For autistic children
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For autistic children 〰️
Strange Sayings and Confusing Conversations
by debby elley
illustrated by tim stringer
Autistic kids can be at a disadvantage when it comes to conversations.
Processing auditory information can feel like wading through water when everyone else is using a speed boat.
Just as you’re keeping up, someone switches topics
Literal thinkers may struggle to spot sarcasm, which is so commonly used it’s virtually invisible to others.
Idioms need thinking about - it’s not always easy making sense of them
People are vague and non-specific, leading to anxiety and confusion
This witty collection is full of fictional stories with autistic heroes. In each, children get to learn how to control a conversation so that it works for them - the start of a self-advocacy journey that will help them represent their own needs as they grow.
Each story has:
Relatable young autistic heroes
Family members who either make life more difficult or successfully demonstrate how adults can support autistic children
Dyslexia friendly layout.
Humorous drawings by autistic illustrator Tim Stringer
Additional advice for adults at the end of each story
Check out Pure Innovations’ radio show with Debby chatting about the book here.
“I’m a huge fan of Debby’s writing and was very much looking forward to reading ‘Strange Sayings and Confusing Conversations’ - I was far from disappointed. As a resource this is fabulous; as a piece of writing it is insightful, charming, and hilarious. A fantastic informative text which is also brilliant fun to read.”
For ALL children
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For ALL children 〰️
The Ice Cream Sundae Guide to Autism
BY DEBBY ELLEY AND TORI HOUGHTON
iLLUSTRATED BY J.C. PERRY
“A brilliant, positive, easy to understand explanation of autism for young people. It sums up such a complex condition without stereotyping that all autistic people do X or feel Y making it a great basis for conversations around autism. ”
“I am a Special Education Teacher and was immediately drawn to the idea of this book and had to buy it! I am so glad that I did. I can’t wait to share this with my peers, as I think it would be a wonderful activity for all children in a classroom setting to do (i.e. create their own ice cream sundaes). ”
Explaining autism to a youngster is difficult. So difficult, that some people avoid the subject altogether. Yet understanding your own autism is the first step towards acceptance, self-confidence and eventually self-advocacy.
This best-selling book has become the definitive guide for children.
Traditional definitions of autism have reflected the ‘medical model’ of disability. This focuses on what’s missing, or ‘impairments’ and implies that a person needs to be fixed.
This book follows the ‘social model’ instead. This accepts that differences are present, but suggests that society can easily (and should) adapt to them. Your child isn’t a faulty ‘neurotypical’ - they are a perfectly brilliant, beautiful autistic person.
What you’ll find inside:
Easy to read, simple explanations with full page illustrations.
Cute puzzles to illustrate each point.
A flexible definition explaining how different aspects of autism can dominate according to the environment.
Simple guidance on how to help and support.
Also includes a lesson plan for teachers and photocopiable colouring sheet.
Suitable for autistic children, siblings and peers ages 7 and up.
In the book we discuss how even potential sounds can cause anxiety to people who are noise sensitive.
Can you spot the things that might be able to make a sudden noise here?
“We have read many children’s based books to explain diagnosis to our son and his siblings but this is by far and away the best, which I knew it would be having read the authors’ previous books and magazines.
Our son’s younger brother has always struggled with understanding why his brother does the things he does and how he doesn’t understand what he’s doing. Despite everything we’ve done and read with him, he has still been so frustrated.
We read the Ice Cream Sundae book today and it was like a light bulb went on and his behaviour towards his brother has change dramatically today.
Our oldest now has a vocabulary to talk about his diagnosis and the ice cream analogy really made sense to him.”
For parents
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For parents 〰️
“ It reads like a conversation with a wise and trusted friend and is in turn moving and wickedly funny.”
“This book is full of real-life humour, tongue-in-cheek truth telling, and front-line, in-the-trenches parenting know-how. ”
“Bright, witty, and upbeat, Debby Elley’s book is a heartfelt plea for people to understand the world as those with autism see it, backed up by lots of practical examples of how to do it. As entertaining to read as it is thought-provoking. ”
FIFTEEN THINGS THEY FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT AUTISM
BY DEBBY ELLEY
PUBLISHED BY JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERS
Bringing up an autistic child can be lonely. The usual parenting techniques don’t always apply and there’s no manual telling you what to do instead.
Carers are often caught in a maelstrom of emotions - blaming themselves for not being ‘ahead of the game’ and being the perfect parent.
Worried about what they need to learn, always feeling as if they are falling short of meeting a young person’s needs.
Batting away misconceptions from friends and relatives.
Being an advocate at school.
Trying to feel okay when others brag about their kids, because yours has done so much just to survive in a world that wasn’t adjusted for them.
The co-founder of AuKids magazine, Debby Elley, went through all this and more. By the time her autistic twins were teenagers, she decided that parents in the same position needed a virtual arm around their shoulders and a book that would make a parent’s learning curve quicker and easier.
This book takes Debby’s personal experiences and combines them with knowledge and insight learnt from other families and top professionals, bringing you distilled advice on a range of areas that are commonly difficult to navigate.
Highlights:
A jargon free definition of autism using the now famous ice-cream sundae analogy which Debby created with Aukids magazine co-founder Tori Houghton.
You can’t compare apples with oranges (or you can, but it’s fruitless…). Accepting them for who they are.
Happiness comes from perspective: Living with a label
Learning Aut-Speak: Understanding echolalia
Specialisms make specialists: Valuing special interests
Communication is what happens while you’re waiting for speech: Parenting a non-verbal child
It’s not your place or mine - it’s a bit of both: entering the autistic world.
Hell is other people: tackling problems at school
Rigid thinking can bend: Helping kids to be more flexible
A stitch in time saves 9,000: Preventing meltdowns
When you stop, independence starts: helping them to help themselves
“I read Aukids magazine and saw this book promoted in there. Debby Elley deserves a massive ‘thank you!’ for Aukids magazine, and now for this brilliant book. I am back here on Amazon because, having read it, I am about to order copies to give to all my wider family. Our grandson has just been diagnosed as having autism, and while reading this book, I could see him on almost every page. I hope that reading this book will help all our family to be as supportive and positive as the Elley family. How I would love to meet you all! The book is funny (I laughed out loud at some of it), poignant, deeply moving and so, so full of wisdom, hope and positivism. It is absolutely inspirational, and I am sure will encourage the parents and relations of any child diagnosed with autism. It has already changed my whole approach to our grandson.”
“This reads like a best friend’s guide to autism. Elley’s honesty, warmth, and positive outlook shine through making this a truly readable, relatable and hopeful book. Between the lines there is a wealth of useful information, understanding and valuable signposts to further reading. An especially great read for those new to autism. I highly recommend this book!”
Want to learn more about the thinking behind this parents’ guide to autism? Click here.
Read Debby’s interview with Spectrum Women magazine here.
German translation here.
For parents and teachers
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For parents and teachers 〰️
CHAMPIONING YOUR AUTISTIC TEEN AT SECONDARY SCHOOL
By Debby Elley and Gareth D. Morewood.
Illustrated by Terry Culkin
PUBLISHED BY JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERS
“Reading this was a game changer for us. Packed with ‘real life’ advice from authors who know how parents feel.”
“Quite simply, a masterclass in avoiding crisis and allowing these young students to thrive.”
“This is the most raw and honest, yet inspiring and hopeful book I’ve ever read in regards supporting your autistic child through mainstream education. A truly fabulous book.”
Gareth D. Morewood wrote the book Championing Your Autistic Teen at Secondary School with Debby Elley; it provides a blueprint for how schools and parents can work together to make an environment tailored to the needs of each autistic pupil. Gareth’s approach is underpinned by his Saturation Model - explained briefly here and detailed more fully in the book.
Illustration by Terry Culkin, from Championing Your Autistic Teen at Secondary School
The transition to secondary school can be a daunting time for parents of autistic youngsters, as well as children themselves. Have you selected the right place? What if they don’t really understand your child’s needs? Will they adapt sufficiently – and if not, then what happens?
The good news is that you have the ability as a parent or carer to address these concerns, rather than leaving it all to chance. This book will give you the tools to do just that.
With chapters on choosing a school, preparing the groundwork for collaboration, overcoming obstacles and heading off conflict, this book provides an essential toolkit for parents wanting to get the best for their child from a mainstream school.
Read more from Debby Elley and Gareth D. Morewood in our National Autistic Society article on collaboration between parents and school staff.
“Highly recommended text for families planning transition, also for schools seeking to provide high quality provision for youngsters with autism.”
“Debby and Gareth have combined their respective experiences as parent and professional to create a treasure trove of inclusive principles and practical strategies”
For autistic people and employers
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For autistic people and employers 〰️
JUST THE JOB!
A light-hearted guide to office life for the autistic employee.
By Debby Elley and Maura Campbell.
Illustrated by Tim Stringer
PUBLISHED BY JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERs
Debby Elley of AuKids magazine
Maura Campbell, screenwriter and co-author of Spectrum Women - Autism and Parenting
Illustration by Tim Stringer for Just the Job!
“Very helpful in navigating office life as an autistic person. Weird jargon, dress codes, coffee machine etiquette and what (not) to say about Janet-from-accounting’s new haircut? Maura and Debby have got you covered!”
Smart casual? Close of play? Endless water-cooler discussions about the weather?
Non-autistic adults can behave in baffling ways - and never more so in the maze of unwritten social rules, jargon and ritual that is your average day at the office. Luckily, Maura and Debby (office code cracker extraordinaires) have gone undercover in 'typical' offices for decades to pull together the ultimate survival guide for the autistic employee.
“This book is an absolute must for any autistic person ( actually all neurodivergent people) who want to work in an office environment.
I also feel that it is a valuable educational tool for bosses/ managers and training departments to refer to and get ‘inside’ nuggets of wisdom.
Humour is used throughout to educate, inform and empower all to thrive in the complex world of the office, and this book is a masterpiece, in that it combines all of this to produce a valuable lifeline and resource for the community.
Thank- you Maura and Debby and congratulations to you on writing this best seller!”
Read Brian’s full review and find out more about Just the Job! and other work-related advice at the book’s Facebook page.
Also available as an audio title on Audible
Illustration from the book, by Tim Stringer
“When starting a job in an office, an autistic person can feel as though they have entered an alternative world. This insightful and humorous guide provides a rationale for office customs and translates the idiosyncractic terms. It is only through the eyes of auitsm that you really appreciate the culture and expectations of working in an office. This is essential reading for an autistic person considering or starting work in an office.”