For parents, educators, pediatricians, and mental health professionals. Based on dozens of intensive interviews with parents, clinical psychologists, teachers, and more, Meltdown is the fictional story of Benjamin, a boy diagnosed with Asperger's disorder and additional challenging behavior. From the time Benjamin is a toddler, his parents know he is different: he doesn't play with his sister, refuses to make eye contact, and doesn't seem to understand how to communicate with others. And his tantrums are not like normal tantrums; they're violent meltdowns that will eventually make...

Based on dozens of intensive interviews with parents, clinical psychologists, teachers, and more, Melting Down is the illustrated fictional story of Benjamin, a boy diagnosed with Asperger's disorder and additional challenging behavior. From the time Benjamin is a toddler, he knows he is different: he doesn't understand social and emotional cues, does not know how to play with his sister or other children, and dislikes making eye contact. And his tantrums are not like normal tantrums; they're meltdowns that will eventually make regular schooling-and day-to-day life-impossible....

Based on dozens of intensive interviews with parents, clinical psychologists, teachers, therapists, and more, An Unlikely Trust is the fictional story of Alina, a young girl adopted from Russia. After a lengthy adoption process, Alina's parents are confounded by their daughter's behavior upon arriving in America. They were aware that she did not speak English and expected some developmental delay, but they did not foresee that the tiny four-year-old would hoard her food, deeply mistrust affection from others, and fail to initiate or respond to most social situations. Most...

When four-year-old Chloe Ramsey loses her mother to a drug overdose, her aunt and uncle immediately step in to adopt her. Tamara and Darryl have been fighting for custody of Chloe for years, and while they're devastated by her mother's death, they are thrilled to finally give Chloe the love and security she deserves. But years of neglect have taken their toll: Chloe is hyperactive and distractible, and-most troubling of all-she can't seem to tell the difference between her new parents and any other adult she encounters. She is indiscriminately friendly and trusting, often wandering away...

Everyone has good days and bad days-but for seventeen-year-old Alex Magana, the shifts between despair and elation are dramatic, and they impact every area of his life. For years, Alex has been misdiagnosed with depression. In fact, he has bipolar disorder, and the correct diagnosis is only the beginning of his journey. Along with his parents, Alex must navigate the complex physical and emotional effects of using psychotropic medication, eventually discovering that medication is only one component of a lifelong comprehensive treatment plan. Based on dozens of intensive interviews with...

When Max was four, he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS-pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified. Diana and Aaron, his parents, thought the news couldn't get any worse. But six years later, Max was re-diagnosed with autism. He is low functioning, barely verbal, and when he becomes frustrated or overwhelmed-which happens often-he hurts himself or others. Now, at twelve, Max is nearly Diana's size, and much larger than his two younger brothers. Diana and Aaron have a difficult choice to make: do they continue treating Max with vitamins, supplements, and diet, avoiding the potential...