The autistic mind is probed through this first person collection of topical essays written by award winning author, speaker, and person with autism, Temple Grandin. This book provides an awareness of what autism looks like, its affects and effects on human function and capabilities, and it highlights practical ways to effectively maintain and embrace life for those on the autism spectrum and for their families. Grandin shows us in living color what autism looks like, and she explains that an autism diagnosis need not ruin nor prevent the autistic person’s ability to live a full life. By understanding the range of physical differences caused by autism and through a proactive, determined mindset, the autistic person and their family then are able to work through the varied factors and conditions.  This is a way to develop and create potential in order to enable and effect positive results.
      Temple Grandin credits her mother with much of her success and healthy development during her youth. Her mother did not let the label and challenges define her daughter nor did she use them as a reason to excuse her daughter from learning social graces and responsibility. It meant she taught her daughter in a different way through accessible instructions, awareness of physical needs, and through a healthy, rich, learning environment. She recommends limiting electronics, eating healthy, showing and teaching socially acceptable behaviors such as conscientious, polite behaviors. She encourages playing board games to learn how to share and interact, taking a variety of field trips, and actively providing opportunities for growth (in numerous ways) all the while teaching procedures and useful ways and dynamics for facing and overcoming obstacles and frustrations. Some autistic children are nonverbal, some have difficulty with interactive elements, and many have overly sensitive sensory receptors. This means the autistic person’s physical environment  will need some adjusting and must be managed in regard to the their sensitivities. Even average noise levels can cause physical pain to a person with autism. This is good-to-know information.
      The Way I See It is a fascinating read. I recommend it for parents who have a child on the autism spectrum or people who are autistic themselves. It is beneficial for people with related symptoms such as Asberger’s and for people who work with children in a public institution or public setting. This book is helpful and informative and well worth the time to read.

It is the day set aside to remember, the culmination of seventy-seven long years of missing you feelings. The thoughts come. Happy birthday, my dear Betty Jane. This is the day I feel closest to you, more than any other. At ninety-four years of age, Minka prays, “God, wherever Betty Jane is celebrating today, I pray that she is happy and has a good life. Although we only spent a few weeks of our lives together, I am thankful for those blessed moments.” She pauses and then spontaneously adds a postscript. “Lord, I’d like to see Betty Jane again before I die. . . .Please Lord.”
      This true story is one of sorrow borne with dignity and grace by a woman who faces troubles as they come. Her life is hard, starting in childhood when she loses her father. Work is how they survive. Hard work. At age sixteen, the unthinkable happens, she is raped. This ushers in a new level of hardship. For five weeks she loves and cares for her baby girl. Minka will give up her dear Betty Jane so her daughter can have a better life than her own. She never stops loving her daughter.
      This book made me weep. The pain is emotional in nature, the type that never fully leaves even though one picks up the pieces and life goes on. Yet, the person can never quite go back to who they were before nor would they entirely want to. For close to twenty years, Minka writes letters to the adoption home with hope for a little word of her dear Betty Jane.
      Written by Minka’s granddaughter and with a middle insert of family photos, this remarkable story is about a remarkable woman and her indomitable spirit. The cover photo is of Minka’s hands and the photo she is holding is of her with Betty Jane on the day they had to say goodbye in 1929. In the end, dreams do come true.