Introducing a brilliant new way for parents and autistic spectrum kids to connect, with the new book from the Autism Mom blog, To Explore Strange New Worlds: Understanding Autism Through a Star Trek Lens.
Author Elizabeth Barnes boldly goes on a voyage of discovery with her autistic son. Beginning as a chance for parent and child to connect over a shared interest, the characters and planets of Star Trek became a way for them to talk about social systems, behaviours and autism.
Empathy and experience
Barnes writes with empathy and experience about raising a child on the autistic spectrum, and the challenges they can face in understanding their own and others’ behaviour.
The book is charmingly geeky and lots of fun, with a deep love of Star Trek. The various characters and episodes provide the perfect settings to discuss a wide range of issues and challenges, while entertaining both parent and child.
Featuring a cover image from Growing Up Aspie’s Nathan McConnell, the book discusses acceptance (and how to deal with failures of acceptance), anxiety, recognising and dealing with bullying, effective communication including recognising body language and facial expressions, the benefits and pitfalls of intense interests, transitions, change and flexibility, and other useful topics. Each is illustrated by a relevant Star Trek episode and comes with suggested points and questions to start discussion.
Help with understanding autism
Star Trek fans will learn how it feels to see the world from an autistic perspective, and find new facets and ways to view the shows they love, while autistics, friends, loved ones, and parents of children on the autism spectrum will find new ways to better understand autism and spend enjoyable time together. Make it so.
To Explore Strange New Worlds is available now in print and ebook from Amazon and all good bookshops.
