David J. Burns - Do Lemons Have Feathers?: More to Autism than Meets the Eye

DO

LEMONS

HAVE

FEATHERS?

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DAVID J. BURNS

FOREWORD BY ANDREW SERCOMBE

DO

LEMONS

HAVE

FEATHERS?

MORE TO AUTISM THAN
MEETS THE EYE

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

First published in 2016

by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

73 Collier Street

London N1 9BE, UK

and

400 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.jkp.com

Copyright David J. Burns 2016

Foreword copyright Andrew Sercombe 2016

Front cover image source: IngImage.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Names: Burns, David J., author.

Title: Do lemons have feathers? : more to autism than meets the eye / David

J. Burns ; foreword by Andrew Sercombe.

Description: London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015038813 | ISBN 9781785920134 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Burns, David J.,--Mental health. | Autistic

people--Biography. | Autism--Social aspects.

Classification: LCC RC553.A88 B872 2016 | DDC 616.85/882--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015038813

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 78592 013 4

eISBN 978 1 78450 254 6

To Hannah.
Im so proud of you.

Contents

Foreword

I read this book in one sitting. I couldnt help myself. It is compelling reading. It takes you on a roller-coaster ride of discovery. It is unputdownable. Brilliant. Deep. Light. Easy reading. Challenging. Loving. Charged with priceless insight. Wise. Inspiring. And more.

Ive known David for 30 years. He is highly intelligent, hilarious lethally so when you get to know him! and a really loyal and kind friend, but, to be honest, I didnt realise he was such a gifted writer. Knowing him as I do, I suspect he didnt realise either but just decided to put his life on the line so that others who experience more or less autism either themselves or through someone they know, love, teach or work with will understand. Or understand better. Typical.

I can vouch for David J. Burns integrity. Ive watched his journey, the humility, love and courage that exudes from his life, and have been challenged by the determination and generosity of a life devoted to helping others. What he writes is naked truth. The challenges he has faced are real. The situations of which he writes are authentic as described.

David is now in increasingly high demand as a consultant, speaker and advocate for those in the autistic world as people in education, work and family relationship contexts are finding out that what this man has to say is changing minds and hearts.

As you read this book, let his words change your mind and heart too. Youll soon notice that the book is written by someone who is high-functioning autistic. I challenge you not to laugh out loud as you make your way through to the particularly insightful final chapters. And when you get to the end, like me, youll feel that sense of being honoured with a glimpse into the life and privacy of a brave man.

Andrew Sercombe
www.powerchange.com

Acknowledgements

My thanks must go to the many parents I have met who have shared their stories. I know it has not been easy for you, and many of you face an uphill struggle for support with your childs autism. Im grateful for all youve shared your children are amazing people.

Id like to thank Moyra. She has encouraged me to write this book and produce something for everyone. It would have been so easy to never start writing, but after an initial draft chapter she said, I want more!

To the Tuesday Billingshurst autism support group I say, Thank you for welcoming me and making me realise I can bring hope. Our times together have helped me to see what I needed to include in this edition and your feedback on the draft chapters has been enormously helpful.

Im also grateful to Uta Frith for her kind words of endorsement on the front cover. Uta Frith is Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development at UCL. Among other books and articles on autism spectrum conditions, she has written Autism: A Very Short Introduction . Recently, she presented the BBC Horizon documentary Living with Autism .

Lastly, Id like to tell you more about my friend, Andrew Sercombe. I mention at times what my friend might say and Andrew has been perhaps the most supportive and encouraging friend Ive known in the last 30 years. Ive repeated some of the things hes taught me that were memorable and which I thought people might find helpful.

Andrew runs a professional development company unlike any other. Its called Powerchange and he continues to bless and change lives pretty much every day. You can find out more about Andrew and his work by visiting his website at www.powerchange.com.

Ive included some summary Help Sheets at the end of the book which many have said have been really useful to families and schools in understanding autism. There is also a request asking you to help others using your own social media contacts to make the book known to them. If you are able to respond, then I want to thank you in advance.

David

Do Lemons Have Feathers?

I was able to do certain things because of autism and not in spite of autism.

DAVID J. BURNS

I love stories! Dont you? I recently heard the story about a guest at a party whod had too much to drink.

He approached the host and asked the following question:

Do lemons have feathers?

I beg your pardon? the host replied.

Do lemons have feathers?

Of course they dont! the host exclaimed.

Oh dear. Then I think Ive just squeezed your pet canary into my drink.

I found it really funny because Im a natural when it comes to the social faux pas. Im socially awkward and I guess at times people would say Im a bit like a lemon.

As I thought about the story and the question posed, I began to see something else. The question Do lemons have feathers? challenged me to think about my life and whether or not there was more to someone with autism than meets the eye.