Books : Elijah's Cup: A Family's Journey into the Community and Culture of High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome
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Type of bind: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 242
Printing Date: March 31, 2002
Sale Popularity Level: 1670981
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Faced with her two-year-old toddler's precipitous bout with epilepsy and his puzzling behaviors, Valerie Paradiz took a bold and unusual path, coming to terms with and ultimately embracing the strange beauty of her son Elijah's special neurological disorder, which was diagnosed as Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. In 'Elijah's Cup,' Paradiz tells the powerful story of her family's struggle with her son's disease, one characterized by social awkwardness, literal-mindedness, and a fixation with particular subjects and interests. Like attention deficit disorder (ADD), dyslexia, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Asperger's has exploded in diagnosis in the last decade, reconfiguring the known incidence of autism in the population with estimates as high as one in fifty people. Ever since autism was 'discovered' by researchers in the 1940s, the disability has been under the strict purview of professionals in medicine, psychiatry, and education. Like the deaf community, autistics themselves have had little voice in expressing their real experience and needs. They were framed as too 'sick' to be conscious of their own internal lives, too 'mentally ill' to possess an identity. All this has changed. Today there is a blossoming movement of autistic self-advocacy groups and alliances that pose challenging questions to the medical status quo. A fascinating, independent expression of another way of life, full of quirkiness, hardship, and humor, has emerged. 'Elijah's Cup' is a provocative and pioneering book that pushes the envelope of what we know about autism. Were Andy Warhol, Albert Einstein, and the comedian Andy Kaufman, whom we usually think of as brillianteccentrics, autistic? Can these figures serve as role models to this community? 'Elijah's Cup' offers a refreshing take on mental disability from the perspective of civil rights, history, and the arts. From encounters with the founders of the very first civil rights organizations for autistics, who guide Paradiz and her son toward a sense of community and self-respect, and with visual artists, who share with Elijah their special ability to 'think in pictures,' Elijah reaches extraordinary heights in his sociability and emotional well-being. In this utterly absorbing and inspiring narrative, Paradiz also reveals her own shadow syndrome, which afflicts many family members of autistics. She is a 'cousin,' a genetic link to her son's autism. Standing as she does on this cultural borderline, Paradiz is a sensitive translator between two worlds, revealing a groundbreaking insider's view of the beauty of minds hidden in the shadows of autism.
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Rated by buyers -
Upon completing Elijah's Cup I sat back and said "Wow". This is one powerful story of perseverance by a heroic mom and her son. Several things resonated while reading Paradiz's work, I'll mention just three of them here. Having a special needs child requires sacrifice and patience. Valerie exemplified what sacrifice and patience is all about spending countless hours with Elijah doing redundant activities such as repeating the same words over and over, trying on clown hats, filling balloons with helium and letting them go, and numerous other tedious activities that were essential for Elijah's growth. Taking care of her child meant that her personal career ambitions had to be put on hold indefinitely. This was especially challenging for a financially struggling mom.
I found it especially interesting that at one point Valerie did have some work in the form of interpreting some of Albert Einstein's work from German to English. In doing this she learned many of the characteristics of Einstein that suggests he too was on the autism spectrum.
In another anecdote that displayed courage Valerie had to defuse a situation that made another child very apprehensive in being near Elijah. Her management of the situation was commendable. The reader can really feel the stress of the moment as she states that when she walked away she was "shaking".
Elijah's Cup is a very moving read. It is well written and additional resources regarding autism and other famous individuals on the spectrum such as Einstein and Andy Warhol are included. Highly recommended from a dad with two children on the spectrum.
Rated by buyers -
Thank you for this miracle of a book. This is a beautiful and honest story about a very special family. The author has done a huge service for the autism community with this exquisitely written work.
Rated by buyers -
Elijah's Cup is not ony a superb read that I would recommend to all teachers of children but also an adventurous journey into what it is to be autistic as well as to have aspergers syndrome. Paradiz writes beautifully, bringing her story to life in graphic detail while informing her reader in a broad and comprehensive manner concerning both Autism and Aspergers. She has a comprehensive index, bibliography, and reference section that will be of help to many. Tasha Halpert
Rated by buyers -
This was one of the very first books I read after discovering my son had Asperger's. Valerie Paradiz's insight, vulnerability, and unswerving truth have helped me every day in dealing with my children... The joys and miracles, and the difficult, difficult challenges. I truly love this book and recommend it for a strong understanding of the human side of asperger's an the challenges a family faces.
Rated by buyers -
Valerie and Ben are devastated when their then 2-year-old son was diagnosed with autism in addition to epilepsy. Ben has trouble accepting the diagnosis and in time the marriage dissolved.
Instead of condemning Elijah to a life of labels and misperceptions about autism, Valerie Paradiz educated her small upstate New York community as well as the world at large in this book about her personal experiences with autism. Her son and father are both on the spectrum and this book is one of many that points out the genetic basis autism has.
Elijah was enrolled in special programs from the age of three and his greatest progress is made at home and with a friend he and Valerie meet. Sharron, an independent artist is herself struggling with Asperger's, the spectrum partner to autism. She recognizes in Elijah similar traits and experiences she contends with and finally receives a diagnosis. She bonded immediately with the boy and was his regular sitter for some years.
I like the way Valerie worked with Elijah; I like the way she taught him more appropriate ways of responding to peers, such as Trevor in the chess club. Trevor came away with empowered with knowledge and a chance to be more accepting of someone he sees as being "different" and Elijah understands what he can do to regulate his behaviors and move more comfortably in social circles.
I like the conversations mother and son had; I also like the outdoor programs for people on the autism/Asperger's (a/A) spectrum that are described in the book. Best of all, having autism is CELEBRATED!
I've banged on the different drum for a long time about how being on the a/A spectrum is something to celebrate. People on the spectrum have novel perceptions and unique insights that many neurotypical (NT) counterparts do not. One misperception is that people with autism all think in pictures, which simply is not true. Ben Levinson, co-author of "Finding Ben" and Sean Barron, co-author of "There's a Boy In Here" are not picture thinkers and neither are many other people on the a/A spectrum.
Meltdowns due to sensory overload are not uncommon among the spectrum. Sadly, the NT world often looks askance at those on the a/A spectrum simply from a lack of understanding of what people with autism contend with on a routine basis. Elijah, for example would vomit during thunderstorms as the noise upset him. I like the way another reviewer said in re a/A, "Vive la difference!" Wave that banner of interlocking puzzle pieces proudly - autism is NOT something to be ashamed of having!
Two songs seem to underscore this book so perfectly - Herman Kelly & Life's "Let's Dance to the Drummer's Beat" and Linda Ronstadt & the Stone Poneys 1968 song, "(Beat of a) Different Drum." With more drums beating, you get quite a tune! With more drums being beaten, you have different drummers!
People on the a/A spectrum enrich the world tremendously. The contributions are NOT limited to Temple Grandin, Andy Warhol and Einstein and other public figures. People with autism also provide ample opportunity to learn acceptance and realize the world is for everybody and not just the NT population. All too often, people on the a/A spectrum are expected to make all the concessions, especially social concessions to the NT world and try to keep track of the Tacit Social Codes & Rules, which always seem to change at the whims of the NT world.
Now let's all march to our different drummers.
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