Book Review: Autism Breakthrough by Raun Kaufman

 

AUTISM BREAKTHROUGH

The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World

by Raun Kaufman 

Conventional wisdom on autism offers parents little hope. But in his revolutionary new book, AUTISM BREAKTHROUGH: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World, Raun Kaufman argues it doesn’t have to be that way. Autism can be effectively treated and even a cure is possible – he’s living proof!

As a boy, Raun K. Kaufman was diagnosed by multiple experts as severely autistic, with an IQ below 30, and destined to spend his life in an institution. Years later, Raun graduated with a degree in Biomedical Ethics from Brown University and has become a passionate and articulate spokesperson for the autism community with no trace of his former condition.

Thanks to The Son-Rise Program, an incredible program his parents created, Raun experienced a full recovery from autism. In Autism Breakthrough, Kaufman presents the ground-breaking principles behind the program that helped him, and thousands of other families with special children. Kaufman explains that autism is frequently misunderstood as a behavioral disorder when in fact it is a social relational disorder. He explains what it feels like to be autistic, and shows how and why The Son-Rise program, which focuses on the parent-child connection, works. And he offers clear, practical strategies for working with children that readers can apply immediately—in some cases, parents see a change in their children in as little as one day. Autism Breakthrough makes available for the first time in book form the principles and practical applications of The Son-Rise program, presented by someone who not only teaches the program, but has experienced the joy of it in his own life.

After his diagnosis with severe autism at age 2, Raun’s parents refused to accept his bleak prognosis. Rejecting traditional (and ineffective) behavior modification methods, they tried the opposite approach: rather than change their son’s autistic behaviors, they “joined” in his activities. In doing so, they forged a bridge from his world to theirs. 

Flash forward to today—Raun is a thriving Ivy-league graduate with no trace of autism. With his parents, he runs the Autism Treatment Center of America whose world-renowned Son-Rise program—based on the groundbreaking methods that helped him recover—has helped thousands of autistics worldwide progress significantly and many fully recover.
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RAUN K. KAUFMAN is the Director of Global Education for the Autism Treatment Center of America. As the key spokesperson for ATCA and the Son-Rise Program, he conducts lectures and seminars worldwide and has worked with families and professionals for over 15 years. Kaufman has been featured on NPR, BBC, Fox News, and in People Magazine. He co-hosts the radio show Raun & Kristin: Bringing Hope Into Your Home on Autism Approved Radio.

Purchase Autism Breakthrough on Amazon. 

OUR THOUGHTS
My 5yr old is on the spectrum.  Autism Breakthrough is right up my alley; it coincides with my way of thinking! I KNOW my son is in there, and it's up to me to bring him out, same as when he had seizures, and was delayed because of them.  People from doctors to family all said the delays were to be expected because of his genetic condition . . . but I didn't accept that then, and I don't accept that now.  We've already proven our theory quite a bit!  I was incredibly excited to read Autism Breakthrough, about the Son-Rise program because it calls on strategies I hadn't heard of. 

It took me awhile to figure out what "ism" my son does, because it's not the typical ones - he doesn't repetitively stack blocks or line up toys or spin wheels or anything like that.  He dangles objects.  He's not completely in his own little world when he does it, usually while reading or watching a video, but it's the only behavior he does that isn't typical to a little boy.  So, I "joined" him in dangling objects . . . and he LOVED it!!  That first day, we had so much better behavior and improved eye contact the rest of the day! Initially I thought his eye contact with me was fine, but after doing one of the exercises shown in the book I realized his eye contact still has a long way to go; he only does fleeting glances.  He might watch me for awhile, but doesn't meet my eyes for more than a few seconds at a time.  A few days later (continuing to "join") he for the first time, invited me to dance with him to music and I got a full 9 seconds of eye contact!  Therapists have noted he has better eye contact as well.  Now, a couple weeks later, he invites me to "join" with him several times per day.

I am excited to try out the Son-Rise program to bring out his speech; I'll give it my best shot, but I'm not sure if verbal speech will happen since it was taken away by his seizures.  He has proven he can talk (perfectly and coherently) in his sleep, so there's still some hope in my mind.  We're already "playing dumb" to help him communicate as best he can.

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend Autism Breakthrough to every parent with a child on the spectrum.  Not only that, but all therapists should read it too!!  ALWAYS believe in your child.