The time has come to tell ds

[frizzcat]

I know many of you have asked this question before so try not to yawn
Ds is 8yrs ASD - and I feel the time has come to start explaining to him about his dx.
What I need are some book recommendations preferably with pictures about ASD and what it means or children who have it.
I know there are books about aspergers but I need it to be specific about ASD as that's his dx and I want him to be clear about it.

Any recommendations are welcome and any experience you have had of telling your own dc

I couldn't find a decent book about ASD for a child with ASD. They all seemed to require too much self awareness. I told my DS2 myself when he was 11. It would have been over his head before that, depends on your DC.

I tried to balance negatives with positives, and emphasised different rather than disability. Ie, Brains are a bit like computers and yours is wired up a bit differently to most of your friends. It means you are really good at eg, remembering facts, computer games, maths, whatever, big it up anyway. But you find eg, waiting, thinking up ideas for stories, playing with friends difficult. Then some examples of great people with ASD/AS (no need to distinguish) Bill Gates, Einstein. All those examples you hated your friends bringing up!

I told DS2 before secondary because I wanted him to hear the words ASD or autistic etc from me and to associate them with something positive, not hearing them as an insult.

Hopefully someone will have some book recomendations.

Recommendations

BTW, he was totally unfazed!

Hi, I have been looking for books about autism as I am working with a few teenagers on the Autistic spectrum and want to understand more. I have the Jessica Kingsley publications catalogue and there are two books for children/young people: 'I am Special' by Peter Vermeulen and 'Different Like Me, My book of Autism Heroes' by Jennifer Elder.

Cheers Ellen - I'm trying to weigh up when and how at the moment - it's just that when he's upset, he will ask me what's wrong with him, almost like he knows he shouldn't be that upset. Much like your ds I don't think he's ready for just a verbal explanation at this age. Hence I'm looking for some book support on it.
Harlot - thanks for that I'll take a look - love your name by the way