Swinging From The Chandelier
Finding Joy In The Journey Through Autism

The day I found Ben swinging from the chandelier, I knew two things - being his mom was going to be a wild ride, and if I ever decided to write a book about it, I had my title. This book started as a way to cope, a reminder to breathe as I raised three boys, including Ben, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2. It tells our story - from experiencing the complex emotions of fear and guilt at hearing the diagnosis, to fighting tooth-and-nail with the school district to get Ben the services he needed. Our journey isn't over yet, but my once-nonverbal, illiterate son is now a public speaker. And this is the story of how - against all odds - he learned to read and write, learned to drive, and eventually got a job. It's the story of how he was voted homecoming king by his high school of 3,000, and how he continued to exceed all our expectations for him.I have been working on this book for over 10 years. When I first started, it was a way for me to document events, feelings, successes, and missteps while raising our son, Ben, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age two. Over time, I realized that the stories of other parents helped me on my own journey, so I hoped my book might do the same for someone else.