{"product_id":"9781035441426-raising-leon","title":"Raising Leon","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA journey through autism\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAimed at parents of autistic children and filled with practical advice, \u003ci\u003eRaising Leon \u003c\/i\u003etells the story of how Makiko Sano raised her non-verbal, autistic son, Leon, and taught him how to live in our world and survive in society. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e'My son, Leon, is 26 now. He was diagnosed with severe non-verbal autism when he was three. In those early days, Leon didn't understand any form of communication, would eat whatever he found - from someone's table, the floor, even from shop counters. He would bite, hit and throw things when angry, and could only express himself through screaming, with no recognisable words \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eand it's as if the words we say don't quite reach him. I know he hears us, but he doesn't respond in the ways most would expect. The world of communication - of words, gestures and expressions - just isn't something that seems to resonate with him. He lives in his own space, separate from mine or anyone else's\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e. The educational psychologist told me bluntly that he would never speak and would never learn.' \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRefusing to accept this prognosis, Makiko took it upon herself to teach Leon how to live in our world and survive in society as a non-verbal autistic child. She steered him into adulthood, caring for him and teaching him in the absence of any medical or social support.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAimed at parents of autistic children, this is a practical, straightforward guide, sharing advice about the autism therapies that Makiko tried with Leon, outlining what worked and what didn't. It will also show a mother being a strong advocate for her son in the face of a system which encouraged her to 'accept his world'. This wasn't enough for Makiko - she wanted to equip Leon with everything he would need to live as independently as possible. From teaching him how to behave on a one-stop tube journey taken multiple times through his childhood, he is now able to travel calmly on a long-haul flight to Japan. He has made incredible progress through the years; he now works in Makiko's restaurant and as a digital graphic designer he has launched his own range of apparel. While he still has communication challenges, Leon has become remarkably independent and can navigate society quite well - something Makiko was told would be impossible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57484171444598,"sku":"9781035441426","price":16.34,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_41360860.jpg?v=1779329511","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781035441426-raising-leon","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}