The world has become more aware and informed about the increasing number of Autism in society. It is still a mystery as to the hardships and solutions to the lives of these kids and young adults. As they move on in life and find their way in this world, this book is a picture of one such life - an autism adult and his mother as they navigate forward down this road.

The world has become more aware and informed about the increasing number of Autism in society. It is still a mystery as to the hardships and solutions to the lives of these kids and young adults. As they move on in life and find their way in this world, this book is a picture of one such life – an autism adult and his mother as they navigate forward down this road.

This book consists of insights, advice, musings, and even a little theology from the mother of an autistic son. The author's perspective comes from being in the trenches, figuring out the world of diagnoses, therapy, and the best path for her child.

Autism Spectrum Disorder--which includes autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Asperger's--is today's most common childhood disability. Dr. Buckley argues that this disorder is not a psychiatric condition but a physiological disease that must be medically treated.

My story is based on my experience in raising an autistic child and to also help raise autism awareness that these special children can become such a wonderful addition to our society. As autism has become such an epidemic these days, I feel my story may benefit any parent or parents who may feel so lost, confused, having chronic unhappiness, desperation, feeling guilty and so saddened by the autism diagnosis for their special child. Us parents must devote most of our time to accomplish this significant progress. Hopefully, you will find genuine happiness of what you and your child can and will have accomplished. My story will hopefully be very helpful to you and change your entire concept that autistic children can become successful, independent and productive in life, no matter what negativity is ever told to you.

"The stories about raising Jon are both heartbreaking and affirming for anyone who is currently going through raising a person who is non-verbal with autism and seizure disorder or has been a big part of a person with autism's life." This book came about after a 33-year marriage disintegrated. By the time divorce came around, author Ellie Duley had a master's degree, a business, and had written a book but still felt a little empty. To make meaning of her life, she started writing down different antics that she remembered from raising Jon. Memories came flooding back while recalling the tougher times and the fierce love and protection that she felt raising both her kids. Ellie Duley's career was put on hold for the first 20 years of Jon's life. When asked why she felt compelled to write this book, she stated, "I think I wrote this to affirm (if only to myself) that those years weren't wasted. I know they weren't, but something made me want to tell the stories of raising Jon. This therapy helped me though a tough time." In the early years, Jon learned to ski with his family, stole French fries, blocked others' access to many slides, and learned to deal with his mother's breast cancer. He also played with his poop and tried to eat raw meat off the floor of a local grocery store. This book project started as a labor of love, and the author recalls receiving a great deal of support from people who knew her in the past when the going was tougher. Jon was a bit of a mystery, so it seemed that people close to them were eager to see how the raising of Jon unfolded. This feeling of gratitude for the support of these wonderful people kept the author going in raising a non-verbal child to a semi-independent adult who lives at a group home in a wonderful community in Maine. About the Author Ellie Stewart Duley led a remarkably unremarkable life until her time raising her son Jon who was born with autism. Raised in the suburbs of western Massachusetts, Duley attended the University of Maine only one month after her family moved to Virginia. After college, Duley married and remained in Maine where she still lives with her 8-year-old Newfoundland. Somewhere along the way, Duley received her master's in school counseling and worked in public schools as a counselor before divorcing in 2017.

"Joan Goodreau's stories about her journey with her son brings the reality of living with autism and the impact the disorder has on families home to both parents and professionals...I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with families that include someone with a neurodevelopment disorder."-Connie Withers, Psychologist and Director of Puente Hills Special Education Local Plan Area"In Silent Messages, Joan Goodreau provides perspective through different lenses on the impact a disability has on a family."-Teri Todd, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Operations, California State University, NorthridgeOne child in 88 will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Three-year-old Ian is diagnosed and his single mother, Joan, tries to learn about the stranger who is her son. She discovers no one can raise a child with ASD alone and finds help for her family. Her real-life stories capture this first year after diagnosis that moves from "why us" alienation to acceptance of life with Ian. Parents, especially parents of children with diverse needs, often feel alone in facing day-to-day problems, but they are not. This book offers the warmth of a cup of tea and a chat with a friend who has been where you are. Join her on her blog: http://autismwritehere.wordpress.com/