Living with Jonathan: Lessons in Love, Life and Autism

by Sheila Barton

Overview

Sheila Barton's memoir of autism is inspiring. Finding herself, at thirty years old, with a son with autism and severe learning disabilities, she set about learning how to live a different kind of life and be a different kind of mother. This is the story, told with passion, intelligence and humour, of their journey from darkness into light. It is written out of anguish and anger, but also out of hope and love. The book tells the amazing story of their life together and how they dealt with diagnosis, birth, school, brothers and sisters, travel, therapies, obsessions, grief and sex. Sheila writes movingly of the heartbreak and the joy, the terror and the liberation. This is the story of the triumph of hope and love over pain and sadness, and it is a compelling manifesto for greater understanding of those who are born 'different'. Its ending is one of empowerment and joy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780284194
Publisher:	Watkins Media
Publication date:	01/01/2012
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	230
File size:	293 KB

About the Author

Sheila Barton took a first class degree in theology at Cambridge and then worked as a teacher, lecturer, social worker and manager in the charity sector. When her son, Jonathan, was three he was diagnosed with autism. He is now nearly 30. Her book tells the story of those years - recounting the laughter as well as the sorrow. She makes a powerful plea for respecting difference in people whilst keeping the reader amused, moved and enthralled. This book is not just for people with experience of autism. Jon Snow says 'This is a book we all should read.' Sheila has published articles about autism and disability equality in The Observer, The Guardian, The Times, Nursery World and Disability now. Living with Jonathan is her first book.