Tourette-Syndrome Books

This book is the best! So good, I bought 2 copies to share with people close to me so they can finally understand what my child is going through. Brad is awesome! When I wrote to him to shower him with Kudos, he wrote back to me. I love his determination and I pray my son will have the same!.

As an accomplished pianist, teacher and adjudicator I spend most of my time with individuals of all ages. Teaching and adjudicating are perhaps the most challenging of all! Like Brad Cohen, I have Tourette Syndrome and growing up as a "baby boomer", a time when extremely little was known about Tourettes, teasing, being bullied and considered a virtual headache to my teacher's made my life a living hell. All I had to turn to was my God given gift of music!
Brad Cohen grew up with the same horrific challenges that Tourettes brings with it. A teacher is someone every student should be able to turn to for support, a shoulder to lean on, a friend, when you feel your own are not there for you. Growing up in this day and age is a daunting task. Brad Cohen knows this all too well, and shows his understanding of it through his actions as a teacher. He knows what it is like to not have teachers there when he needed them most in his life. He turned having TS, a debilitating disorder into a tool of support and understanding for those lives he touches everyday. New disorders are being discovered at an alarming rate. The future teachers and classrooms are not yet equipped to handle what lies ahead for them. My niece is a teacher and she can hardly cope with the demands of her position as they stand. Teachers will need the support of people like Brad Cohen travelling to various school boards as I do as a Music Therapist to educate new teachers on how to integrate students with disorders and other issues into the classroom. Teachers' Colleges will have to provide the means to offer clinical studies in what lies ahead such as Tourette Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, learning disorders , behavioral problems and so much more. Educating our teachers as Brad Cohen has educated his students and fellow teachers is paramount if the future of our world's children will have a chance to survive what lies ahead of them. Teacher Assistant's will need to become a necessity in every classroom, and trained in specific areas. One teacher per class will no longer be enough, if those students who require extra attention are going to be successfully integrated into the classroom of the public school system.
Brad Cohen has touched the lives of so many students in his life as a teacher! They say that if you can touch the life of one person, you have done your job. Brad Cohen has surpassed this objective time and time again!
I can only hope, that more people like Brad Cohen will give of their talent's as I try to do as a music therapist, to educate and help prepare the schools, teachers' and students' of tomorrow!
I once received a letter from a student I adjudicated in a competition, and it said; "not often enough in life, do we take the time to say "Thank You", thank you sir for your knowledge and encouragement, it means so much!"
Now it is time for me to say "THANK YOU" to Brad Cohen, a teacher who has touched many lives."
To everyone in the profession of teaching, this is a book that will positively "re-charge" your love of being an educator!

Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.)

This book is great for so many reasons. Anyone can read this and walk away with something. If you have Tourettes (or any disability), it is such a positive, supportive, encouraging story. I wish I had boxes of this book to pass to every teacher, doctor, friend, grandparent, parent and child. Tourettes is something almost everyone in the world will encounter in some way. Disability dicrimination, is unfortunately also something everyone will encounter in some way. This book provides a unique, well written perspective of life with an uncontrollable, misunderstood disorder. I reccomend it to you.

I too am a teacher with Tourette Syndrome (TS) and have experienced many of the same things that author Brad Cohen describes in this fascinating book. All of his life, Cohen has worked to overcome his disability. Even when he became ultimately successful, Cohen has still experienced difficulties. For example, even as an adult, he has been asked to leave restaurants and other public events. A few times, however, this has worked to his advantage. While at the Olympics in Atlanta, for example, a number of patrons complained about his tics. But instead of being expelled, Cohen was reseated in a better seating area.

His parents were divorced and, for most of his early life, his father was distant from him. In elementary school and junior high, Cohen was often ridiculed and mocked by other children. Teachers mistakenly thought that he was doing his tics purposely in order to disrupt the class, and punished him accordingly. Many children with TS also have comorbid ADHD and OCD. Cohen described how hard it is to read and comprehend a book. The average person should imagine trying to comprehend a book while it is jerked around every few seconds.

In time, Cohen was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS). He was taken off stimulants, which, in common with many others with TS, only aggravated his condition. His first experience with a TS support group was not at all positive. Members of the group focused on the negative, not how to overcome it and be successful. This is not what Cohen needed to hear. In time, Cohen learned how to educate others about his disorder. Unfortunately, in junior high, there were too many individuals who refused to be educated. However, he did have a supportive principal who allowed him to speak to a school gathering about his condition.

Cohen developed socially by being involved in Jewish organizations. By high school, things got better. The students increasingly overlooked his tics and accepted him as a person. He began to dream of being a teacher.

When Cohen went to Bradley University, he learned not only educational theory but also got valuable hands-on teaching experience with children. But when he tried to get his first teaching job, the door kept getting slammed in his face. Ultimately, he had to go through some 25 principals before he found one that would hire him. "I just cannot see you as a teacher", one candidly remarked. Things seemed hopeless. It looked as if Tourette Syndrome had won over him. But he refused to give up his dream.

Finally, he was hired, and proved himself to be an excellent teacher. He at first taught second grade, and made every child feel wanted. Cohen made the following observation (p. 160) which should be a challenge and inspiration to all teachers: "If you want to feel secure, do what you already know how to do. If you want to be a true professional and continue to grow...go to the cutting edge of your competence, which means a temporary loss of security. So whenever you don't quite know what you're doing, know you're growing."

Brad Cohen's first hand account of how he became a teacher despite having Tourette's syndrome isn't great writing, but if you've ever known someone with Tourette's you know how amazing his story is. Happily most people today know what this disease is--as I was growing up with a brother who had it, no one did. If you haven't seen it, it's hard to imagine the noises, tics, cursing, and mental agony of living with this incurable problem. Cohen's book gives an intimate look at what it feels like to have your body taken over by urges that can't be controlled. He also sensitively portrays the distress and confusion of parents who try to deal with a problem for which modern medicine is almost useless. Again we see a situation where young children in the classroom can accept behaviors that the wider world can't tolerate, and Cohen's openness about his problem with these children is the secret of his success. One gets the sense Cohen's life will always be a struggle--although he has many friends there's no mention of a woman in his life, and gaining acceptance with new people is always going to be a risky business. But his courage is amazing. This book should be required reading for any child who doubts his worth as a person because of this terrible disease.

Sheila Rogers has released a new edition/book titled: "Natural Treatments for Tics and Tourette's: A Patient and Family Guide"

[..] for all those like myself who need this book and don't want to spend [..] for a used, previous edition.

This book was a God send. I found this book after discovering my son had a transcient motor tic. We were told to learn to live with the ticing unless we wanted to heavily medicate our son. This book opened our eyes and put us in contact with other parents facing similar issues through their website. At first I put him on a number of different supplements and I was able to get the tics to subside almost completely. Someone on the website suggested I test his strep titers because following a fever his tics increased. If it wasn't for this book we wouldn't have known to check our sons titers which came back extremely high. Come to find out he had developed strep and was never treated for it. Once we put him on anitbiotics his tics subsided quite a bit. We are in the process of testing him for metals because we think a hep B vaccination may have contributed to his current condition. There is a wealth of info in this book and even more on their website. Tics and Tourette cases have skyrocketed in current years along with autism, ADHD and seizure disorders. These disorders have increased with the increased schedule of vaccines. Our son had seizures following a hep b vaccine at birth and the more research we did the more we were convinced that the toxins in the vaccine caused him to be more suseptable to an avalanche of medical issues due to the fact that his immune system had been compromised. Now we are working on ridding his system of toxins and refuse any and all vaccinations. My newborn was not vaccinated at all and she is the healthiest baby we've ever seen. She has been to a number of physicians who have said she's the healthiest and most developmentally advanced baby they've seen in a long time. God bless the people who wrote this book.

This book is terrific. I cannot say enough good things about it. I highly recommend it!

Tics and Tourette's: Breakthrough Discoveries in Natural Treatments

As a concert-pianist, music therapist, author, and an individual living with Tourette Syndrome, I must "take my hat off" to Sheila Rogers for bringing together a cascade of knowledge by various doctors, pediatric neurologists,
authors and many other leading authorities. As there is no cure for Tourette Syndrome, parents, families and adults are desperately seeking out new innovations and ideas with the hope that somewhere a new approach/approaches will come to the forefront. This book offers exactly what so many have been looking for, thought provoking ideas without the side-effects of medication, approaches that
are natural and display underlying common sense!
Since reading the book, I have followed many of the innovative ideas and have found improvement in my own tics.
As a music therapist, which is also a natural, non side effect technique, I have incorporated the many findings in this book with my own student's!

BRAVO! SHEILA J. ROGERS!, what will you come up with next!

Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus.(MT) A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.)

This book is eye-opening and thought-provoking. Just consider the possibility of your child being tic-free or at least know you might have the chance of reducing the incidence of tics without medication. Get this book, and share it with others.

My son is newly diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and OCD. This is a good book to help him cope. He now understands hes not the only kid struggling with this condition.

My 10 year old has TS and we have recently started discussing what it is and why he has it. This was a great book for him to read and worked as a wonderful tool for us to discuss his TS and to give him strategies for dealing with other children. It was also helpful for his little brother, age 7 to read to help him understand his brother better.

I found this book to be pretty good about describing a boy's experience with Tourrette's and how he deals with telling his friend, and other kids. It's better than some others I've read, but not as clear and helpful as Tic Talk, by Dylan Peters.

This book was a great summary of the progression of Tourette's in kids, for kids.

I am a social worker as well as a mother of a child just diagnosed with Tourette's. This book was wonderful! My son has been trying to understand what is going on with him and this book was very useful. It explains Tourette's to the child as well as the adule. One thing I loved about the book is it shows the boy in the story having new tics. This allows for readers to understand that tics change as well as showing many types of tics. One example was the boy in the story began to spit, a tic my son has and gets made fun of for. My son's face lit up and he felt less "weird". My son and I are going to do a presentation at his summer camp so others understand why he does what he does, I will be including this book.

I would love to see this book updated and organized with color coded tabs for easy reference. It had a lot of good tools and ideas, for both parents and teachers. We pass this along to our teacher every year.

I love this book, which I have found invaluable in educating my son's teachers about the disorder. It is basically a compilation of information that any well read TS parent has probably found in 20 different locations, but for the novice looking for a thorough overview in one book, "Teaching The Tiger" goes a LONG way toward increasing their TS education. It gives practical advise re behavioral interventions that work, and more importantly those that DON'T.

I find teachers are more receptive to this book because it is written specifically for teachers (rather than taking advise/instuction from a parent). I've found it to be quite credible and informative to them. I believe the answer to stigma, ignorance, and misinformation (ex: the 20/20-60 Minutes/media representation of TS), is education. This book provides it, specifically aimed at giving teachers tips on dealing with TS in the CLASSROOM environment. My son's teachers have been really grateful for these TS-specific insights.

If you can afford the $35 for this book, DO! It is a worthwhile investment into making your child's educational road a smoother one. In the meantime, you may be able to do what I did. I borrowed a copy from the library and made photo copies of the most relevant chapters for each teacher/aide involved with my son. I also either showed them the book itself or made a photocopy of the cover, in case they wanted to purchase/borrow the entire book themselves. If you have a good relationship with the principal or school librarian, suggesting that the school purchase a copy for the staff library is also practical.

Those are my two cents, on "Teaching The Tiger". "Taming the Tiger" came first and provides a similar compilation of info for parents and others learning about TS. I hope you'll check out these books for yourself.

AMM

As a parent of children with TS, I obtained this book for teachers to have a better understanding of techniques in the classroom. Consistently, I came across teachers who would apply the techniques uniformly and dismiss the "it depends" approach which is critical in dealing with TS... from the standpoint that the condition is ever changing in an individual, and it is different from one person to the next. (Too many teachers would say, "Oh I've had a TS child before"... I have *two* as well, and they and the *effective* approaches in teaching them couldn't be more different from one another.)

For example: putting a child near the front of the room for attention issues and to help them keep on track... may be devastating for a child who does not want their tics on display, and of course not necessary for the child who tics but who does not have attention issues.

Seating arrangements need to be assessed INDIVIDUALLY for every child; and for those with TS, it needs to be assessed more than once... the condition is dynamic, not static, (it waxes and wanes), the techniques need to be dynamic too. Too often I see the techniques gleaned from the book used statically and never re-visited throughout the academic year as to wether they are working, and/or if they are needed at any given moment.

The book doesn't necessarily indicate static approaches, it just seems to me that once the book is read, (or skimmed is more likely what I found to be the case by our educators), that the educators we've dealt with will focus on one erroneous technique that may have nothing to do with our child's current needs or situation, and claim that they are modifying their techniques for our child with TS, with no consideration as to the effectiveness. Or worse, (from our child's standpoint), they will read about *behavior* approaches when in fact our child has no associated behavior issues, (the book tends to lump different but sometimes associated conditions like ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Mood disorders - and offer techniques without clearly delineating if the symptoms are TS or from other conditions), and the resulting assumptions as to the root cause of any given *in-classroom* behavior can have a devastating impact on a child with TS, especially if *intention* is thought to be behind *disruptive* behavior.

Don't use this book unless you plan to delve deeper into your student with TS, and their exact manifestation of symptoms, and their pattern of symptoms and then be prepared to re-visit the THEN resulting specific application of techniques, on a continual basis, other wise you can do more damage than good by ASSUMING that you are applying techniques covered in the book, when in fact you may not be addressing the specific situation your student finds themselves in, in any given week, in any given hour.

The plan needs to be flexible, use the book ala carte or for brain storming solutions... don't apply it like a recipe, your ingredients will always be different with a TS student.

I have a now 17 year old daughter who began really struggling in school at age 10, 5th grade. We had her evaluated by the school and they determined that because her IQ was high, she was not eligible for special services, despite the fact that she was failing almost every subject and had trouble socially. I took her to our own child neuro-psychiatrist and, after a lengthy interview and eval, she was diagnosed with tourette syndrome. Further it was determined that she was manifesting her TS with many symptoms of ADHD and OCD...something the school district refused to take into consideration.

I stumbled upon this book at our local book store and literally sat in the aisle just soaking up the most accurate description of my daughter that anyone had ever been able to give me - and it was a BOOK! It was as if I could have written the list of symptoms and the various methods they offered that work (most of the time). I immediately paid the $35 for this book without reservation and read it from cover to cover, several times. There are about 10 pages in the back of the book with many many other resources for parents, DR's and educators.

The thing about any brain disorder is that they vary in degree and there are very few who have an exact definition or symptomology...iow, no two are ever truly alike. It is VERY common for kids with TS to have crossover symptoms of ADHD and OCD and vice versa. This book addresses those symptoms. This book also talks a lot about the common 'rage attacks' that many of these kids experience and how it's such a normal reaction to what they are going through...it really helps the parents to put their child's behavior into perspective and rather than parent from a purely punitive standpoint, the parent can custom fit their parenting styles to suit that child. This book shows you how to do that. It offers tips and resources to help teachers deal with these types of kids in a way that is not humiliating and embarrassing to the child or his classmates. This book helped me to 'read' my daughter and learn how to diffuse a rage attack before it happened - any idea how incredible that is??

Most teachers have been trained to teach one way. They have a population of about 24-30+ students in their class and they have to figure out a way to teach them all so they teach to the majority. Who does that leave out? The bright shiny star students and those who need a helping hand or those who need just a little encouragement and a few secret code words to get through a lesson plan. The majority of teachers do not have the time or the wherewithall to accomplish the goal of moving from one lesson plan to the next with ease when she has even ONE special needs kid in her class. Someone loses and most often, it is the student who needs the help the most. Sure, the schools provide paras, but only in the classrooms that have a named special education student in them. If you have a kid who has TS and isn't designated Spec Ed, then his/her class will not have a para in it.

That's another reason this book is so valuable to ALL teachers. Each of our children learn in their own way...there is a way to teach them and teach them well. This book should be mandatory reading for all prospective teachers. Every teacher should have this book in her library!! I made 3 copies for my district, one for the elementary level, one for junior high, and one for the high school level. I don't think one person ever cracked it open; if my daughters experiences at our local public school are any indication. We transferred out to a charter school in 9th grade. She did very well there. The entire staff was very up on their special needs kiddos and my daughter benefitted from their style of teaching and their empathy - something that is sorely lacking in our public schools in my opinion. Buy this book!

I am 19 and when I was in elementary school tourette's was still looked upon by many proffessionals and most authority as something that "didnt exist"or the parents fault. My [...] teacher mrs. streneva used to poke me so hard in the chest when i disbehaved that i recieved many bruises on my chest. the doctors said i would never make it through public school. My mom paid 40 some dollars for this book back then, and we didnt have alot of money, and it cost a fortune, and this book was my moms treasure and she never ever let me hold it and never ever let any of the teachers borrow it, instead, she made then copied pages & such, and then the teachers would request more information on a topic and my mom would copy it from this book. this book educated alot of authority and all the teachers at Pleasant Elementary in Warren, Pennsylvania. This is a big miracle, I have a huge thanks for the writers who did this. This book is a 100% MUST HAVE for ANYONE with ANY amount of children with tourettes syndrome, ADHD, Depression, bi poklar, or any such. It is a strictly MUST HAVE. I reccomend this with everything in my heart and for helping me get through elementary school. As for for making it through public school? I am now a freshman at edinboro university of pennsylvania and even though my grades arent very good, I have made it this far, and I can do things with my life that doctors never thought would be possible. I am almost tic free, thanks to my medications. And it all started with this book.

If you would like to know what it feels like to live with Tourette Syndrome and/or OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), you must read this book. The book may be geared toward pre-teens and teens, but adults will love it just as well!
I was actually disappointed when the book ended.
I wanted more!

Marcia Byalick's Quit It is one of the best books on Tourette Syndrome to appear for teens: Carrie is in 7th grade when her symptoms begin appealing, and her fidgeting and habits only get worse as she grows more self-conscious. From a peer counseling group she has to hide from her parents to the reactions of adults - including her own - to her growing symptoms, Carrie has too much on her hands. Her efforts to accept her condition make for an involving read and a solid set of insights into a little-discussed condition.

I am a school nurse and I use this book in the classroom. I think that it is a great book that gives kids a greater understanding about Tourette Syndrome. Good book for mid elementary.

I'm always looking for good material for our family to help us understand what our granddaughter who was diagnosed with Tourette's last year is experiencing. This book was helpful for all 3 generations of us!

I cheacked this book out last week and am only on th 3rd chapter. This book has been great so far. It is about a girl who has a disability. She has to learn to accept herself as she is. It is hard because teachers think she is a clss clown, old friends are embarressed about her "ticks", her parents try to act like it is not a big deal, and to top it off, her sister is a total obsesser. She is obessed with good and healthy food, she eats food that has certain tastes and colors. Carie trys to believe that her life will be normal again, SOMEDAY!
I find this book to be great. It tells alot about Carie and alot about this disability. I don't know what it is called at the moment but it is sad. I feel like I am her in this story. I feel like I am this girl who blinks and pulls her bangs every second. This book makes you the character and that is rare in most books. I think you should buy this. It really teaches you about every one who has this disease, not just Carie. Pluss in the back of the book it talks all about this disease. You can learn alot. You can use the book for a book report and the information in the back of QUIT IT for health and/or science homework. This book is the best so far!!!!!

"Tic Talk" is a down-to-earth book written by a kid for kids. In a time when we are reading and teaching lots about accepting and loving others, it's important to cross all the lines of understanding, including neurological. Each of us has some kind of challenge. Sometimes it's more visible than others. Everything that comes to us that's hard, challenges us to rise. Young author Dylan Peters, with the support of his family, teacher and friends, does exactly that--he rises to learn and teach acceptance. Peters doesn't stop there, though. He also declares that he will not let TS stand in the way of accomplishing his goals and he encourages readers to do the same.

This is a great book for kids, teaching understanding, reaching for your dreams and getting through the hard challenges. It's a great book for every school and every library or if TS has touched the life in some way (directly or indirectly) of a child you know. It's an award winning book of the "Eric Hoffer Award--Excellence in Independent Publishing."

The forward is by Jim Eisenreich, a major league baseball player with TS. The back of the book includes "10 Successful Strategies for working with children with Tourette Syndrome" by Brad Cohen, author of "Front of the Class: How Tourete Sydrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had." There is also a list of additional resources including phone numbers and web sites.

This hardbound book has a substantial feel of high quality. It really is an all around great book.

Congratulations Dylan, on a project well done!


Laya Saul, author of the self-help book for teens, "You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way"

Great book for kids with tourettes. My son really enjoyed it. He realizes he is not the only one dealing with this. I highly recommend it.

This is a really excellent book. My 7 year old daughter has TS and for the first time is understanding she is not alone. She is starting to become worried what others will think of her Tourette's and I know that Dylan's story will help her tremendously. I am going to share it with her teacher and maybe share it with the classroom, as Dylan did in the story showing his amazing courage. This book will help children accept the differences in others.

Thank you Dylan and God Bless!!

Written by a 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 4, Tic Talk: Living with Tourette Syndrome tells young Dylan Peters' story about day-to-day life with Tourette Syndrome in his own words. Simple, colorful illustrations by Dylan's best friend Zachary Wendland drive home this straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is story. "TS causes uncontrollable body movements or sometimes repeating words, sounds, or phrases over and over. These are called tics. The biggest bummer about having tics is that you can't make them stop no matter how hard you try, and believe me I have tried! It's like your brain has a mission to annoy you and make everyone around you notice these bizarre actions." A set of ten successful strategies for working with children with Tourette Syndrome and a list of additional resources round out this highly recommended picturebook for school libraries and for teaching young people everywhere about Tourette Syndrome.

I had a great time listening to your story it was fascinating.
I really recommend this book to anyone! I learned alot about TS.
I thought he was brave to go to school.
I learned a lot about teasing and kindness.
I liked your book, it teaches a very important lesson about acceptance.
I think it is a good thing to share your problems with your friends and teachers. True friends like you for who you are.
Mrs. Cochran's second class
Mrs Giebler-Counselor

The boys in our class thought the story was great - the girls thought the frogs were gross but still liked the story. And they all thought the belching was funny! The only negative comment was that there wasn't more books to read about the characters to learn more of their adventures. Write another one of these funny books!

A delightful adventure book about 3 boys. One has cerebral palsy and the other two have Tourette syndrome. They find a magic marble with magic powers and accidentally it becomes aimed at the bullies. I recommend this book to any child who has a disorder that makes them feel different from their peers.

My 11 year old son loved this book. In fact, when asked to do a book report for school on a fantasy book, he picked this. I think that he could really empathize with the characters. Having TS he knew exactly how those children felt. He laughed through the whole book and I remember how it made my heart lighten to hear that hearty laugh. I'm sure there are quite a few bullies that he would like to turn into frogs, also. I hope this author decides to write another book......I know one person who would be sure to scoop it up!!!

This is the single most powerful publication or source of information that has been presented to my son who was recently diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. He identified completely with "Adam" and his difficulties. His conclusion from reading this book was that if "Adam" can deal with and overcome many of the obstacles that present with this disorder, then he can too. A very deep heartfelt *THANK YOU* to Adam Beuhrens and his mother for writing this book.

I read this book to my 8 year old son. He loved it - I loved it! We couldn't put it down - read it all in one day. It seemed to make him more at ease with his Tourettes and helped him see there are worse things. I highly recommend this book to anyone affected by a child with Tourettes.

A fascinating book with great characters! Well written and a very fast read! I couldn't put it down!

Jerk, CaliforniaJerk, California tells the fascinating story of high school senior Sam Carrier's search for the truth about his life. Rejected by his stepfather after being diagnosed with Tourette's as a child, Sam has endured plenty of bad treatment at home and school has been worse. His best, and only release from the constant betrayal of his body's constant movement is in running.
A mistake and a fortunate fall introduce the lovely Naomi into his life of chaos and the beginning of a most memorable year for Sam.
After graduation, the surprises continue as Sam discovers a job, a new home, a friend and mentor and a different identity all in the form of George, the town "coot" (who also has a connection to Naomi). The more Sam learns about his past the more he feels an undeniable desire to separate the lies he's always believed from the truth of his past.
As he and Naomi follow a mysterious map across the nation Sam literally drives into his father's history. Following a trail of windmills, small towns and unforgettable characters eventually winds them up in the seaside town of Jerk, California and a long lost family member.
My favorite part of Jerk, CA, was the beautifully written characters. They were real and honest and had you rooting for them all the time. I also loved the unexpected twists and turns of the plot as it took me from Minnesota to California. At the end of the book, I find my self reflecting on the character of Sam. His determination to live his life on his own terms unafraid to be who he really is reflected that he "may have Tourette's, but Tourette's doesn't have him".

Jerk is the story of a young man who is freed from a cruel prison. I'm not talking about Tourette's but everything and everyone around him who beat him down with it, including himself. I found myself cheering for Jack (Sam), balling up my fists and wanting to fight for him and alongside him. As Jack becomes free from his prison, he frees others with him. His grandma. His mom. Naomi. Lane. And in a very real sense, baby Jess.

It is the story of a beaten down boy who learns to stand tall and stright. A boy who quietly joins the ranks of men who have earned the title Hero. Not because of some glorious moment in a sporting event, but because of his choices, his character, the man he becomes. This was the most enjoyable read I've had in a long, long time.

I expect this book will be one that becomes required or recommended reading in high school classrooms all across the U.S. And it ought to be.

Jerk, California is the story of Sam Carrier, the kid who can't sit still. He jerks and twitches, in near constant motion. The only time he feels in control of his limbs is when he runs. High school is a nightmare. No friends, nothing. Then he meets beautiful Naomi, the girl who makes him feel like he can't remember which way is up.

But everything changes after his embarrassing graduation. New job, new name-- well, not new. Suddenly he finds himself on a cross-country trip with only his questions and Naomi for company.

I loved this book. Seriously. I read it in about 24 hours. I even read parts out loud to my husband-- the butter scene is hilarious!!

By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked on Sam. He's funny and his struggles were so real and heartfelt. In reading the story, I felt like I could understand how it would feel to have Tourette's. It's definitely worth reading. I'm sure I'll read it again!

I received my copy of Jerk, California, on Sunday and finished it in three days! I couldn't put it down. Thrilling twists and turns. Gritty. Heart-wrenching. I absolutely loved the book. Each character drew me in. I felt Sam/Jack grew to be a good friend--felt myself pulling hard for him and wanting him to win! I didn't want the story to end. Great truths and life lessons all the way through. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who can relate with pain--looking for a powerful, uplifting story! This book reminded me that healing truly can be found!

Aspergers Syndrome can drive a wedge between one and society... "Born on the Wrong Planet" thinks it can be enough that it may seem that the sufferer is not of this world and it's strange ways and customs. Author Erika Hammerschmidt speaks of her difficulties overcoming what many people find so easily overcome in their lives, but is an uphill battle due to her Aspergers and Tourettes syndromes. An inspirational tale, "Born on the Wrong Planet" is the perfect gift for any intermediate reader of a young age trying to cope with their own Aspergers.

Erika Hammerschmidt provides a wonderful autobiography which enables us to journey onto her "planet of Asperger Syndrome" to better understand what it feels like to live on the autism spectrum. This unique and wonderful insight about Asperger Syndrome is priceless. I would highly recommend this book for parents and educators of individuals (of all ages) on the autism spectrum especially those with Asperger Syndrome. I also think that the book provides a wonderful journey for others on the spectrum to read to see that they are not alone on this journey. By offering us this insight, Erika has opened doors of understanding for all of us as we interact together on this planet.

Thank you Erika!

Joanna L. Keating-Velasco, Author, A Is for Autism F Is for Friend: A Kid's Book for Making Friends with a Child Who Has Autism

After reading the book,I recommended it to everyone I know and don't know. It is a book you can't put down once you start. Erika has done a great job giving her life experiences that have helped me understand my son a little bit better. I have also seen her and her husband John speak in person and wow are they good. Any chance anybody gets to read the book and/or see them speak, you won't regret it. When's the next book coming out?

This is a quick read, and a fascinating book. It's a look at the world from the inside of a person with Asperger's Syndrome, Tourette's, and OCD. I found the book to be a real eye-opener, as I have a child who has PDD and may experience some of the same things as the author.

This is an excellent book for parents, educators and other professionals who teach/live/work with people who have autism.

The "jumbled jigsaw" is what is so sadly misunderstood and mislabelled by many; sadly, many such "experts" apply the Procrustean Bed tactics to the autistic population. This helps none and hurts all.

Raun Kaufman, the child for whom "Son-Rise" and "Son-Rise II: The Miracle Continues" was written, said in "Son-Rise II" that "expert" is the biggest misnomer for that very reason above. He was diagnosed with severe autism in infancy and for the first nearly three years of his life displayed behavior suggestive of Kanner's Autism. Early intervention turned the tide for Raun; now an adult, he has no residual behaviors or tendencies of this neurobiological condition. He is also currently the CEO of a company.

Raun rightfully points out that had many people listened to these so called "experts" who recommended institutionalizing people with autism, many rays of light and hope would never shine. Raun Kaufman; Walker Stacey; Gunilla Gerland; Sean Barron; Tony Randazzo; Ben Levinson; Jeremy Kephart; Ryan Hamilton; Georgiana Thomas; Donna Williams and countless others whose stories we don't know have provided the Voice of Hope for many. Each of these above people had or still have autism to varying degrees; each have either written or have been the subject of biographies about living with autism. Each one of these people and countless others have lent their voices; their experiences and their explanations of autism so as to help encourage tolerance. Donna Williams and her scholarly books, this included have certainly helped move that process along. Had the so called experts' advice been followed, think of the loss we would all be suffering today. Just read Annabelle Stehli's books about people who have been successfully treated with Auditory Integration Therapy and who are no longer autistic; Karyn Seroussi's and Lynn Hamilton's sons were successfully treated with a special diet as was Tony Randazzo, who had an allergy to milk. Patricia Stacey's son Walker Stacey and two of Catherine Maurice's children were eased of the autism spectrum with ABA and Floor Time. Jane McDonnell's son Paul ("News From the Border") offers his own insights into living with autism; he was helped by general acceptance from others and his own desire to adapt to the neurotypical world. Paul was informally treated with ABA; he was able to see what constituted acceptable behavior, yet at the same time recognize his autistic tendencies and keep them in check. This is still another valuable book that the world at large needs.

The point is, autism is as varied as there are individuals who have it and so the approaches have to be tailored to meet each individual's needs. Instead of dismissing people with autism as their label, Ms. Williams has once again brilliantly demonstrated how important it is to encourage talents and interests. She is married; an artist and author as well as having a plethora of credentials. Her works are valuable and needed; this book deserves a place of honor.

At present the count is 1 in every 150 births...autism is on the rise. There is a real need for literature like this and the sensible approaches that Ms. Williams has written about here and in her other works. Autism does effect everybody on Planet Earth - whether or not you have autism, there is a 100% chance that you are related to someone who does or work with someone who does or just know somebody on the spectrum. Autism is an in-your-face condition that is all the more prominent due to the increase in statistics.

Institutionalizing people creates a silent underclass. It appears to do no good and is not an effective method in "treating" autism. Autism is not a mental illness; it is a sensory neurobiological condition that affects sensory responses and language. I've beaten on the Different Drum for years to get that message across and Donnna Williams brilliantly accomplishes that in her books.

Be sure to read this and buy some extra copies to give to others. We all need it.

It took me well over a year to read Jumbled Jigsaw, not because there is anything wrong with the book, but because there is so much right with it. Williams is original in her perspective (I've read shelves full of books on autism, none like this) and incredibly insightful. If you have a child on the autism spectrum with one or more co-occurring diagnosis, you are likely to find each page dense with provocative information and ideas. Such a book cannot be breezed through quickly, it takes time to really go through it in bite size, digestable pieces. It also need not be read cover-to-cover but instead by picking and choosing chapters relevant to your situation.

This fascinating and insightful book can only be described as a guide and "wake up call" for everyone.

Despite the "experts" imposing severity labels on Autism that are then used by the education community to direct intervention and expectation as well as outcomes, their lack of understanding of the "jumbled jigsaw" and the personality and individuality of the Autistic person has doomed their system to failure.

For example if one simply provided one of these "experts" the diagnostic presentation of the author, Donna Williams at various points in her life, without them being aware of her "outcome", the current diagnostic criteria who have resulted in low expectations and a life relegated to an "institutionalized" existence.

Instead, Ms Williams is married and is a successful author, sculptor, artist etc. Ms. Williams serves as the symbol of what really is possible and she took the time to write down what worked and what did not so many mistakes can be avoided : With appropriate assistance, the autistic person has the best chance to become all they would have been if the symptoms of what others call the persons "autism" were minimized.

The truth being ,the symptoms have multiple treatable etiologies ,that vary from day to day and an "inside out approach" offers the best chance these individuals have.at leading a "normal" (whatever that is) life..

1 in 166 births.

The failure of the education and support systems/institutions to foster TRUE INDEPENDENCE in this population will result in not just a moral and ethical crisis in the very near future but an economic one as well. If changes in the current thinking about Autism do not occur, more institutions at public expense will have to be created to care for this ever-increasing population.

Autism affects everyone directly or indirectly and the confusion over what part of what society calls "Autism" is the gift and what part of autism is the difference/personality inherent in the individual has resulted in many inappropriate ineffective treatments and wasted opportunity for thousands of individuals.

Read it and learn then pass it on

Monica in California