been conducted using middle class and upper class white males. Too often, minorities are brushed off as having behavioral problems, mental illness, or poor parenting as opposed to having their learning styles and support needs acknowledged or accommodated. These books provide a great window into what it is actually like to be a female, trans, or gay autistic individual in our society.

To Build Children’s Self-Awareness, Self-Identity, and Self-Confidence

Busy Betty
By Witherspoon, Reese
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Autistic and neurodivergent children offer us amazing insights as to how we can be more supportive as parents and caregivers. These books are must reads for anyone with a neurodivergent child.