I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series - Softcover

Gayle Grass

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0968853234 ISBN 13: 9780968853238

Publisher: Iris the Dragon, 2009

Synopsis

Our latest book I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series focuses on educating our audiences about Asperger s Syndrome, one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Once again, Iris helps the central character in the book a little girl called Josie who has Asperger s Syndrome. But Iris also tackles the challenge of getting the whole community to support and understand what children with various mental health conditions are confronted with in life with the introduction of The Brave New Minds Walk. Iris the Dragon, our hero, creates an Iris Kind Deed Card Campaign. The Riverbank Animals and Iris decide to go to their local community and observe the townspeople. When they notice someone helping a child with a mental health challenge, they quietly go up and hand an Iris Card to that person. Gradually, as more and more people receive a card, they start a ripple effect which spreads good deeds throughout the town. The whole community gradually becomes aware of these children in a positive way. The success of the campaign is based on the premise that once people begin to understand the problems and difficulties that a child with either an emotional, behavioural or neurodevelopmental disorder has, they will accept these children into the community. Education will break down myths and misperceptions of these children and a caring community will seek ways to promote mental health education and acceptance. Thus, stigma will be broken. The story continues with the community eventually realizing that the town is becoming more caring about these special children and also generally about its citizens. They get together to discuss what they see is developing and decide to do something special for the children. They suggest a Walk throughout the town to celebrate Children s Mental Health Awareness Week. Thus the Brave New Minds Walk is founded. Iris and her Riverbank Friends have once again captured the idea that though knowledge and compassion we can give our special needs children a better future. The book has been vetted by the Dual Diagnostic Team at CHEO (Children s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) and an informative epilogue about ASD has been provided by Dr. Mark Kaluzienski. In addition, the book is endorsed by Dr. Peter Szatmari and Dr. Simon Davidson.

About this title

About the Author:

Author Gayle Grass Gayle Grass is the author and publisher of the Iris the Dragon Children s Book Series. Her decision to write illustrated children s books came from the sincere belief that this medium could be used to educate and break down the stigma and fears surrounding emotional, behavioural and neurodevelopmental conditions and encourage a dialogue between children and their caregivers. The Iris the Dragon Series recognize the importance of family, school and community in promoting the potential of every child and youth, regardless of their mental health challenge. Today, Gayle lives with her husband and family on a hobby farm near Perth, Ontario.

Review:

Dr. Peter Szatmari The stigma associated with children and youth who have developmental disabilities can be devastating to their sense of inclusion in the community and their self-esteem. What is so disturbing is how easy it would be to remove that stigma if we had the appropriate tools and methods. One of the key tools must be education of typically developing children and their understanding of the trials and tribulations experienced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. I read, I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series, with delight and knew immediately that this book could go a long way to removing that stigma. It recounts the story of a child with Asperger Syndrome, the teasing and bullying she experiences from her classmates, and the resilience she displays in overcoming those obstacles. The dialogue is charming, the illustrations magnificent, and the message uplifting. I hope to see copies of I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series in all classrooms across Canada. Dr. Peter Szatmari has worked in the field of autism and pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) for more than 25 years. Dr Szatmari is Professor and Head, Division of Child Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, where he holds the Chedoke Health Chair in Child Psychiatry. He is Director of the Offord Centre of Child Studies. He is a founding member of the Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network (CAIRN) a national network of parents, clinicians, policy makers and scientists dedicated to launching a research agenda in early intervention in autism. He is currently part of an international collaboration investigating the genetics of autism, a long-term study of autistic pre-schoolers that will try to identify factors that contribute to positive outcomes for these children and a study of infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He consults regularly to government agencies in Canada, the U.S. and internationally on research and on treatment services for children with ASD. He was co-editor of the journal Evidence Based Mental Health, has published more than 200 journal articles and presentations on autism and is the author of the book A Mind Apart; Understanding Autism and Asperger Syndrome . --Dr. Peter Szatmari

Dr. Simon Davidson Gayle Grass dedicates her storytelling talent to educate children, and their parents, about mental health and mental health problems, associated adaptive ways of coping and identification of early warning signs. I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series is the 4th book in the wonderful Iris the Dragon series. Using her creative bent, augmented by exceptional illustrations, Gayle has focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While dealing with mental health literary from this perspective, she also very ably addresses the substantial matter of the stigma associated with mental health problems. Congratulations on your continued excellence Gayle! Simon Davidson, M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C) Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Ottawa; Chief Strategic Planning Executive, Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. --Dr. Simon Davidson

Dr. Simon Davidson Gayle Grass dedicates her storytelling talent to educate children, and their parents, about mental health and mental health problems, associated adaptive ways of coping and identification of early warning signs. I Can Fix It a tale from the Iris the Dragon Series is the 4th book in the wonderful Iris the Dragon series. Using her creative bent, augmented by exceptional illustrations, Gayle has focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While dealing with mental health literary from this perspective, she also very ably addresses the substantial matter of the stigma associated with mental health problems. Congratulations on your continued excellence Gayle! Simon Davidson, M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P.(C) Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, Chairman, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Ottawa; Chief Strategic Planning Executive, Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. --Dr. Simon Davidson

About this edition

• Publisher: Iris the Dragon
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0968853234
• ISBN 13: 9780968853238
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48
• Editor: Jessica Grass
• Illustrator: Graham Ross