Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child by Jessie Hewitson - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details. Condition: BRAND NEW. Format: Paperback. ISBN: 9781398721722. Publisher: Orion Publishing Co. Age Range: Adult / Parenting (Non-Fiction). Overview. Autism: How to raise a happy autistic child is the honest, practical parenting guide Jessie Hewitson wishes she had been given when her son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Blending personal experience with expert insight, it reframes autism as a difference rather than a disorder, placing a child's happiness and wellbeing at the very centre of the conversation. Warm, evidence-based and free of jargon, it has become a go-to resource for parents, carers, and teachers seeking clarity, reassurance, and genuinely useful, real-world advice.. About the Book. When Jessie Hewitson's son was diagnosed with autism, she found herself desperate for a book that spoke honestly about what lay ahead — without pity, panic or platitudes. Unable to find it, she wrote it herself. Autism draws on her own family's journey alongside interviews with autistic adults, fellow parents, and leading professionals and academics, including Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and author David Mitchell, to build a rounded, compassionate picture of raising a happy, thriving autistic child. The book moves through diagnosis, communication, education, meltdowns, friendships, and the teenage years, always returning to one central idea: acceptance and adaptation are not resignation, but the foundation of a good life. Rather than a checklist of deficits to fix, Hewitson offers road-tested, family-friendly strategies that respect a child's individuality while giving parents confidence to advocate at school, at home, and in the wider world. It is frank about the challenges — sleepless nights, professional gatekeeping, sibling dynamics — but never loses sight of hope, humour, and everyday family joys. Widely praised by educators, clinicians, and parents alike, it has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted, readable guides to autism parenting pu