* Waltz, Mitzi. Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Understanding the Diagnosis and Getting Help.
O'Reilly. (Patient-Centered Guides). 2002. c.500p. ISBN 0-596-50013-0. pap. $29.95 PSYCH

An update to Waltz's Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Finding a Diagnosis & Getting Help (1999), this new book will be incredibly useful to parents and educators working with children and adults suffering from autistic spectrum disorders (ASD).

Of the changes made to this edition, first and foremost is the terminology: ASD, which incorporates autism, Asperger's syndrome, and other pervasive developmental disorders into one diagnosis, is now an accepted umbrella term for those conditions.

In a very readable format, Waltz covers the latest developments in medical and therapeutic interventions and environmental links, insurance, education, family issues, support, and resources for the English-speaking world.

Throughout, she intersperses numerous personal accounts from interviews held with families, caretakers, and ASD patients. Those first-hand accounts allow the human side of the diagnosis to shine through and illustrate the wide variety of experiences of living with ASD.

Strongly recommended for public libraries and for academic libraries with education or autism collections.