The game changer -- "Diet" -- The moment -- Time for action -- Trolls -- Charity bites -- Hope for recovery? -- Florida's a beach -- Catalina Island -- Falling off the wagon -- Holi-daze -- The fight, the struggle: now where's the triumph? -- Insanity ensues -- All in a day's work -- Progress, at last! -- A more silver lining -- The light at the end of the tunnel -- Who am I -- The hope rules -- Inside the mind of an autism sibling -- Other little shots of hope -- Dear Deets -- Saving Deets.
Summary:
""Autism shakes up your world. It has changed my life and I wasn't even the one diagnosed with it. My brother's name is Ethan Wolfgang, but we call him Deets. He is one of the greatest gifts my family has ever received. And one of the most challenging." So begins Zack Peter's memoir of his family's struggle to cope with his brother's autism. And thus began Peter's mission to ensure that his brother will one day live an independent life. He candidly describes his attempts to get his family on board with Ethan's biomedical treatment and his fight against their reluctance. He relates how his life changes when he comes up with the idea of hosting local fundraisers, which then throws him into the world of activism. He describes how this leads to his becoming a full-time advocate for autism. As everything in his life becomes more and more centered around "the spectrum," Peter faces the personal struggle of being a voice for the cause while trying to maintain his own identity. Sharing the wisdom he's learned in a voice that's equal parts snark and heart, Peter offers a memoir that's as funny as it is poignant, filled with no-nonsense advice and what he calls "The Hope Rules," which are designed to help preserve sanity, dignity, and the will to stay strong. Whether you know someone with autism or not, Zack Peter's refreshing take on his life as a sibling and activist serves as inspiration to persevere, even when the odds seem impossibly long. It's everything you need to help keep your head up ... like the bottom of your glass. "-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.