Jacksonville, Fla.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the population of individuals identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing each year. Most recent statistics say about one child out of every 68 has autism.
Author and educator Elizabeth Haddon, Ed.D., believes ignorance about neurological diversity amplifies the challenges autism presents to parents, teachers and treatment providers.
In her new fiction novel, "Milo - Autistic Warrior," she hopes to "contribute to the conversation of what it means to be human and how a society responds to diversity and expectations of normalcy. What qualifies as normal and why do we value it so much?"
Dr. Haddon wrote "Milo - Autistic Warrior" as a novel about family, relationships, autism, repressed rage and the courage required to find identity in the midst of fear and destructiveness. The main character, Milo, is an autistic young man living in a society that both rejects and isolates him for being different. The story provides a glimpse into the future of how individuals with neurological differences will be affected if we don't educate ourselves.
In her more than 20 years as a counseling therapist, Dr. Haddon has acquired a deeper understanding of a bigger issue.
"Schools are notoriously unsafe environments for both children and adults," Dr. Haddon said. "If we care about learning, physical and emotional bullying becomes a cultural issue. Bullying, in all its forms, obliterates a sense of safety by creating an atmosphere of fear, guilt and shame."
Milo - Autistic Warrior
By Elizabeth Haddon, Ed.D.
ISBN: 978-1-4969-2036-2
Available in softcover, hardcover, e-book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AuthorHouse online bookstores
About the author
Elizabeth Haddon, Ed.D., is a retired international school educator currently living in Florida. With a master's degree in psychology and a doctorate in education, Elizabeth has worked with children and adults in private practice, as a school counselor and as a school principal for more than 30 years. She has three grown children and 11 grandchildren. "Milo-Autistic Warrior" is her first novel.
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