Dr. Laura Hendrickson - Finding Your Childs Way on the Autism Spectrum: Discovering Unique Strengths, Mastering Behavior Challenges

FINDING YOUR CHILDS WAY ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM

DISCOVERING UNIQUE STRENGTHS, MASTERING BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES

DR. LAURA HENDRICKSON

M OODY P UBLISHERS
CHICAGO

2009 by
L AURA H ENDRICKSON

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from The Amplified Bible. Copyright 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Editor: Pam Pugh
Interior Design: Ragont Design
Cover Design: Maralynn Rochat
Cover Photos: puzzleiStockphoto; boyphotography by Deanna Rochat

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hendrickson, Laura.

Finding your childs way on the autism spectrum: discovering unique strengths, mastering behavior challenges / Laura Hendrickson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8024-4505-6
1. Autism in children. 2. Parents of autistic children. 3. Autistic childrenFamily relationships. I . Title.

RJ506.A9H437 2009
618.9285882dc22

2008027482

This book is printed on acid free recycled paper containing 30% PCW (Post Consumer Waste) and manufactured in the United States of America by Bethany Press.

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To Eric,
Thanks for allowing me to tell our story.
Im so proud of you! Its an honor to be your mother.

And to Dan,
In gratitude for the sacrifices you made for Eric.

IT IS EXCITING to see this much needed book come to fruition. Dr. Laura Hendrickson is not only a very qualified writer on her subject, but also a committed Christian and a personal friend of our family. Having had the privilege to consult with her about counseling situations involving children who were ASD, I know that her expertise and biblical perspective will be very helpful to many.

Most often, parents pray for a healthy or typical child. It can be concerning when God has a more challenging, and yet more perfect plan in mind. For such a time, there is Exodus 4:11 with the lessons of Gods perfect wisdom and sufficient grace. When Moses was complaining about his physical limitations, God said, who makes mans mouth, or the deaf or the mute is it not I?, implying that He is far greater than these limitations and has a great purpose in them. This book goes a long way in assisting parents to whom God has ordained one of His special children.

Finding Your Childs Way on the Autism Spectrum will help the reader to understand the varying degrees of symptoms and the individuality of each child. Taking her cues from the apostle Paul, Dr. Hendrickson stresses the importance of considering both the spiritual and physical (or outer man and inner man) aspects of the child (2 Corinthians 4:1618). She is the first to admit that there are still some mysteries to the autism puzzle, but offers that there is a great deal that parents of children on the spectrum should know and can do. Using her medical, parental, and theological backgrounds, she walks the reader through some very practical help and hope, regardless of where ones child may fall on the continuum.

Lauras experience with and commitment to raising her own son is one of her greatest assets in her mission to help other parents. Her first-hand experience offers great identification and encouragement. Her many personal illustrations let the reader know that she truly understands the ups and downs of parenting an autistic child. That understanding allows her to give realistic ideas for progressing development and addressing the autism spectrum childs heart and behavior.

This is a book of resources. Our author points strongly to the Scriptures as the greatest resource for the inner man, offering wisdom, hope, and many practical principles concerning the autism challenge. She also gives many other resources a parent can tap into for help. Though some of the organizations she cites may not be Christian organizations, they can, with caution, offer valuable assistance with the outer man issues.

God can grace each parent with what is needed to faithfully parent the child He has placed in their care. He no doubt desires to grow the parents as well as help them care for and model Christ to their child. Though He is not obligated to fix every child, He will use many things to assist those parents who acknowledge and look to Him. Clearly, this book is one of His gracious gifts for those who need to know more about the autism spectrum child and how to give them the best chance, as Dr. Hendrickson puts it, to soar.

Dr. Stuart Scott
Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling
Director, Center for Biblical Counseling
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lord, I believe that You can do anything. Please make Eric soar.

IVE LOVED THE OLD childrens movie Dumbo for many years.

Dumbo is a little elephant with enormous ears. In fact, his ears are so big that he trips over them all the time, producing all kinds of problems. Dumbo is mocked about his ears and snubbed when his clumsiness embarrasses the other elephants. But one day Dumbo discovers that his ears are large enough to act as wings. Upon realizing that Dumbo can fly, his only friend cries, The very things that held you down are going to carry you up! As the movie ends, Dumbo is rich, famous, and admired by all, performing in the circus as the worlds only flying elephant.

I remember watching the movie when Eric was a newborn. Sympathetic tears rolled down my cheeks as the other elephants ridiculed Dumbo. Couldnt they see that he was beautiful? His big ears were just different, not ugly! I would sing the lullaby that his mother sang in the movie to my own adorable baby, little knowing that this movie would become more than just a story to me in a few short years.

Three years later Eric, by now diagnosed with autism, became fascinated with Disneylands Dumbo the Flying Elephant Ride. Every time we went to Disneyland we had to ride it over and over. In those days the ride had a motto painted on its top, Believeand Soar. As we rode again and again Id pray, Lord, I believe that You can do anything. Please make Eric soar.