What do you think?
Rate this book
A Parent's Guide to Coping with Autism
When Sarah Ziegel's twin boys were diagnosed with autism at the age of almost three, she found very little practical information about what to do. When her next two children were also diagnosed with the condition, she was even more determined to put that lack of information right. This book is the result of Sarah's experiences dealing with autism in her family. While covering personal aspecgts such as coping emotionally with a diagnosis, the book also tackles such practical matters as education, the EHCP process, and how to get help and support, and it considers the medical side of autism. This highly sensitive and professional guide is written from the heart and informed by the author's own experiences. This is the book you want to reach for when faced with a diagnosis, or if you simply want to know more about the condition.
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 31, 2016
One of the occupational hazards of being a special needs teacher, and specialising in working with autism, is managing the expectations and anxieties of parents who have read dreadful books and mediocre websites by people who think they know all about autism. It was a DELIGHT to encounter this honest, engaging book written by the mother of four autistic sons.
It is a direct account of her own family's journey from diagnosis, to acceptance, to practical strategies. It is full of practical advice for families facing that journey themselves, and gives particularly helpful advice about negotiating the increasingly complex funding process. It is ENTIRELY FREE OF BULLSHIT, WOO and WEIRD AGENDAS. I will be recommending it to many other parents and professionals, and when I can be bothered, will patrol(l) some of the websites, blogs etc that spout arrant, toxic nonsense in the guise of advice about autism, with links to it on Amazon. The fact that I teach two of the author's sons should lend greater, not lesser credibility to this review; I know just how honest - and accurate - the book is.
It is a direct account of her own family's journey from diagnosis, to acceptance, to practical strategies. It is full of practical advice for families facing that journey themselves, and gives particularly helpful advice about negotiating the increasingly complex funding process. It is ENTIRELY FREE OF BULLSHIT, WOO and WEIRD AGENDAS. I will be recommending it to many other parents and professionals, and when I can be bothered, will patrol(l) some of the websites, blogs etc that spout arrant, toxic nonsense in the guise of advice about autism, with links to it on Amazon. The fact that I teach two of the author's sons should lend greater, not lesser credibility to this review; I know just how honest - and accurate - the book is.
Read
July 23, 2025⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Lifesaver in Book Form
As a reader and someone who deeply values honest, experience-based guidance, A Parent's Guide to Coping with Autism is exactly the kind of book every parent, teacher, or caregiver needs. Sarah Ziegel writes not just from a place of knowledge, but from the heart, with empathy, strength, and clarity.
You can tell from the first page that this isn't theory, it’s real-life wisdom from someone who’s walked the path, faced the system, and come out stronger (with FOUR boys!). From the emotional whirlwind of diagnosis to the overwhelming maze of support systems, EHCPs, and medical info, Sarah breaks it all down in a way that's manageable, relatable, and most of all, comforting.
This book doesn't just inform, it empowers. Whether you're new to autism or already on the journey, this guide is like having a steady, understanding hand to hold.
Thank you, Sarah, for turning your family’s story into a source of hope for so many others. 🙏
A Lifesaver in Book Form
As a reader and someone who deeply values honest, experience-based guidance, A Parent's Guide to Coping with Autism is exactly the kind of book every parent, teacher, or caregiver needs. Sarah Ziegel writes not just from a place of knowledge, but from the heart, with empathy, strength, and clarity.
You can tell from the first page that this isn't theory, it’s real-life wisdom from someone who’s walked the path, faced the system, and come out stronger (with FOUR boys!). From the emotional whirlwind of diagnosis to the overwhelming maze of support systems, EHCPs, and medical info, Sarah breaks it all down in a way that's manageable, relatable, and most of all, comforting.
This book doesn't just inform, it empowers. Whether you're new to autism or already on the journey, this guide is like having a steady, understanding hand to hold.
Thank you, Sarah, for turning your family’s story into a source of hope for so many others. 🙏
September 11, 2025
Quick read, simple and informative.
July 12, 2016
As a holistic health practitioner with nearly 20 years experience of working with Autism, I believe this book will become the go-to bible for parents who have just had their child diagnosed.
Sarah Ziegel offers first hand experience having lived every aspect of what she writes about with her own 4 Autistic children. She guides parents through how to get a diagnosis, the professional help that can be called upon and how to get the best out of a meeting with health professionals. Unlike many other books on Autism, it deals with the emotional rollercoaster that parents go through in the early stages, from their own inter-family relations to dealing with outside life situations, and how to come through it stronger. The book gives excellent advice and insight to understanding what the child is going through too. She points out easily missed behaviors and signs and gives down to earth can-do advice. This book is easy to read and can be dipped into at any point for tips on feeding, sleeping, siblings, toileting etc.
One of the especially useful themes in this book is the advice it offers helping parents overcome the relationship issues caused by the strain of an Autism diagnosis.
Sarah is an absolute inspiration to parents, having walked her talk and come out the other side positive, witty and still happily married to the father of her children. I will be recommending this book as a resource to all my newly diagnosed families.
Sarah Ziegel offers first hand experience having lived every aspect of what she writes about with her own 4 Autistic children. She guides parents through how to get a diagnosis, the professional help that can be called upon and how to get the best out of a meeting with health professionals. Unlike many other books on Autism, it deals with the emotional rollercoaster that parents go through in the early stages, from their own inter-family relations to dealing with outside life situations, and how to come through it stronger. The book gives excellent advice and insight to understanding what the child is going through too. She points out easily missed behaviors and signs and gives down to earth can-do advice. This book is easy to read and can be dipped into at any point for tips on feeding, sleeping, siblings, toileting etc.
One of the especially useful themes in this book is the advice it offers helping parents overcome the relationship issues caused by the strain of an Autism diagnosis.
Sarah is an absolute inspiration to parents, having walked her talk and come out the other side positive, witty and still happily married to the father of her children. I will be recommending this book as a resource to all my newly diagnosed families.
June 24, 2016
Sarah Ziegel has written a practical guide for parents coping with a life-changing diagnosis of Autism. After reading her book I have to say, in my humble opinion, she is an absolute Super Mum and an incredible role model. Being in the unique position of having all 4 boys diagnosed with Classic Autism (so not just somewhere on the Spectrum) she has refused to simply sit at home and ‘accept’ the status quo. She has spent years of her life tirelessly researching, studying and fighting for a quality of life for her beautiful boys and her family. A quality of life which was previously dismissed by the doctors. She has taken all those learnings and turned them into a well-crafted book to help other people. I want to say she’s Autism’s answer to Erin Brockovich. Her pragmatism and her compassion shine through and I find myself drawn into her world. One of the things I particularly enjoy is the fact she isn’t all ‘Pollyanna’ about it all. She keeps it real which makes her instantly relatable. Nowadays most of us know someone affected by autism so I think this is a must have on the book shelf. A great mix of practical help and the author's personal experience. I give this a 5 Star.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews