The Scenic Route:Embracing The Detours, Roadblocks, And Unexpected Joys Of Raising An Autistic Child

Description

Reflections on autism, parenting, and embracing destinations unknown.

In The Scenic Route, Leigh Merryday Porch offers insight into how parents of children with autism can redefine hope in a world that often has a narrow view of what hope is supposed to look like for their kids. As an educator and expert on autism spectrum disorders as well as the mother of a son who is autistic, Porch knows well the pressure parents of special needs children feel to overcome any and all challenges their children face. But not all disabilities result in heartwarming viral stories. According to Porch, we must write our own stories about what is possible for our kids and love them just as they are.

A chronicle of one family’s journey from the shock and uncertainty of a severe autism diagnosis to acceptance and advocacy, in this beautifully written book Porch shares the lessons she has learned about charting your own course. From learning to cope with sleepless, worry-filled nights to asking friends and family for the help and support you actually need, she offers readers a road map for helping our children thrive while still taking the time to stop and enjoy the beauty in life’s unforeseen detours.

About the Author

Leigh Merryday Porch is the author of the popular autism parenting blog Flappiness Is and a veteran educator and academic coach with a master’s in autism spectrum disorders. An Advanced Certified Autism Specialist, she provides training in autism awareness for schools, civic organizations, and law enforcement, and has presented at disability-related conventions. Her writing has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul for Parents Raising Kids on the Spectrum, The Huffington Post, and The Child Mind Institute. Porch has also been featured and interviewed in People.com, GoodMorningAmerica.com, Autism Live, and Inside Edition. She resides in small-town Northeast Florida with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of poorly behaved animals her training in behavioral interventions has had no effect on.