Chantal Sicile-Kira - A Full Life with Autism: From Learning to Forming Relationships to Achieving Independence

Sicile-Kira and her autistic son, Jeremy, join forces in this guidebook to help parents and their autistic offspring move beyond childhood and evolve into an adult life.... The author breaks each large, seemingly overwhelming undertaking into small, doable tasks.... A proactive method for raising an adult child with special needs.

Kirkus Reviews

If you are raising a teen with significant autistic challenges, you need to read A Full Life with Autism. If you have a young child who is nonverbal, you need to read A Full Life with Autism. Chantal Sikle-Kiras newest book is coauthored with her son Jeremy, who did not speak, but who writes eloquently and powerfully. The mother-son dialogue, facilitated by keyboard and iPad, is a striking example of the potential inside many nonverbal people. Together, they walk the reader through the challenges of leaving home and establishing an independent life as an adult. The step-by-step manner in which they do this, and Jeremys calm and steady voice, will be very reassuring to readers. Topics discussed include making friends, romance, housing, college, and finally, earning a living. I particularly like the way this book weaves both Chantal and Jeremys perspective into each story. In the latter part of the book, some chapters are also illustrated with stories from other families. This is a very practical guide that I highly recommend.

John Elder Robison, author of Look
Me in the Eye and Be Different

This truly impressive book by Chantal Sicile-Kira and her son Jeremy, who is in his early twenties and autistic, will serve as an invaluable resource not only for families who have a youngster or young adult with autism but also for the professionals who work with these families. A Full Life with Autism vividly brings to life not only the challenges and stresses faced by young adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum but also steps that can be taken to assist these individuals to become more independent, successful, and resilient.

Robert Brooks, PhD, Faculty, Harvard Medical School,
and coauthor of Raising Resilient Children with Autism
Spectrum Disorders and The Power of Resilience

A Full Life with Autism provides a timely and compelling perspective into the struggles and challenges of adults with autism and their caregivers. Chantal and Jeremy accurately portray so many of the issues that young adults experience as they move into the world and seek to find their voice and purpose. A Full Life with Autism is certain to be an important resource for young adults and their families trying to understand, cope, and thrive during one of the most important transitions for an individual with autism.

Areva D. Martin, Esq., Managing Partner, Martin
& Martin, LLP; president, Special Needs Network,
Inc.; and author, The Everyday Advocate: Standing Up
for Your Child with Autism or Other Special Needs

Chantal Sicile-Kira and the remarkable (once considered retarded) Jeremy Sicile-Kira have created a work wherein their common goal is obvious: Separation, and independence for Jeremy. Their writing is filled with a refreshing respect for one another, and very often the material is quite brave.

Michael John Carley, executive director, GRASP,
ASTEP, and author of Aspergers From the Inside-Out

For individuals with autism what we see rarely tells us what each is thinking, feeling, or capable of accomplishing. We must look beyond the behaviors to understand what each is trying to communicate. A Full Life with Autism does this and so much more. Truly a must-read!

Ricki G. Robinson, MD, MPH, member, Scientific Review
Panel of Autism Speaks, and author of Autism Solutions: How
to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child

A Full Life with Autism is a must-read book for parents and professionals in the autism field.

Steve Edelson, PhD, director, Autism Research Institute

A full life can have many different meanings for many different people, and yet, on a deeper level, when we hear the phrase full life we seem to become united by a common human objective we would not wish to deny ourselves or others. In this important book, Jeremy and Chantal Sicile-Kira have captured the value of our shared humanity within our diversity. They do this gracefully, leading the way, as the next generation of young people with autism seek their paths.

Valerie Paradiz, PhD, director, Autistic Global
Initiative, Autism Research Institute

Unfortunately, many adults on the autism experience have high rates of unemployment or underemployment. Some of our most gifted live in poverty and have few options in life. Chantal and Jeremy have creatively worked to create an engaged life for Jeremy and his family. This book provides very practical ideas for transition planning and provides a template that others can use as they support adults moving into adulthood. I highly recommend this for any family or individual as they prepare for transition planning.

Dr. Cathy Pratt, director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism

This book will help us all navigate the new world of employment for persons on the autistic spectrum.

Michael Bernick, former director, California Labor
Department, and autism employment activist

A Full Life with Autism is an important book that should be on the shelf of all schools, therapists, parents, and caregivers serving individuals with an autism spectrum diagnosis....Jeremy is living proof that respect and support are key to an individual with an ASD diagnosis living a full life. In this book, Jeremy gives the reader valuable insights into the mind of the nonverbal, significantly impacted individual with ASD, and Jeremy and Chantal both give practical tips and directions to parents, caregivers, and others for major facets of life integral to living a fulfilling life as an adult with autism.

Teri Arranga, director, AutismOne, and
editor-in-chief, Autism Science Digest

The transition into adult life is poorly understood and seldom researched in the field of autism. Jeremy and Chantal Sicile-Kira have given us important lessons from their knowledge and experience. They write honestly and clearly and their book will be of great benefit to the thousands of other families who wish to support their loved one with dignity and respect.

Anne M. Donnellan, professor, University of San Diego,
and professor emerita, University of Wisconsin-Madison

I have a new favorite book about autism! Chantal Sicile-Kira has clearly done her homework in addressing issues for young adults with autism and their parents. But having parallel comments and suggestions from her son Jeremy adds a deeper perspective and value to an already excellent book. I will be returning to this book. The dual voices of parent advocate and self-advocate, commenting in parallel on the same topics, are a revelation to read.

Scott Standifer, Disability Policy & Studies, University
of Missouri School of Health Professions

This is a highly readable book. Chantal and Jeremy Sicile-Kira succeed in addressing how each individual on the spectrum is unique and will need personally tailored supports.

Lars Perner, PhD, assistant professor of Clinical Marketing,
University of Southern California, and chair, Panel of People on
the Spectrum of Autism Advisors, Autism Society of America

A Full Life with Autism lays out in plain language the challenges of transition to adulthood for persons with autism. This book belongs on the shelf, e-player, or e-reader of everyone who strives to help people with autism and ASDs.

Joshua Feder, MD, Director of Research of the Interdisciplinary
Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders