Psychjourney Audio Book Club

Could It Be Autism?: A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps

Length-43 minutes, 6 seconds

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Ms. Nancy D. Wiseman, author of Could It Be Autism? A Parent’s Guide To The First Signs And The Next Steps published by Broadway.

Ms. Nancy D. Wiseman

Since 1999, Nancy Wiseman has made a significant contribution to changing policy, improving awareness, and changing pediatric practice in how we screen, refer, and detect young children today. As the founder and president of First Signs, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate professionals and parents about the early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, Nancy is dedicating her life to improving the lives of children and families affected by developmental disorders.

Before devoting herself to First Signs, Nancy worked in corporate communications for over 20 years. She has counseled thousands of parents nationwide and she has appeared in interviews with USA Today, Parents, and NBC's Today Show. She is the author of Could It Be Autism? A Parent's Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps. Nancy is the 2006 recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Dale Richmond/Justin Coleman Award for her outstanding achievement in the field of child development. Visit her website.

Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism

Length-51 minutes, 25 seconds

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, Dr. Roy Richard Grinker, author of Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism: A Father, a Daughter, and a Search for New Answers published by Basic Books.

Dr. Roy Richard Grinker

Roy Richard Grinker is Professor of Anthropology, and Director of the Institute for Ethnographic Research at George Washington University. He is the author of four other books including the widely acclaimed In The Arms of Africa: The Life of Colin M. Turnbull and editor-in-chief of  Anthropological Quarterly.

He has appeared on the Discovery Channel, and the National Geographic Channel, and on regional and national NPR. Visit his website

Strange Son: Two Mothers, Two Sons, and the Quest to Unlock the Hidden World of Autism

Length-58 minutes, 9 seconds

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Portia Iversen, author of Strange Son: Two Mothers, Two Sons, and the Quest to Unlock the Hidden World of Autism published by Riverhead.

Portia Iversen

Portia Iversen, an Emmy-winning art director, has been a vigorous proponent of autism research since her son Dov was diagnosed in 1994. Together with her husband, Jon Shestack, she established the Cure Autism Now Foundation, one of the largest nongovernmental funding resources for autism research worldwide.  She lives in Los Angeles with her family. Visit her website and new online community.

Making Autism a Gift: Inspiring Children to Believe in Themselves and Lead Happy, Fulfilling Lives

Length-34 minutes, 48 seconds

Deborah Harper, President of Psychjourney, interviews Dr. Robert Evert Cimera, author of Making Autism a Gift: Inspiring Children to Believe in Themselves and Lead Happy, Fulfilling Lives published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Dr. Robert Evert Cimera

Dr. Cimera graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1997 with a specialization in school-to-adult life transition. During his doctoral training, he worked as a research assistant as well as supervised students in the Moderate and Severe Disabilities Teacher Training Program.

Prior to pursuing his doctorate, he was a director of a program that transitioned secondary students with severe and multiple disabilities (including those with autism, mental retardation, behavior disorders, and various mental illnesses) from school to work. In this capacity, he collaborated extensively with general educators, special educators, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other community-based professionals.

He is currently a professor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at Kent State University in Ohio. In addition to teaching, he also has been conducting many scholarly endeavors. For instance, he currently has over thirty publications, including many peer-reviewed research articles and seven single-authored books. Visit his webpage.

Making Peace with Autism: One Family's Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts

Length- 46 minutes, 45 seconds

Deborah Harper, President of  Psychjourney, interviews Ms. Susan Senator, author of Making Peace with Autism: One Family's Story of Struggle, Discovery, and Unexpected Gifts published by Trumpeter.

Ms. Susan Senator

Susan Senator is a mother of three, a writer, a speaker, and advocate for children and the disabled. Her writing on autism has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Education Week, Teacher Magazine, and Exceptional Parent Magazine.

She has been invited to the White House in connection with her writings about the Special Olympics. Visit her website.