Sophie today: Joint Attention

 

Sophia only recently exhibited the skill of "Joint Attention", defined as:

 

 

Joint attention occurs when two people share interest in an object or event and there is understanding between the two people that they are both interested in the same object or event. Joint attention should emerge around 9 months of age and be very well-established by 18 months of age. Joint attention provides a critical foundation for social, cognitive, and language development. It is something that is very hard for almost all children with autism to do.

 

SOPHIA AND ME~A book about a child with autism and her brother.

I wrote this book with the inspiration of my two children Jacob and Sophia. Jacob is almost 13 years old and Sophia is 10.5 years old. Sophia was diagnosed with Autism at age 1.5 years of age. She also has developmental delays and speech apraxia. My sister Laurel Dunn beautifully illustrated the book. My sister Karin DeGraw edited the book. I wrote this book to help Jacob better understand his sister's difficulties in learning, talking and behaving. He periodically asks me, "When are you going to write another book?" I don't have the answer to that but perhaps one day I can write another book that he will enjoy. I am hopeful that more parents and children will find this book meaningful and just plain fun.

Mara Husband