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Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism
Autism is usually portrayed as a checklist of deficits, including difficulties interacting socially, problems in communicating, sensory challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns. This perspective leads to therapies focused on ridding individuals of autistic symptoms. In Uniquely Human, Dr. Barry M. Prizant suggests a major shift in understanding autism: Instead of classifying "autistic" behaviors as signs of pathology, he sees them as strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming. Rather than curb these behaviors, it's better to enhance abilities, build on strengths, and offer supports that will naturally lead to more desirable behavior and a better quality of life. In fact, argues Dr. Prizant, attempts to eliminate autistic behaviors may actually interfere with important developmental processes.
Including inspiring stories and practical advice drawn from Dr. Prizant's four-decade career working in universities, schools, hospitals, and in private practice, Uniquely Human offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that parents, professionals, and family members will find uplifting and hopeful.
Including inspiring stories and practical advice drawn from Dr. Prizant's four-decade career working in universities, schools, hospitals, and in private practice, Uniquely Human offers a compassionate and insightful perspective that parents, professionals, and family members will find uplifting and hopeful.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2015
1950 people are currently reading
11388 people want to read
About the author
Barry M. Prizant
31 books85 followersBarry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP, is among the world’s leading authorities on autism, with more than forty years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and international consultant. He is an adjunct professor at Brown University and coauthor of The SCERTS Model: A Comprehensive Educational Approach, now being implemented in more than a dozen countries. Dr. Prizant has published more than 120 articles and chapters, and has received many awards including the 2014 Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2005 Princeton University-Eden Foundation Career Award in Autism, and the 2013 “Divine Neurotypical Award” of GRASP. Dr. Prizant lives in Cranston, RI, with his wife, Dr. Elaine Meyer, and their teenage son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews
February 9, 2017
This book had One Good Idea and exploited it from every angle. Maybe that works for a text book and maybe it reads well as positive enforcement for someone dealing with a child with autism but it didn't work for me.
The One Good Idea was that obsessions should be viewed as Enthusiasms. Encouraging these enthusiasms, such as being obsessive about train timetables can be used as behaviour modifiers both by bribery, 'if you don't talk to anyone about trains but go along with them for the next hour we will look up timetables for the Great Northern after that' etc. Also, the timetables could be used to foster an interest or at least an ability with reading, maths, communications etc. It was a very good idea. The child who was train-obsessed later got a job advising customers on train travel and did very well.
All the children mentioned in the book who had obsessions that were treated as enthusiams did very well in life, and I feel that's unrealistic but I can see why parents with children with autism would love this book. It is at least positive. But I wonder how many children with autism and enthusiams and are unable to fit into school will ever really achieve even a semi-independent life and career? I wonder how many of these children are really one's with fairly extreme Asperger's Syndrome?
From everything I've read and seen from children who come into the shop there are three 'classes' of diagnoses. Those with autism who really do have their own worlds and don't have any desire to communicate anything outside of what they want. All education is towards developing their communication and interpersonal skills.
The second group are those with Asperger's syndrome who really do want to communicate but only what they want to and have no idea that other people are turned off by their endless communication of their enthusiasms. They are quite educable but need a lot of behavioural modification and they do come across as odd. (These are the majority of these sort of kids who come to the shop because they like books on their enthusiams). As adults they are a bit odd but so what?
The third group (of which I was supposedly part) have no enthusiams, aren't weird but don't get along with other kids in ways that are expected. They don't seem to quite get other people or put their foot in it a lot and they will quite happily shut up about their enthusiams if requested. I don't think these people are Aspergers at all, it's just a different personality type. Silicon Valley is supposedly populated with people with this personality type. They should just stop diagnosing this as a disorder and accept we are all different and many of us need help in some area or another (dyslexia, unco-ordinated, can't do maths etc).
As it turned out, I don't have Asperger's in any form, I have Prosopagnosia. The majority of people don't know about it, including those who happily diagnose Aspergers. (When my son was in school it was ADHD, now it's Aspergers). Lots of people with it have no idea at all until they grow up, me an d Heather Sellers, the author of You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know.
Was the book worth reading? Yes, for the one good idea. But if you dnf'd it after a couple of chapters, you wouldn't miss anything.
The One Good Idea was that obsessions should be viewed as Enthusiasms. Encouraging these enthusiasms, such as being obsessive about train timetables can be used as behaviour modifiers both by bribery, 'if you don't talk to anyone about trains but go along with them for the next hour we will look up timetables for the Great Northern after that' etc. Also, the timetables could be used to foster an interest or at least an ability with reading, maths, communications etc. It was a very good idea. The child who was train-obsessed later got a job advising customers on train travel and did very well.
All the children mentioned in the book who had obsessions that were treated as enthusiams did very well in life, and I feel that's unrealistic but I can see why parents with children with autism would love this book. It is at least positive. But I wonder how many children with autism and enthusiams and are unable to fit into school will ever really achieve even a semi-independent life and career? I wonder how many of these children are really one's with fairly extreme Asperger's Syndrome?
From everything I've read and seen from children who come into the shop there are three 'classes' of diagnoses. Those with autism who really do have their own worlds and don't have any desire to communicate anything outside of what they want. All education is towards developing their communication and interpersonal skills.
The second group are those with Asperger's syndrome who really do want to communicate but only what they want to and have no idea that other people are turned off by their endless communication of their enthusiasms. They are quite educable but need a lot of behavioural modification and they do come across as odd. (These are the majority of these sort of kids who come to the shop because they like books on their enthusiams). As adults they are a bit odd but so what?
The third group (of which I was supposedly part) have no enthusiams, aren't weird but don't get along with other kids in ways that are expected. They don't seem to quite get other people or put their foot in it a lot and they will quite happily shut up about their enthusiams if requested. I don't think these people are Aspergers at all, it's just a different personality type. Silicon Valley is supposedly populated with people with this personality type. They should just stop diagnosing this as a disorder and accept we are all different and many of us need help in some area or another (dyslexia, unco-ordinated, can't do maths etc).
As it turned out, I don't have Asperger's in any form, I have Prosopagnosia. The majority of people don't know about it, including those who happily diagnose Aspergers. (When my son was in school it was ADHD, now it's Aspergers). Lots of people with it have no idea at all until they grow up, me an d Heather Sellers, the author of You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know.
Was the book worth reading? Yes, for the one good idea. But if you dnf'd it after a couple of chapters, you wouldn't miss anything.
August 14, 2015
If I could give this book six stars, I would. Every parent of a newly diagnosed child should be given this book to read. This book is wonderful and I wish I had it to read nine years ago, when my son was diagnosed as autistic.
I love how the author delves into the reasons why people with autism do some of the things that they do- echolalia, "stims", having a "fidget" object they carry around with them, or needing to stick to a routine, and having what to us NT's seem like unusual or illogical fears (as I write this, my son is walking around expressing deep worry that a tornado will hit the spray park where he is going to swim- tornadoes are a fear of his. We will show him, several times, the forecast that says it will only rain, no tornadoes). He gives the reader advice and insights from adults on the spectrum, which is a real treat, and he treats parents with respect instead of talking to us like we are stupid. The best thing for a child with autism (or a teenager, or an adult) is to have a team of individuals- parents, extended family, faith community, schools, employers, therapists- he or she can trust- trust is a huge theme of the book, and an insight that blew me away because it made so much sense- and who are all committed to his or her success in self-determination and in living as independently as possible.
I quit reading "autism" books a long time ago, with the exception of Temple Grandin's books. I got so incredibly frustrated at how much contradictory or flat out bad advice was out there, and how so many "therapies" claim to cure or dramatically reduce "symptoms" of autism, if only you are willing to cough up the big bucks and huge amounts of time in the hope that your child might be "cured". As a parent of an adolescent with autism, I have probably heard it all at this point. The author gets it- I don't want my son "cured"; I want him to acquire the skills he needs to live a fulfilling life in the community. Instead of the wild and controversial claims of Jenny McCarthy et al, the author of this book offers real insight into the way my child views the world, which helps me find real ways to advocate for him, guide him and teach him how to navigate through his life.
Finally, I love how the author encourages families to get out into the world and give their child new experiences. I have met so many families who never leave the house because they are afraid of what other people will think and/or how their child will respond. This is advice families need to hear.
I love how the author delves into the reasons why people with autism do some of the things that they do- echolalia, "stims", having a "fidget" object they carry around with them, or needing to stick to a routine, and having what to us NT's seem like unusual or illogical fears (as I write this, my son is walking around expressing deep worry that a tornado will hit the spray park where he is going to swim- tornadoes are a fear of his. We will show him, several times, the forecast that says it will only rain, no tornadoes). He gives the reader advice and insights from adults on the spectrum, which is a real treat, and he treats parents with respect instead of talking to us like we are stupid. The best thing for a child with autism (or a teenager, or an adult) is to have a team of individuals- parents, extended family, faith community, schools, employers, therapists- he or she can trust- trust is a huge theme of the book, and an insight that blew me away because it made so much sense- and who are all committed to his or her success in self-determination and in living as independently as possible.
I quit reading "autism" books a long time ago, with the exception of Temple Grandin's books. I got so incredibly frustrated at how much contradictory or flat out bad advice was out there, and how so many "therapies" claim to cure or dramatically reduce "symptoms" of autism, if only you are willing to cough up the big bucks and huge amounts of time in the hope that your child might be "cured". As a parent of an adolescent with autism, I have probably heard it all at this point. The author gets it- I don't want my son "cured"; I want him to acquire the skills he needs to live a fulfilling life in the community. Instead of the wild and controversial claims of Jenny McCarthy et al, the author of this book offers real insight into the way my child views the world, which helps me find real ways to advocate for him, guide him and teach him how to navigate through his life.
Finally, I love how the author encourages families to get out into the world and give their child new experiences. I have met so many families who never leave the house because they are afraid of what other people will think and/or how their child will respond. This is advice families need to hear.
November 1, 2015
If you could only read one book about Autism this is the one.
December 19, 2016
I read Uniquely Human, and I went through it chapter by chapter, plus all that material that's not in a chapter. At the end of it all, here are my thoughts:
This book is still pathology paradigm/behaviorist model. It's just considering that there is, in fact, some rhyme or reason to the behavior and focusing on the cause of the behavior as a way to reduce it. (Same bad model, just using it to say better things.)
The descriptions of how and why we act are definitely behaviorizing, or at best partially behaviorizing. See Disability in Kidlit here for the explanation of what I mean by that.
For calling autistic people experts, he really doesn't pull much that's credited as being learned from "an autistic adult said this."
What crediting of autistic adults happens leans very white, cisgender, heterosexual, educated, and middle to upper class.
Even the chapter called "The Real Experts" has very little content that is what we say or how we say it. Most of it is anecdotes in which he shows our behavior.
He occasionally conflates tantrums and meltdowns. There is, in fact, a difference.
Dr. Prizant is far more trusting of therapies and professionals in general/by default than I can trust or endorse. He may have shared a parents quote about not being able to trust professionals as far as you can throw them, but his writing indicates that he himself does trust professionals.
I do not even vaguely trust the reader (or really trust Dr. Prizant) on what the "successes" we celebrate are. The goals described read too much like "acting less autistic" (but by reducing anxiety!) in ways that conflate "acting autistic" with "showing distress in autistic-typical ways."
This book minimizes some major problems: electric shock and other painful punishments are depicted as a thing of the past, Lovaas as one of the first autism experts (never mind that he's one of the people who used shock,) and similar.
There are times where a trait he mentions is relevant and makes a "lack of social X" argument redundant or unneeded, but he makes the "lack of social X" argument anyways.
One case here is a students refusal to complete an assignment that he can't make sense of being explained with not understanding that he should make an attempt anyways to please the teacher, rather than "Ok but this is so inaccessible that there is no attempt I can make."
Also there's the bit where we have a communication disability, and we're pretty explicitly taught not to express discomfort or displeasure, but apparently our not communicating when things are bothering us is because we lack this social instinct?
There is an overarching pattern where Dr. Prizant comes up with a good point but doesn't follow his own logic fully.
He writes his dissertation on functions of echolalia (and does research on functions of scripting,) finding that they have all the same functions as spontaneous language, but then aims to reduce scripted speech. His SCERTS model privileges "spontaneous" speech over echolalic and scripted speech.
He points out some issues with intervention "for autism" in the introduction but still supports plenty of things that are "for autism" later.
He points out that "unpredictable behavior" usually means that the person describing or observing us doesn't understand the pattern, but still describes things as unpredictable.
He points out that we might find different things challenging than neurotypical children. He misses that running out of gas faster under higher stress doesn't imply a lower threshold or a smaller tank.
He argues against portraying autism as a checklist of behaviors, but then tends to start anecdotes about children by... listing behaviors.
He talks about trauma but also says that our trauma and flashbacks are not PTSD for reasons that he never explains. (If it walks, talks, and quacks like PTSD... it's probably PTSD.)
He points out that there are good days and bad days, that abilities aren't static. He still treats selective mutism as if it's definitely not a "can't" talk in the anecdotes where it is mentioned, because the person can talk. I can generally speak, but when I stop it's because I can't flipping talk. Though to be fair, if I were to have a conversation with this guy I'd probably type for reasons other than "can't speak."
At the end of it all, there aren't too many people I'd suggest the book for. I wouldn't give it to a parent whose kid was recently diagnosed and who hadn't learned to be all behaviorist yet. I wouldn't give it to someone who knew nothing about autism and knew it. I wouldn't give it to an autistic person, OMG NO WHY.
I would, however, consider suggesting it to an educator or professional (or maybe parent) who had already learned to view autism as a checklist of behaviors and deficits, and who I didn't think was going to stop doing that any time soon. Maybe. Still iffy because of essentially the difference between 1984 and Brave New World: Yes, only one of these is torturing people to control them, the other is quite a bit more subtle in its control and using what people like (along with many other signs of dystopia), but these are both dystopias. One gets into a wrestling match to force eye contact while the other holds a desired toy between the eyes to induce it. Both are pushing for a neurotypical performance at the end of the day. The first is obvious in its abuse, while the second... it's not as immediately and obviously traumatizing but that could make it harder for people to realize the problems and can lead to trauma that others won't believe even was trauma. Both are still dystopias.
Dr. Prizant is teaching people to make a nicer-seeming dystopia and call it accepting autism. It's not neurodiversity, and it's not accepting autism. It is sometimes doing things that make us more comfortable and less anxious, but with the idea that this will make us appear less autistic because autism gets conflated with autistic ways of showing distress.
For folks who'd like to go back and read my more specific thoughts, here's the rest of the series. Note that the part number within my reading is always 1 more than the chapter number because I started with everything not in a chapter.
Everything not in a chapter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
This book is still pathology paradigm/behaviorist model. It's just considering that there is, in fact, some rhyme or reason to the behavior and focusing on the cause of the behavior as a way to reduce it. (Same bad model, just using it to say better things.)
The descriptions of how and why we act are definitely behaviorizing, or at best partially behaviorizing. See Disability in Kidlit here for the explanation of what I mean by that.
For calling autistic people experts, he really doesn't pull much that's credited as being learned from "an autistic adult said this."
What crediting of autistic adults happens leans very white, cisgender, heterosexual, educated, and middle to upper class.
Even the chapter called "The Real Experts" has very little content that is what we say or how we say it. Most of it is anecdotes in which he shows our behavior.
He occasionally conflates tantrums and meltdowns. There is, in fact, a difference.
Dr. Prizant is far more trusting of therapies and professionals in general/by default than I can trust or endorse. He may have shared a parents quote about not being able to trust professionals as far as you can throw them, but his writing indicates that he himself does trust professionals.
I do not even vaguely trust the reader (or really trust Dr. Prizant) on what the "successes" we celebrate are. The goals described read too much like "acting less autistic" (but by reducing anxiety!) in ways that conflate "acting autistic" with "showing distress in autistic-typical ways."
This book minimizes some major problems: electric shock and other painful punishments are depicted as a thing of the past, Lovaas as one of the first autism experts (never mind that he's one of the people who used shock,) and similar.
There are times where a trait he mentions is relevant and makes a "lack of social X" argument redundant or unneeded, but he makes the "lack of social X" argument anyways.
One case here is a students refusal to complete an assignment that he can't make sense of being explained with not understanding that he should make an attempt anyways to please the teacher, rather than "Ok but this is so inaccessible that there is no attempt I can make."
Also there's the bit where we have a communication disability, and we're pretty explicitly taught not to express discomfort or displeasure, but apparently our not communicating when things are bothering us is because we lack this social instinct?
There is an overarching pattern where Dr. Prizant comes up with a good point but doesn't follow his own logic fully.
He writes his dissertation on functions of echolalia (and does research on functions of scripting,) finding that they have all the same functions as spontaneous language, but then aims to reduce scripted speech. His SCERTS model privileges "spontaneous" speech over echolalic and scripted speech.
He points out some issues with intervention "for autism" in the introduction but still supports plenty of things that are "for autism" later.
He points out that "unpredictable behavior" usually means that the person describing or observing us doesn't understand the pattern, but still describes things as unpredictable.
He points out that we might find different things challenging than neurotypical children. He misses that running out of gas faster under higher stress doesn't imply a lower threshold or a smaller tank.
He argues against portraying autism as a checklist of behaviors, but then tends to start anecdotes about children by... listing behaviors.
He talks about trauma but also says that our trauma and flashbacks are not PTSD for reasons that he never explains. (If it walks, talks, and quacks like PTSD... it's probably PTSD.)
He points out that there are good days and bad days, that abilities aren't static. He still treats selective mutism as if it's definitely not a "can't" talk in the anecdotes where it is mentioned, because the person can talk. I can generally speak, but when I stop it's because I can't flipping talk. Though to be fair, if I were to have a conversation with this guy I'd probably type for reasons other than "can't speak."
At the end of it all, there aren't too many people I'd suggest the book for. I wouldn't give it to a parent whose kid was recently diagnosed and who hadn't learned to be all behaviorist yet. I wouldn't give it to someone who knew nothing about autism and knew it. I wouldn't give it to an autistic person, OMG NO WHY.
I would, however, consider suggesting it to an educator or professional (or maybe parent) who had already learned to view autism as a checklist of behaviors and deficits, and who I didn't think was going to stop doing that any time soon. Maybe. Still iffy because of essentially the difference between 1984 and Brave New World: Yes, only one of these is torturing people to control them, the other is quite a bit more subtle in its control and using what people like (along with many other signs of dystopia), but these are both dystopias. One gets into a wrestling match to force eye contact while the other holds a desired toy between the eyes to induce it. Both are pushing for a neurotypical performance at the end of the day. The first is obvious in its abuse, while the second... it's not as immediately and obviously traumatizing but that could make it harder for people to realize the problems and can lead to trauma that others won't believe even was trauma. Both are still dystopias.
Dr. Prizant is teaching people to make a nicer-seeming dystopia and call it accepting autism. It's not neurodiversity, and it's not accepting autism. It is sometimes doing things that make us more comfortable and less anxious, but with the idea that this will make us appear less autistic because autism gets conflated with autistic ways of showing distress.
For folks who'd like to go back and read my more specific thoughts, here's the rest of the series. Note that the part number within my reading is always 1 more than the chapter number because I started with everything not in a chapter.
Everything not in a chapter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
October 6, 2022
I could barely stomach the author’s note and DNFed quiet early on. As an autistic person, this made me feel queasy.
Questionable Item #1 is the use of person-first language which is very unpopular with the adult autistic community.
Questionable item #2 is his big stress on female or male pronouns—ignoring that a very large portion of autistic fall somewhere in the middle. We are more likely to be trans and non-binary than neurotypical people, and those experiences should be included!
Questionable item #3 is his disclaimer on how 4 out of 5 autistics are male … without adding that there are so few female autistics because the diagnostic criteria were made with a subject group of young, white, heterosexual men. We are under diagnosed and sorely overlooked. Most of us go our whole lives without being diagnosed; those who are diagnosed usually aren’t until adulthood.
Questionable item #4 isn’t just the authors fault but … CAN WE GET BOOKS ABOUT AUTISTIC PEOPLE THAT 1) are written by us and 2) include our very vibrant community? This felt like someone who is very unknowledgeable in the modern day autistic community and only spent time with autistic people in clinical settings.
Questionable Item #1 is the use of person-first language which is very unpopular with the adult autistic community.
Questionable item #2 is his big stress on female or male pronouns—ignoring that a very large portion of autistic fall somewhere in the middle. We are more likely to be trans and non-binary than neurotypical people, and those experiences should be included!
Questionable item #3 is his disclaimer on how 4 out of 5 autistics are male … without adding that there are so few female autistics because the diagnostic criteria were made with a subject group of young, white, heterosexual men. We are under diagnosed and sorely overlooked. Most of us go our whole lives without being diagnosed; those who are diagnosed usually aren’t until adulthood.
Questionable item #4 isn’t just the authors fault but … CAN WE GET BOOKS ABOUT AUTISTIC PEOPLE THAT 1) are written by us and 2) include our very vibrant community? This felt like someone who is very unknowledgeable in the modern day autistic community and only spent time with autistic people in clinical settings.
May 9, 2025
Holy crow, can I give more than five stars? I want to give this more than five stars.
6 stars. Invaluable advice for parents and professionals that I'll sum up as two fundamentals: people with autism are people who happen to have autism; and children's behaviors can be traced back to a "why" and then that "why" can be addressed to constructively address the behaviors.
And also Fundamental Three: context is everything.
7 stars. Relatable af. Reassuring af. 8 stars.
6 stars. Invaluable advice for parents and professionals that I'll sum up as two fundamentals: people with autism are people who happen to have autism; and children's behaviors can be traced back to a "why" and then that "why" can be addressed to constructively address the behaviors.
And also Fundamental Three: context is everything.
7 stars. Relatable af. Reassuring af. 8 stars.
January 9, 2016
There were a lot of good thoughts and good advice in this book but I was put off by some of the language and Prizant's surprising lack of familiarity with autistic culture - specifically that he is either not aware or doesn't respect that autistic people have reclaimed words like "autistic" and "stimming." I think it is still an excellent read for professionals, parents, teachers, and anyone else who needs to have explained to them that autistic people have thoughts and feelings just like any other human being.
February 9, 2023
This book felt very repetitive to me. It just seemed like a bunch of stories of how the author connected with autistic kids and allowed them to be who they are rather than force them to stop behaviours that are helping them cope. These were nice to hear but it didn’t give me any practical tips about what to do with my own kid.
October 5, 2015
Definitely one of the best books I've read on Autism and Asperger's. Prizant takes a very inclusive, whole-child approach. He emphasizes observation and listening in order to understand individuals with autism. I love his focus on asking "why" in the face of puzzling behaviors. He looks for underlying stressors and is always searching for ways to communicate and help. A very positive approach.
April 26, 2022
Esta bien pero definitivamente pudo ser mucho mejor si tuviera un enfoque mas adulto.
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September 12, 2015
Finally, we have a truly humanistic perspective on autism. If everyone read this book, there would be a lot more tolerance and understanding of neurodiversity in the world. Prizant provides readers with a deep understanding of the strengths, challenges, and coping efforts of individuals with autism. He carefully balances an understanding of autism as a difference in neurological wiring with an understanding that the word autism does not limit or wholly define an individual. All autistic behaviors are human behaviors, first and foremost, and Prizant points out how the behaviorists have been focusing on "deficits" a bit too much. He emphasises the importance of emotional regulation and the importance of parents and therapists who have an intuitive sense of how to connect with a child with autism. The only thing missing from this book is a reference to nonviolent communication (NVC), which would be a natural complement to Prizant's SCERTS model. Otherwise, I applaud Prizant for going against the behaviorist stream, and helping society embrace neurodiversity.
January 16, 2023
Read something by an actual autistic person instead of this book
October 23, 2024
Kiekviena knyga apie autizmą suteikia progą suprasti daugiau apie unikaliuosius žmones.
July 7, 2020
Book flop for me. I got about 60% of the way through it before giving up. The book followed the same format: he’d make an argument then illustrate it with experiences from his work. After awhile, it got tedious to me because I feel that everything in this book could be ascertained by simply talking to autistic people. There was a lot of reinforcing of autistic stereotypes, which was concerning to me since this was supposed to be “a different way of seeing autism”. The author also made contradictory statements throughout. For example, he argues that autistic kids want to do well, just like typical kids, then said that autistic kids aren’t motivated to do well when talking about academic settings. I appreciated that he took great pains to explain how autistic people are as intelligent, loving, and ambitious as the next person, but then he repeatedly said that “high functioning” autistics could only be relied upon sometimes to provide insight into autism (instead of those with higher support needs, who helped inform his “findings”). This is not the case, and it’s concerning coming from an author who is trying to make the case that autism is just another way of being. I agree with this case he is pleading. I just don’t think he did so very effectively. I think this author has a ways to go in terms of embracing neurodiversity and that autistic writers and advocates off far more integral resource for obtaining better knowledge. That being said, I think this book would offer valuable insight to parents who are looking for a professional’s insight and who are not ready to engage with the real experts who have lived experience. It’s a good jumping off point, but I’d rather go straight to the source.
March 2, 2022
If you may ever encounter a person with autism spectrum disorder (you will), but especially if you work with people who are autistic you must read. But don’t just read it, open your mind and understand the importance of what is being said. Connection over everything.
January 10, 2021
At points I found this too positive, viewing autism’s difficulties primarily through a social lens, avoiding the inherent neurological differences
March 8, 2024
Anyone who has any association with someone on the spectrum (teachers, parents, spouse, friend, relative) would benefit from reading this book. It is very eye-opening.
November 22, 2015
I would like to thank Simon & Schuster for providing me with a free ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an open and honest review.
If you haven’t guessed from my rating – this is a fantastic book! Everyone – and I do mean EVERYONE – who interacts with children and teens on the spectrum should have a copy of (and read) this book.
How wonderful to see such an excellent mind set about how to approach and interact with those on the spectrum. As a mum to a newly diagnosed HFASD son I have approached reading books on the subject with trepidation. Mostly due to feedback from adult friends on the spectrum as to how WRONG books on ASD can be. Some of that trepidation is due to me reading books that treat ASD as a traumatic loss to you, the parent, and other stupid mindsets that go against my grain and concepts of how I want to help raise my son.
‘Uniquely Human’, on the other hand, is brilliant. The author Mr Prizant shares very similar outlooks on how to interact with those on the spectrum and I have gained a lot of positive information and insight from his book.
It allows the reader to learn more about ‘the spectrum’ without pigeonholing our children to specifics. Not all ON the spectrum will act in a text book fashion, and ‘Uniquely Human’ explains this, embraces this and tries to help you realise that it’s perfectly fine. Who needs text book children? Either on the spectrum or off! I just want happy and healthy children who I can help learn to grow, function and achieve their own goals in life. And I really do feel this book will help me find some of the best methods to use to help aide my son on his journey.
A really insightful and helpful book.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. In fact, as I’ve been reading it I’ve already been talking about it with my son’s teachers and other ‘helpers’. As I’ve said already, anyone who interacts regularly with children on the spectrum should read this book. It’s not a manual to ‘Autistic children’ – it’s a guide to help you be a better person when working with those on the spectrum. The book is there to help you, the reader, understand the spectrum better, rather than try and manipulate a child on the spectrum away from their natural behaviour to something you would prefer.
Would I buy this book for myself? Yes I would. And by the time you read this review it will probably be on my book buying wish list! I want to own a copy I can to turn when needed to help me remember there might be a better way to approach certain situations. I want my husband to read it so that when I send him a text saying ‘dysregulation moment’ he knows what I mean and is as prepared to help as I am! I want my whole family and friends to read it to realise I’m not teaching my son weird and quirky habits… I’m simply working along and encouraging his own growth and self-worth through his own naturally quirky habits. Weird is good in our house. We embrace weird and are proud of it.
In summary: Not a manual on how to raise a child or teen on the spectrum. ‘Uniquely Human’ is more a helpful guide for you (the non-spectrum person) to get a glimpse onto the spectrum and to learn to adapt to and respect your child’s outlook on life. I cannot sing praises high enough for this book!
If you haven’t guessed from my rating – this is a fantastic book! Everyone – and I do mean EVERYONE – who interacts with children and teens on the spectrum should have a copy of (and read) this book.
How wonderful to see such an excellent mind set about how to approach and interact with those on the spectrum. As a mum to a newly diagnosed HFASD son I have approached reading books on the subject with trepidation. Mostly due to feedback from adult friends on the spectrum as to how WRONG books on ASD can be. Some of that trepidation is due to me reading books that treat ASD as a traumatic loss to you, the parent, and other stupid mindsets that go against my grain and concepts of how I want to help raise my son.
‘Uniquely Human’, on the other hand, is brilliant. The author Mr Prizant shares very similar outlooks on how to interact with those on the spectrum and I have gained a lot of positive information and insight from his book.
It allows the reader to learn more about ‘the spectrum’ without pigeonholing our children to specifics. Not all ON the spectrum will act in a text book fashion, and ‘Uniquely Human’ explains this, embraces this and tries to help you realise that it’s perfectly fine. Who needs text book children? Either on the spectrum or off! I just want happy and healthy children who I can help learn to grow, function and achieve their own goals in life. And I really do feel this book will help me find some of the best methods to use to help aide my son on his journey.
A really insightful and helpful book.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes I would. In fact, as I’ve been reading it I’ve already been talking about it with my son’s teachers and other ‘helpers’. As I’ve said already, anyone who interacts regularly with children on the spectrum should read this book. It’s not a manual to ‘Autistic children’ – it’s a guide to help you be a better person when working with those on the spectrum. The book is there to help you, the reader, understand the spectrum better, rather than try and manipulate a child on the spectrum away from their natural behaviour to something you would prefer.
Would I buy this book for myself? Yes I would. And by the time you read this review it will probably be on my book buying wish list! I want to own a copy I can to turn when needed to help me remember there might be a better way to approach certain situations. I want my husband to read it so that when I send him a text saying ‘dysregulation moment’ he knows what I mean and is as prepared to help as I am! I want my whole family and friends to read it to realise I’m not teaching my son weird and quirky habits… I’m simply working along and encouraging his own growth and self-worth through his own naturally quirky habits. Weird is good in our house. We embrace weird and are proud of it.
In summary: Not a manual on how to raise a child or teen on the spectrum. ‘Uniquely Human’ is more a helpful guide for you (the non-spectrum person) to get a glimpse onto the spectrum and to learn to adapt to and respect your child’s outlook on life. I cannot sing praises high enough for this book!
August 31, 2015
Everyone that lives or works with a person with ASD has to read this book.
As a professional working in various educational programs for students with ASD, I often felt as if there was something more we can be doing to benefit these kids. Dr. Prizant has given a voice to the various strategies, thoughts and responses I've used in my career I just viewed as gut reactions while working in the field. There are times I have felt criticized by colleagues in the field for not following a popularly accepted approach as closely as I should, it is nice to know there is a niche for me out there and my thoughts are validated by research in child development and in the field of autism. Thank you for sharing your approach Dr. Prizant, this is a resource I will refer to a hundred times over.
As a professional working in various educational programs for students with ASD, I often felt as if there was something more we can be doing to benefit these kids. Dr. Prizant has given a voice to the various strategies, thoughts and responses I've used in my career I just viewed as gut reactions while working in the field. There are times I have felt criticized by colleagues in the field for not following a popularly accepted approach as closely as I should, it is nice to know there is a niche for me out there and my thoughts are validated by research in child development and in the field of autism. Thank you for sharing your approach Dr. Prizant, this is a resource I will refer to a hundred times over.
September 7, 2022
Autism is a spectrum, which inherently means no single book can fully represent a single individual’s experience. It’s no surprise, then, that I found some parts of this book resonated with me and others not as much. I'm taking a wild guess here, but I think this book is probably most useful to those whose children are Level 2 autistic, experiencing a full but not necessarily extreme range of autistic characteristics. Each chapter held something that gave me a new thought or idea, though, and it was well worth the listen. I greatly appreciate Prizant’s expertise in this space, and the autistic community definitely benefits from having his voice added to the mix.
August 7, 2015
Necessary book offering alternative philosophies to ABA and other rigid ASD therapies. Stresses the importance of imprinting positive emotional memories and fostering general happiness in kids to both enrich their lives and - incidentally - promote learning growth. Well-written and structured by someone with over forty years of field work. Recommended for parents, therapists, and teachers.
September 2, 2022
Worth a read if your current understanding of autism involves puzzle pieces and cures. Otherwise probably not that enlightening.
January 7, 2016
Quick, brilliant read for ANYONE... everyone.... all of you. :-)
January 10, 2016
Prizant’s primary message, that autistic people are fully human, and as such, autistic behavior is human behavior, is critically important. So is his insistence that before trying to get rid of unusual behavior, it is critical to ask what that behavior means to the person doing it. His willingness to acknowledge that extinguishing atypical behavior can be the wrong approach is incredibly rare and refreshing. Compared to the vast majority of autism books written by and for parents and professionals, this approach is so much of an improvement that I can’t say I don’t recommend Uniquely Human.
Where I struggle more is with some of the basic assumptions that Prizant makes about what autism is. In large part, he defines autism as a “disorder of trust,” with disruptions in three particular areas: trust in one’s body, trust in one’s environment, and (he considers this most significant) trust in other people. He assumes that the primary reason trust in people is particularly difficult is an innate inability to read body language and understand the norms that guide everyday social interactions.
Of course, this is almost certainly true (at least in part), for at least some (possibly many) autistic people. It is also almost certainly an overgeneralization. People with disabilities are not treated in the same way as people without disabilities, no matter how hard those around them try to make it so. If an autistic person with significant speech difficulties picks up social rules from watching interactions between non-disabled peers, then tries to apply them herself, the results will not be the same. This is true no matter how good her comprehension is. Even people with more subtle impairments can stand out as different in ways that affect others’ responses to them. For many autistic people, motor, sensory, cognitive and/or language impairments may be more fundamental, with social impairments occurring more as a consequence. For others, these impairments may be misinterpreted as being primarily social. In any case, the response that other people have to disability, and the stress of being routinely misunderstood are certainly reason enough to lose trust in other people.
I worry that Prizant’s seeming immediate acceptance that autism is primarily a social disability makes it far too easy to prematurely decide the answer has been reached, after following his instructions to ask “why?” He provides an example of a child who solves an algebra problem, but refuses to explain how he got his answer. His assumption is that the child simply lacks an innate desire to please the teacher. While that may be better than assuming the child is acting out of intentional defiance, there are a number of other plausible explanations. For example, there is a considerable difference between the internal logic of solving a math problem and the syntax and exchange of conversational speech. In childhood and adolescence, I always found it difficult, sometimes downright painful to bridge the gap between the two, and it could become impossible under pressure. I was also very deeply concerned about pleasing my teachers. Assuming my primary problem was a lack of social motivation would not have been a kindness.
Overall, the practical suggestions that come out of Prizant’s use of the dysregulation model are great. Not being constantly in a kid’s face, sincerely listening to and trying to understand communication attempts (whether by speech, AAC, or body language), providing opportunities to make authentic choices, not attempting to get rid of harmless but atypical behavior that makes life easier — all of this should go without saying. It doesn’t, and I’m so glad that somebody with professional clout did say it. The main place I’m leery of his suggestions is the way he talks about using children’s interests as lures. Using the things that someone cares most about to tempt them into doing the things that are most difficult and painful for them is inherently risky. I don’t think Prizant fully appreciates that.
What I'm less fond of is that it seems Prizant only views atypical behavior as legitimate when it's a coping mechanism. Sometimes, the way I move my hands is because of joy. Or because I’m tracing the contour of something I see that I’m interested in. I’m okay with that. I don’t want to get rid of it. (Trying would be dysregulating, but that doesn’t mean that I did it in the first place because of dysregulation.) If that makes some people not interested in getting to know me, fine. They can go their way. I’ll go mine. It wouldn’t have worked out well for us to be friends in the long run anyway.
(There’s also a serious issue with oversimplification and conflation of “unacceptable” versus “unexpected” behavior. I think it’s coming from an over-reliance on the Social Thinking model. Behavior that violates completely reasonable boundaries and behavior that just looks weird are treated as basically equivalent.)
Overall, I can’t not recommend this book, because he gives concrete examples that show that treating autistic people as real people worthy of respect is a workable option in education and therapy. That’s still far too rare. I just have some serious reservations as well.
October 11, 2023
This was my first audio book!!
I’ve come to the realization that I mentally cannot read nonfiction and cannot listen to fiction, therefor I will listen to nonfiction and read fiction. Which will work out perfectly because I’ve really been wanting to read more nonfiction but just can’t read physical copies.
I liked this book, it was a little long at parts but I loved learning more about autism and applying it to work
Also the Libby app is so cool thanks Libby
I’ve come to the realization that I mentally cannot read nonfiction and cannot listen to fiction, therefor I will listen to nonfiction and read fiction. Which will work out perfectly because I’ve really been wanting to read more nonfiction but just can’t read physical copies.
I liked this book, it was a little long at parts but I loved learning more about autism and applying it to work
Also the Libby app is so cool thanks Libby
June 11, 2022
‘Despite the fears some professionals instill, there is no limit on a person’s potential. For all of us- including people with autism- development is a lifelong process.’
Dr Barry M. Prizant has dedicated much of his professional life to raising awareness about autism and also helping families and schools implement support plans for autistic individuals. His book which I recently finished, not only shines a positive and hopeful light upon autism, but also repudiates many stigmas surrounding this particular spectrum of neurological diversity.
A series of informative and playful accounts which Dr Pizant has experienced during his career with autism demonstrates his resolute conviction that autistic individuals are humans with the potential to strive emotionally, socially and academically with the right support, despite the false and negative labels that mainstream myths may attach to them.
I quite enjoyed reading the book. It was easy to understand, and also delved into the background of behaviours which are labelled with autism but in actual fact are just normal human behaviours, only amplified as a means of communication or regulation.
It was all very specific to Barry’s experiences as a doctor though, not so much facts on autism but personal anecdotes of encounters throughout his profession.
Also, not sure if I’m just reading in between the lines too much but at one point he referred to his work in Dubai and mentioned that mothers in burqas/ niqabs were asking the same questions about autism as those he worked with in the west (had to mention Isr*el of course), but he somewhat declared it in a manner of surprise, a bit like ‘wow even these women who are dressed in niqabs want to LEARN?!!’
I understand that it was probably the nice intention of providing representation, but just a general note for all writers- Yes, Muslim women also educate themselves and have the right to do so, in this case about autism. We’re not passive members of communities/society.
Dr Barry M. Prizant has dedicated much of his professional life to raising awareness about autism and also helping families and schools implement support plans for autistic individuals. His book which I recently finished, not only shines a positive and hopeful light upon autism, but also repudiates many stigmas surrounding this particular spectrum of neurological diversity.
A series of informative and playful accounts which Dr Pizant has experienced during his career with autism demonstrates his resolute conviction that autistic individuals are humans with the potential to strive emotionally, socially and academically with the right support, despite the false and negative labels that mainstream myths may attach to them.
I quite enjoyed reading the book. It was easy to understand, and also delved into the background of behaviours which are labelled with autism but in actual fact are just normal human behaviours, only amplified as a means of communication or regulation.
It was all very specific to Barry’s experiences as a doctor though, not so much facts on autism but personal anecdotes of encounters throughout his profession.
Also, not sure if I’m just reading in between the lines too much but at one point he referred to his work in Dubai and mentioned that mothers in burqas/ niqabs were asking the same questions about autism as those he worked with in the west (had to mention Isr*el of course), but he somewhat declared it in a manner of surprise, a bit like ‘wow even these women who are dressed in niqabs want to LEARN?!!’
I understand that it was probably the nice intention of providing representation, but just a general note for all writers- Yes, Muslim women also educate themselves and have the right to do so, in this case about autism. We’re not passive members of communities/society.
November 24, 2021
This book is valuable in that it advocates kindness and understanding rather than trying to get the autistic child to behave "normally." And that's mostly what it does, with many examples. The examples are good, and illustrate some of the cruelties that autistic children experience. They come from the author's 40-year career in working with autistic kids.
The book does lack some things. It is mostly about young people, and doesn't have a lot of information about autistic adults. I think it's important that caregivers are exposed to more voices from the viewpoint of autistic people, including adults who can say more about their childhood experiences. The examples are mostly middle- and upper-class families in which the parents have the resources to advocate for their kids and be heard. And the author's long career means that he's experienced a lot of incorrect theories and treatment. He doesn't give much history, which is fine with me, but he doesn't even mention Bettleheim, and mentions Lovaas once, almost favorably.
I hope that the book has resulted in some amelioration. It should be required reading for caregivers, teachers, school administrators, case workers, and other people who work with these kids. And parents.
Again, kindness. Working on understanding. Not judging. Not having the goal of making a child have only the desired behaviors, which often results in taking away necessary coping skills. Recognizing the child's strengths. Examples. Not necessarily enough material for a full book, but it's easy enough to read.
The book does lack some things. It is mostly about young people, and doesn't have a lot of information about autistic adults. I think it's important that caregivers are exposed to more voices from the viewpoint of autistic people, including adults who can say more about their childhood experiences. The examples are mostly middle- and upper-class families in which the parents have the resources to advocate for their kids and be heard. And the author's long career means that he's experienced a lot of incorrect theories and treatment. He doesn't give much history, which is fine with me, but he doesn't even mention Bettleheim, and mentions Lovaas once, almost favorably.
I hope that the book has resulted in some amelioration. It should be required reading for caregivers, teachers, school administrators, case workers, and other people who work with these kids. And parents.
Again, kindness. Working on understanding. Not judging. Not having the goal of making a child have only the desired behaviors, which often results in taking away necessary coping skills. Recognizing the child's strengths. Examples. Not necessarily enough material for a full book, but it's easy enough to read.
September 21, 2015
In addition to giving fantastic information on Autism, this author gives first hand knowledge of how to handle different situations that might occur with a child. He has gone into homes, schools, institutions and after studying different children in their environment, has discovered some unique ways to empower the child and enlighten the teachers. Teachers who have studied these behaviors need to listen to the child and then be able to access the situation based on the childs needs/experiences/language and other communicable techniques. The author is brillant in this book to give examples of his own observations and how issues might best be handled. Loved the book....recommend to every teacher/parent who might suspect that they have an autistic child. It is certainly a book that a parent of an autistic child needs to read.
January 13, 2016
What a phenomenal book! As a parent of 2 children on the spectrum, I received a wealth of knowledge from Barry Prizant and found myself regularly highlighting passages to share with my husband. Prizant has such a wonderful, respectful approach to understanding autism. It was very refreshing to read! One thing that stuck in my head is his use of the term "Enthusiasms" to replace the oft-used negative term "Obsessions" to refer to current interests of an individual on the spectrum. I will definitely be recommending this to other parents in my local AS support group. Thank you, Dr. Prizant! I really needed this.
September 13, 2015
MUST-READ! Absolutely a must read for every parent, family member, educator, provider of care, and even those who want educate themselves with Autism. Finally a book with such deep understanding of Autism Spectrum for what it is: ..."Autism isn't an illness. It's a different way of being human..." Indeed! Truer words have never been written. Highly recommend reading this wonderful, compassionate book.
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