News and Knowledge

“Autism and the Family: Understanding and Supporting Parents and Siblings,” by Kate Fiske, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is a new release by the W.W. Norton & Company. The publisher describes the book as useful for therapists and educators in understanding “the experiences of parents and siblings of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the time of diagnosis through adulthood.” While professionals most often focus on the child with autism, they can also be a valuable resource for family members, including parents, siblings, and extended family members.

As noted on the publisher’s website, Dr. Fiske, who is an OAR-funded researcher, discusses a range of vital subjects including: 

• Understanding the experience of diagnosis
• Recognizing patterns of parent stress over time
• Appreciating and navigating the effects of ASD on relationships between parents
• Involving and providing support for siblings
• Integrating grandparents and other extended family in care and treatment
• Identifying and developing effective coping strategies
• Building a strong rapport with parents and family
• Guiding parents in the treatment of autism

Each chapter provides key take-aways for supporting families that can be put to immediate use by professionals in the field of ASD treatment.

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., the chairman of OAR’s Scientific Council and executive director of The EPIC School in Paramus, N.J., praised the book as “a comprehensive yet accessible look at the complex family systems of children with autism, addressing their stressors, struggles, hopes, dreams, successes, and failures. This book should be required reading for educators, behavior analysts, speech pathologists, psychologists, and anyone serious about improving the lives of individuals with autism and supporting the families who love them.”