“What’s Your Story?” is a guest post feature on BCBA’s blog. Indie/Self-Published authors are invited to write about their books, writing journey, creative process, inspiration, rewards and challenges of publishing, etc. They can go in whatever direction they choose. We are excited and grateful for their willingness to share, and we hope you enjoy Teisha Glover’s story. Go here for more WYS? posts.
When children would play with my son, Davis, they would innocently ask, “Why can’t he talk?” I wanted to write a book to teach children about autism that takes away any stigma or mystery associated with the word while encouraging people to simply recognize and appreciate each other’s uniqueness.
My son, Nicholas, and I authored the book Davis Speaks: A Brother with Autism, which promotes autism awareness and celebrates sibling relationships.
According to CDC.gov, “Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.” In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). My son, Davis, was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old.
Since I was a little girl, I have wanted to author children’s books. I remember the joy of being a second grader and seeing a book with a Black character for the very first time. Unfortunately, that joy over the years was limited as I encountered very few books with African American representation. Fast forward twenty years later, as a second-grade teacher, I noticed that there was still a lack of representation of Black characters in books.
I finally pursued my childhood dream in 2020 during the Covid 19 lockdown. It was the perfect time to learn a new skill—how to self-publish a children’s book. As a mother of two sons, I initially wanted to author a book to celebrate my sons’ close sibling bond. Autism is such a part of our lives that it took a bit of story development before I even realized how exceptional their relationship is due to my younger son’s autism diagnosis.
When my older son learned that I was writing about their life, he wanted to be a part of the storytelling. My co-author, Nicholas Glover, is currently a high school student who has learned a lot from Davis. According to Nicholas, “Our sibling relationship is special because I had to learn how to communicate with him even though he doesn’t always know how to use words. I’m a better listener now. He tells me a lot without using any words at all.” Sharing his story has been rewarding. “Since writing the book, teenagers with autism have reached out to thank me for bringing attention to autism.”
Being a mother of a child with special needs has taught me to be thankful for every milestone that my son accomplishes, no matter how big or small, even when those accomplishments are considered delayed by society’s standards. We can sometimes take for granted the ‘little’ interactions that we have with our children each day. Because my son didn’t talk until he was four years old, every word that comes out of his mouth brings me joy.
Along with autism acceptance, I hope that my book inspires people to show more grace and compassion. So often, we felt the judgment of others who did not understand Davis’s behaviors or recognize that he has autism. When he had meltdowns in public, people would assume that he was simply having a tantrum and were sometimes rude. I pray that my book will encourage compassion and cause others to realize that we meet people every day who are facing invisible challenges. Rather than judgment, seek understanding.
Davis Speaks: A Brother with Autism follows Nicholas’s and Davis’s journey from meltdowns to autism diagnosis to therapies and finally to Nicholas’s appreciation of having a brother with special needs.
By the end of the book, the reader will have a better understanding of autism and the diagnosis process, along with types of therapy and some characteristics of children with ASD. Reader Julie Abney says, “This book is so well written and takes a sometimes-scary diagnosis and humanizes as well as normalizes it.”
Davis Speaks: A Brother with Autism
Teisha Glover | Nicholas Glover | Rajiv Kumar | Exceeding Abundance Books | November 26, 2020 | 31 Pages
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