"Each family's journey with autism is as unique as a fingerprint."
Think about autism differently.
That's what Vivian M. Lumbard does. She's a mom to teenage twins with high-functioning autism challenges. As a retired air traffic controller, she is familiar with long-term and short-term goals, changing plans on a moment's notice, as well as being able to laugh when stressed. All of which comes in handy when raising a child with autism.
Autism awareness is on the rise. But what about autism understanding? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) manifests differently for each individual. Yet stereotypes hinder understanding and impact our choices as parents and educators. Using examples from her family's life, she reframes common ASD stereotypes and competencies to highlight commonalities with the neurotypical world.
Vivian advocates an approach of loving, parenting and supporting the whole, unique child and offers a chapter of helpful tips based on her experiences. See how she applies those tips while staying at home during COVID-19.
Frank. Compassionate. Intimate. Sometimes humorous. Join her as she shares her family's journey.
Additional information:
The author describes:
- Why meltdowns occur
- Puberty transitions unique to ASD girls
- IDEA vs. ADA laws
- Working as team between home and school
- How educational systems can improve
Outside Looking In is suitable for parents and other family members of those with autism, educators in the general and special needs settings, therapists and anyone else who wishes to understand autism better.
Editorial Reviews:
- 1st Place Winner for Non-Fiction - 2021 IndieReader Discovery Awards
- Award-Winning Finalist in the Parenting/Family category of the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
- Bronze Medal winner in the Parenting/Family Relationships category of the 2020-2021 Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards
- Award-winning Finalist in the Parenting & Family category of the 2020 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest
- Red Ribbon Winner in the 2020 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
5-Star Reader's Favorite Review
“…a non-fiction parenting book that would
appeal most to a mixed audience of parents, teachers, and those who work with special needs children…My job as an after school counselor often involves working with children with autism, yet the advice I was given on how to work with these children only ever succeeded with a few of them. This book really opened my eyes to the fact that even
though the children I work with all have the same condition, it does not mean that they should all receive the exact same type of help. This book helped me not just to have an awareness of autism, but also an understanding of it that I plan to employ at work to better assist each individual child that I work with. Overall, I am very pleased with the knowledge I gained from this book and I especially liked the way the author talked about how to apply her tips during COVID-19.”--
Sefina Hawke
5-Star Reader's Favorite Review
“Author Vivian M. Lumbard writes…with a vigor to make sure that any person on the autistic spectrum is not simply noticed, but truly seen, heard and understood. The organization of the book takes you through a memoir-style of episodes, but each one has a clear purpose with regard to tips on parenting and sharing the real experience of what it has been like in her family life. There are some really funny moments that any family can relate to, but also well-explained hardships and triumphant moments of strength to work out ways to thrive. Overall, I would highly recommend Outside Looking In for anyone who not only wants to understand autism in greater detail but also to learn how to think critically beyond stereotypes for all types of people they might meet in the future.”--K.C. Finn
"If you're a parent or a teacher, chances are you'll wind up caring for a child with autism at some point. Because it can present so differently in every child, it can be hard to know what to do. Vivian's book doesn't give all the answers—no book can—but it's a heartfelt and plain-spoken story of one parent's journey and
an excellent place to start for people who can feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available."
—Jo Niederhoff, San Francisco Book Review
5-Star Reader's Favorite Review
"...The best part of Outside Looking In is that it demonstrates a clear distinction between autism “awareness” and “understanding.” While the world continues to espouse ASD awareness, the reality for people dealing with autism bear concerns that extend far beyond awareness. Part of understanding is that we should all aim to see every person with autism for the person as they are and not for what we think their diagnosis means. From a parent who has been there and still continues with her journey, we can all learn to make choices in dealing with the social and communicative impairments of the complex people we hold dear and lead them to a life they rightfully deserve.-Vincent Dublado