Stefanski Daniel - How to Talk to an Autistic Kid

Text copyright 2011 by Daniel Stefanski and Mary Stefanski

Illustrations copyright 2011 by Free Spirit Publishing Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stefanski, Daniel.

How to talk to an autistic kid / by Daniel Stefanski ; illustrated by Hazel Mitchell.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-57542-365-4

1. Autistic youth. 2. Interpersonal relations. I. Title.

RJ506.A9S735 2011

618.9285882dc22

2010043615

eBook ISBN: 978-1-57542-739-3

Free Spirit Publishing does not have control over or assume responsibility for author or third-party websites and their content.

Edited by Eric Braun

Cover and interior design by Michelle Lee

Illustrations by Hazel Mitchell

Reading Level Grades 34; Interest Level Ages 8 to Adult;

Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level P

Free Spirit Publishing Inc.

Minneapolis, MN

(612) 338-2068

help4kids@freespirit.com

www.freespirit.com

Hi, Im Daniel Stefanski, and Im 14 years old. I have autism. Whats that, you ask? Autism is a disorder that affects how my brain works. (Yes, it does work!) My dad, who is an electrical engineer and knows a lot about wires and circuits, told me having autism means that my brain is wired differently from most kids brains.

Not all people with autism are exactly alike, just like not all kids or teenagers are exactly alike. Many people with autism share some characteristics, though.

1. We have at least some difficulty with communication.

2. Its hard for us to understand social situations.

3. We tend to get really interested in one thing, which makes it hard to think about other things.

My goal is to help you better understand autism and the people who have it.

When I was 9 years old, I learned that Im autistic. When I first heard that, I thought it meant that Im a good artist (artistic!), which I am. But what it really means is I have autism. In my book, I use the word autistic to describe myself and others who have autism. Some people dont like the label autistic, but in this book its the easiest way to talk about people with autism, and Im okay with it. I am autisticbut thats not all I am. Im also:

You know what? Even though my brain is different, Im still a kid. I like to have fun and want to have friends. My two best friends, Megan and Zak, are autistic, too. They invite me to do things, and we have lots of fun together. None of the other kids at my school invite me to birthday parties or to hang out. Some of them talk to me, and some dont. Im lonely lots of the time, and I think other autistic kids are lonely, too.

It can take more time and patience to be friends with autistic kids, but it might be worth it because we will probably teach you something new. When Im interested in a subject, I learn everything I can about it. For the past few months, Ive been fascinated by everything Australian. Mate, I can teach you about kangaroos, joeys (baby kangaroos), koala bears, and other Australian animals. I could also teach you about some of the fun words Australians say, like blimey and crikey. These words make me laugh.

How to Talk to an Autistic Kid is about more than just talking. I wrote it to help people get along better with autistic kids. Youll find ideas about hanging out and doing things with autistic kids and being a good friend, too. I want to help kids without autism feel comfortable around kids with autism. I hope fewer autistic kids will feel lonely.

If we are friendly and nice to each other, all of us can have new, interesting, and fun friends.

I want to be included just like anyone else. I may be different, but Im a person, too.

People are different in many ways: skin color, eye color, hairstyle, background, beliefs, you name it!

It feels good when people say hi to me, wave, and notice Im here. Please dont ignore autistic kids just because theyre different.

Everyone has different ways of talking. Some people talk a lot, some are quieter. Some people ask a lot of questions, and others like to tell stories and jokes. Well, just like anyone else, people with autism have different ways of talking. Some of us say a lot, some a little bit, and some nothing at all. Communicating is hard for us.

For me, my words get jumbled up when I talk. Sometimes I make goofy noises when I dont know what to say. Sometimes I repeat myself.

I know my way of communicating is different, but I like it when others listen. Then I feel included. Try to be patient when talking with an autistic kid.

A lot of kids with autism are really smart, even if they have language difficulties. We can hear and talk and listen, like you. Sometimes you may have to slow down when you talk to us or reword what you say. No big deal. If people ask me, Daniel, did you get what I just said? it clues me in that I missed something. You might want to try that with other autistic kids.

Many autistic kids arent good at understanding figures of speech. We think words mean exactly what they say. If you say, Go jump in a lake, we might think you really mean for us to do it. My brother told me to bug off, and then laughed at me when I tried to swipe a bug off of him.