Synopses & Reviews
Speaking words
are burdensome;
they get her
lost and tangled,
So, pen and ink
are her first choice
to voice
what she's not saying.
The opening words of Judy Endow's latest book, Paper Words: Discovering and Living with My Autism, show how the author, a highly visual thinker, translates her thoughts into words. Thus, the unusual and irregular spacing between the words represents how long it takes for the pictures to fluidly move so as to connect smoothly with the next thought to form meaning. Soon the reader is swept up into a fast-paced journey of how Judy noticed her differences early on, how she discovered her autism, and how she embraces life autistically.
Synopsis
In this intensely personal book, readers are swept up into a fast-paced journey of how author Judy Endow noticed her differences early on, how she eventually discovered her autism and how she embraces life autistically. From her troubled teenage years in a state institution where her coping behaviors were interpreted as defiant and oppositional, to her years in a Christian community where her behaviors were misunderstood, to a brief marriage and the birth of her three sons, Judy has emerged as a strong voice on the autism spectrum. This book shows Endow's resilience, courage, hard work, and sheer will power. Paper Words shows visually on the printed page how Endow, a highly visual thinker, translates her thoughts into words.
Synopsis
In Paper Words, Judy Endow provides a unique and moving account of her experience. Through her story and poetry, she presents her life story in a way that helps us understand her feelings and responses in dealing with an often confusing and perplexing world. The construction of her narrative allows us to appreciate the complexities of understanding and coping with the world in a way most of us can't experience. This volume will be of great interest to parents, teachers, and researchers. It reminds us of the importance of listening to individuals with autism and related conditions and their unique ways of experiencing and coping with the world.