Mrs. Williams-Hines and son, Joshua She hopes to introduce various aspects of autism to her son's typical peers in an effort to promote understanding and acceptance.

Mrs. Williams-Hines is the parent of an 11-year-old son with autism and a strong advocate for autism awareness and social inclusion. The Adventures of Suther Joshua is the second book in her No Small Victories book series.

Currently working on the third book in her series, she hopes to introduce various aspects of autism to her son's typical peers in an effort to promote understanding and acceptance. Autism, a brain developmental disorder, greatly impacts social, emotional and education growth in those affected. The Center for Disease Control released statistics in February 2007 citing autistic birth rates in the U.S. as being 1:150, with boys being disproportionately affected 4:1 to their female counterparts.

Though traditionally most often detected in children between ages 2 and 3 years, earlier detection is becoming a realization with parents being better educated in signs to look for early on. Though there is no documented cause, many in the autistic community suspect a link between the MMR vaccination (measles-mumps-rubella) typically given at around age 18 months and autism, though this connection has been highly refuted by the medical community.

Typical to many children with autism, Joshua was diagnosed at approximately age 2.5 years old when an aunt noticed a decline in speech. While he had presented normally, Joshua had begun to "lose words" until ultimately he became nonverbal. Upon having him examined by a pediatric neurologist, Mrs. Williams-Hines received a diagnosis of autism.

Mrs. Williams-Hines' first book, Joshua and the Startabulous Dream Maker, gave a brief overview of what day-to-day challenges confront Joshua due to his autism. Her second book, The Adventures of Suther Joshua from Planet Yethican examines a phenomenon most children with autism deal with; a preoccupation with objects, persons, or repetitive actions. She is currently working on her third book which will deal with "stimming" or self-stimulation, a phenomenon characterized by repetitive movements such as rocking and/or sounds such as clicking, humming or repetitive words or phrases.

ISBN: 9781434332011
Publisher: Author House
Price : $10.40