Author hopes book on children with autism raises awareness and understanding

Jan. 20—For 20 years, Anne Tucker Roberts was a teacher on the South Shore for students aged 16 to 22 with special needs.

"In that time, I really got to know the students, and I got to know the parents," she said. "My job inspired me. I saw what individuals could do."

When Roberts, a Scituate resident, started teaching, her students came with all sorts of diagnoses, she said.

"In the 1990s, all of those diagnoses were subsumed under the word 'autism.'"

She became aware of the gap in people's understanding of what autism is, and felt the need to share the stories of some of her students and their families.

Mothers of children with autism spoke candidly with her about their lives and experiences, and Roberts wrote the book, "Across the Spectrum — Mothers of Autistic Children Speak."

"These stories have to be told," Roberts said of "Across the Spectrum," her second book.

"These are our neighbors. They are warriors. They stand at bus stops but they aren't talking about proms; they're thinking about survival," Roberts said. "There are mothers who have faced misdiagnosis and wrong diagnosis by pediatricians and school systems. There are mothers who wanted to 'fix' autism, and mothers who lived not knowing what the matter with their child was. In all cases, their child with autism is all consuming."

The book focuses on six families over 50 years, from the early 1970s to today. The reader meets parents who raised their child without knowing the word, "autism," to those caught in the uncertainties of labels and forged ahead to blaze trails of their own, to younger parents implementing modern-day therapies.

"The whole point of the book is to raise curiosity, so people want to know more," Roberts said. "Autism is a wide and colorful spectrum made up of abilities and disabilities, and people tend to come into contact with these quirky characteristics and say, 'this is autism' and forget that there is a whole person in there."

Roberts was inspired by the mothers of children with special needs for both of her books.

She was motivated to write her first book, "Five Courageous Mothers — Raising Children with Down Syndrome," published in 2018, after talking with Hazel, the mother of one of her students, Edward.

"Hazel told me the back story of raising Edward, an amazing student who had Down syndrome," Roberts said. "She told me that his obstetrician suggested she leave Edward with him; he would find an institution for Edward. My jaw dropped hearing all she did in those days before there were services. I wanted to write that story."

Other mothers wanted to share their stories to help others, Roberts added.

In writing "Across the Spectrum," Roberts recalled a colleague, Millie, who would talk about her son, Bobby, a special needs student who went to a different school.

"I told her I hoped she was writing all these stories about him down," Roberts said.

Roberts asked Millie if she wanted to share her stories for the book.

"Millie, too, said 'yes, it might help someone," Roberts said. "These mothers are so alone in their lives."

Each story in the book looks at a unique aspect of autism through the perspective of the mothers, and lays out the challenges presented by their child's autism and the courage and love that the mothers demonstrate every day in meeting those challenges. The mothers speak with directness and honesty so that the stories presented are accurate in every way.

Each brings the reader to understand more about "classic autism," "Fragile X" (autism), PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder — Not Otherwise Specified), Asperger's (Autism), Level 1 Autism, and Non-Verbal Autism, Roberts said.

"I wanted each chapter to help people reading to understand some of the differences, and know that there is another color to this spectrum."

The book also looks at the stark differences of how girls with autism present and the real possibility of their misdiagnosis.

"Girls on the spectrum are fascinating because they are very good at masking autism," Roberts said. "We as women and young girls know how to socialize, better than boys. Girls strive to fit in. We're naturally kind of fun and quirky, and that works for a while. We're so good until we fall apart. Many women are walking around not realizing they have autism."

Robert's stories also disclose how other family members, from siblings to grandparents, aunts and uncles view the child. And finally, two stories unveil a common reality — having siblings on the spectrum.

Roberts wrote the book to help raise awareness and understanding.

"It's fascinating, intriguing," she said. "When you spend some time with someone with autism you leave with a certain spark in your heart. But we haven't gotten to a place of acceptance yet. We're trying to change a culture here, but things take time."

The stories also point to mothers' intuition, and how it is usually right.

"It's about love and tenacity, despite numerous uphill battles," Roberts said. "I hope it opens the door a little more for people."

"Across the Spectrum — Mothers of Autistic Children Speak" may be purchased at Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset, and the Cardinal Cushing Center, and Storybook Cove, both in Hanover. Signed books are available through omni-pub.com.

Follow Ruth Thompson on Twitter @scituateruth

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