Whether it’s a recent diagnosis or you’ve been parenting for a while, autism spectrum disorder can be challenging to understand. However, parents play a key role in educating and supporting their children with autism. With the right tips and training, parents can give their children the tools to succeed in their personal and educational benchmarks.

There are many autism books for parents, but not all give you quality advice. To help your search for books, here are five autism books every parent should read.

Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism

This is a must-read for anyone who cares for someone with autism—siblings, parents, family friends, etc. Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism , by Barry M. Prizant and Tom Fields-Meyer, portrays autism in a positive light and promotes a more understanding and humane approach to autism. Instead of classifying “autistic” behaviors as unacceptable or disruptive, Dr. Prizant describes them as strategies to cope with an overwhelming world.

This book is necessary for parents of children with autism to help them empathize and reason with their children.

Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew

The title says it all. Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew , by Ellen Notbohm, is a great book for parents who recently received their child’s diagnosis. This book outlines 10 strategies that can help parents, family members, and caregivers gain a better understanding of the unique experience people with autism face.

This book will help parents expand their knowledge on how they can support communication differences, social interactions, and behavioral challenges.

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a 13-Year-Old Boy With Autism

The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a 13-Year-Old Boy With Autism , by Naoki Higashida, is the perfect book for parents having trouble understanding their child with autism. This book is written as a series of common questions and answers. This book focuses on how the child feels and why they feel that way. It’s a great book for parents raising a teenager with autism and can help you understand any communication differences between you and your child.

High-Functioning Autism and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Reducing Meltdowns

The book High-Functioning Autism and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Reducing Meltdowns , by Brenda Smith Myles and Ruth Aspy, is a great solution for parents with trouble stopping or easing meltdowns. This book will give you methods to minimize the cycle of meltdowns and helps explain why these meltdowns happen.

It Takes a Village: How To Build a Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family

In the book, It Takes a Village: How to Build a Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family, by Amy Nielsen, you will discover how to surround your child with a supportive and loving village. It Takes a Village provides strategies and advice for parents who need help navigating the role of parent and caregiver. This book was written to help readers appreciate the value of having a village and not feel like a burden when requesting help.

Finding the perfect book to help you along this journey is important. We hope our list of autism books every parent should read will help you support your child and gain a support village. HANDS Center for Autism offers parent training for autism support and will give you strategies and methods perfect for your child. Contact us today for more information.