Intimate, bold, and inspiring, Autism Heroes provides a compelling and sensitive account of the experiences of 38 families from different walks of life confronting the challenges of autism with courage, tenacity and love. With empathy and expertise gained from her three decades of leadership of The Help Group and commitment to children with special needs, Dr. Barbara Firestone engages the families in candid, powerful and deeply affecting conversations about their lives. Each family narrative is set against the backdrop of her insightful essays about dignity, hope, opportunity and love, which are fundamentally important to all families living with autism. The families offer their experiences openly and honestly, sharing their challenges, triumphs, and hopes. Their candor helps demystify and destigmatize autism and embraces other parents just beginning or already on the journey.

Firestone is the President, CEO and founder of The Help Group, a non- profit organization that assists families with autistic children. With the assistance of photographer Buissink, the author documents the lives and needs of 38 families who deal with the daily challenges of autism spectrum disorders. Stressing the need to deliver more knowledge and information about the disorder to these families (who come from all walks of life), Firestone balances these profiles with plenty of research facts and treatment options. Oversize: 10x11.25". Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)