Autism: The Big Book Set of Help!

Author Information: Heather McKay (she/ her, they/them) is an Autistic single mother of two, who holds degrees in Business and Education from RMIT, Cornell, and Monash Universities. A company director and inventor of products for diverse needs, and a self-advocate for autistic and neurodivergent rights. For more information about her company and emerging products visit www.mckayandmckay.com

Autism the Big Book Set of Help! Series,

by Heather L. E. McKay

 

I’m pleased to announce that my books are finally available in ebook and paperback formats; from libraries, bookstores and Amazon (worldwide). If your local library doesn't yet have a copy, please ask them to purchase a copy through Ingram Sparks, Amazon (or in Australia, through Australian Library Services) or to contact me through this website.

It has been a long hard 5-year slog of researching, writing and editing to finally come to this point. I wrote these books because I couldn’t find anything on the market at the time that met my needs, taught me all about neurodiversity and gave me the information I needed to help my children and myself when we were identified as autistic. We struggled so much, and I couldn't find much on neuro-affirming ways to cope, learn or to live.

Much of the information I found was written by neurotypicals or focused on the medical model of autism and included offensive PFL, or included truly harmful tactics and therapies; and I wanted to stay clear of all of that.

I wanted a book, or set of books, that were easily accessible and could help me in my journey of parenting my disabled children, but I also wanted help for myself and my unmasking path, and to help teachers or therapists to be able to guide and help my children in a neuro-affirming way and without causing trauma.

I began hyper focussing and researching to find all the information I needed, but I felt I was being selfish or unhelpful to others in similar predicaments, who were also desperate to find the same or similar information. So, I began writing it all down in a book format. As the years passed, the book and the information I’d gathered had grown exponentially, until a publisher told me it would have to be broken into many books.

They are written in a simple way, so you can choose how to read them. You can read them from cover to cover, or you can use them like a reference book or encyclopedia – where you pick and choose the topics you’d like to know more about and ignore the ones that don’t concern you. For example, some autistics will not need help with continence, but others might, and some parents will need to know about the harms of ABA, but others will already be very familiar with ABA techniques and how to avoid them. Some teachers may need to know more about setting up an inclusive classroom and teaching Intersectionally disabled children how to read but may not need to know about all the co-occurring disabilities. Or some therapists may need to know the difference between Hand Over Hand v’s Hand Under Hand and find adaptable tools that can support disabled people to live better live; but may not need to know anything about homeschooling.

The books cover such a huge array of topics that there’s something for everyone; from pregnancy and birth to becoming an autistic adult and starting the cycle again with a new generation.

This information has been broken into 5 books and are written from the social model of disability, they are neuroaffirming and use IFL, and I’ve written a small topic summary for each book- as seen below, so you can decide which book most meets your needs at this moment in time. They are available from bookstores, libraries and amazon, worldwide:

For amazon: use your countries amazon address followed by: /dp/B0DB6268PP (as exampled below.

USA:                     https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB6268PP          

Canada:            https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DB6268PP              

UK:                        https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DB6268PP        

Aus + NZ :         https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DB6268PP   

 

 

Book One: Autism and Diagnosis:

Paperback ISBN: 9781761242403

Ebook ISBN: 9781761242410

The first book in this series is to get you started learning about autism and neurodiversity. It covers the journey from self-discovery or official diagnosis to topics like PFL v’s IFL, differences in communication styles, identifying autism, myths and ableism, autistic vs autism communities, assessments and testing, barriers to diagnosis, schools and advocacy, and intersectionality (or minorities within minority groups).

 

Book Two: Co-occurring Disabilities:

Paperback ISBN: 9781761242427

Ebook ISBN: 9781761242434

 This book breaks down our co-occurring disabilities into easy to manage chunks. There’s an abundance of possible co-occurring disabilities, and this book covers the more common ones, or the ones that can cause a lot of issues for autistic people, like: ADHD, OCD, EDS, Epilepsy, Apraxia (and the use of AAC’s), RSD, PDA, APD, RDS, Excoriation or Trichotillomania (skin picking and hair pulling), DCD, CAS, POTS, Fibromyalgia, Echolalia, GLP, Dyslexia and other learning disabilities (book 5 also helps with this topic when homeschooling or teaching), SPD (including interoception, proprioception, vestibular input and exteroception – book four can also help with tools to get input using these methods), HSP, GDD, Misophonia or Misokinesia, Voice Modulation, Motor Disinhibition, Toe Walking, DID, BPD, and many many more. There are large sections dedicated to Sleep Disorders, Masking, ADHD, AAC, PDA, Eating disorders, Incontinence. It also contains two mini books that can be used to advocate with schools, which was specially written for parents who are struggling with advocacy with ARFID and Incontinence in their school aged children.

 

Book Three: ABA and Alternatives:

Paperback ISBN: 9781761242441

Ebook ISBN: 9781761242458

This book is a hard and confronting look at the ABA industry, the harmful techniques that ABA and PBS uses, and it digs into how to identify ABA or PBS within other therapies and what to avoid. It also contains information about how to help the autistic community to eventually have this type of therapy outlawed or banned worldwide.

ABA Topics included; Screen time, Floortime, specific ABA techniques, PTSD /cPTSD and suicide, articles and proof, grooming, trauma responses, learned helplessness, desensitisation, the ABA sales pitch, and other names for ABA or other behaviour therapy to look out for. It then identifies alternative therapies and ways to help your autistic child that does not involve harm, trauma or masking. It also covers executive functioning, body doubling, natural consequences, social stories vs social skills vs social groups, parallel play, co-regulation, violence and aggression, play therapy, DBT, EMDR, and it has a large section on Elopement and how to help with this dangerous trauma response.

Book 3 finishes with a mini booklet about ABA to give to anyone that requires a brief rundown on why ABA is considered “conversion therapy for autistics” and why it should not be used.

 

Book Four: Tools and Other Information:

Paperback ISBN: 978161242465

Ebook: 9781761242472

This is the book you’re looking for if you are looking for products and tools that can help with things like SPD (and interoception and proprioception tools and methods), or co-occurring issues that may include sensitivities to clothes, bathing, hygiene or routines, or brushing hair/teeth, or sensitivities to environments (lighting, heating, cooling etc), and to help with building fine and gross motor skills.

It also contains helpful information about possible self-harming stims or behaviours of concern (like head banging, dangerous behaviour, too much skin touching – which causes overwhelm for many ND parents) to things like visiting a hospital or calling the police or emergency services. It also contains a personal perspective of pregnancy, giving birth and relationships as an autistic person. Other information you may be interested in includes; inflexible/ concrete thinking, NDIA (for Australians only), under-stimulation and multitasking (great for ADHD’ers), and Hobby Depression (or ‘Special Interest’ Burnout).

 

Book Five: Schools and Onward:

Paperback ISBN: 9781761242489

Ebook ISBN: 9781761242496

The final book in this series is also the biggest. The first part of this book is jammed packed full of information for teachers, professors, employers/ HR or workplaces, principals or school leaders, homeschoolers and parents. It contains information about being an autistic student or employee, how to create an inclusive school or university, how to help your students or employees, how to help educate neurodivergent people and help with co-occurring learning disabilities in a neuroaffirming and truly supportive way. And information about transitioning from school to university or to the workplace. The homeschooling section is great for anyone who is new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling their ND child.

This book ends the series by listing many of the great autistic, or otherwise ND or disabled bloggers, writers, content creators, advocates and activists; that are so great at teaching about the autistic or disabled experience and how to support us. There is also information and links where you can get more information and support about, and especially directly from, the Autistic Community.

 

 To check out more from Heather - check the blog page on this website.

 

At the moment this paperback set is available to be purchased as a complete set from this website- all 5 books in one purchase.

For individual sales, reading or ebook purchase, please see Amazon, your local bookstore or library.