Stand Up for Autism: A Boy, a Dog, and a Prescription for Laughter

When we tell someone that our child is autistic, the most common response is a sad face and an apologetic look. I hate it when people say "I'm sorry to hear that".

Parenting a child on the autistic spectrum can be tough at the best of times, but few books take the time to celebrate the love and laughter an autistic child can elicit in their parents and those around them. In this warm, honest and laugh-out-loud tale of bringing up Bobby, now ten, Georgina Derbyshire shares and rejoices in his 'slightly different' childhood.

As she outlines momentous events in Bobby's life, from the day he decided he was a dog (continuing life as a canine for a year afterwards), to the time he catapulted an innocent shopper into a mountain of strawberries, Georgina repeatedly challenges the perception of autism as an affliction, maintaining that neurotypical people often make far less sense. Through her light-hearted and hilarious storytelling, she reveals how social codes and psychological games make the neurotypical world a very confusing place to live in, more so than ever if you happen to be a young boy with a passion for rocks, tape measures and trains.

This book is a must for anybody involved in the upbringing of an autistic child, whether they are in search of a little comfort, companionship, light relief - or all three.

Georgina Derbyshire lives with her 10 year old son, Bobby, on the outskirts of a small town in Derbyshire. Starting her career at a local newspaper, she then went on to work for the courts service, join the police force, become a financial advisor and now works in sales & marketing. As diverse a career history as she has had, she considers her most challenging and rewarding role to be that of mother to a child on the autistic spectrum. Georgina and Bobby enjoy walking in woods, playing in water, snow and sand, anything to do with wild animals and having obscure conversations about the meaning of life.