Help Him Make You Smile

Rita Eagle, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologis with 45 years of experience. Currently she is doing clinical work and training with a focus on autism and mental retardation at the Harbor Regional Center in California. She has three adult children, including Benjamin, the inspiration of this book, now 36 years old, who has mental retardation and features of an autistic spectrum disorder. Dr. Eagle taught at City College and Brooklyn College in New York and supervised clinicians and doctoral candidates.

• Chapter 1 Introduction 1: Intersubjectivity Chapter 2 Introduction 2: Intersubjectivity and the Atypical Child Part 3 The Diary Chapter 4 Diary Preface Chapter 5 The Diary Part 6 Theory and Practice Chapter 7 Triple Your Pleasure Chapter 8 Development of Self Chapter 9 Intersubjectivity Chapter 10 "Theory of Mind" Chapter 11 Increments and Leaps Chapter 12 Interventions: Fostering the Emergence of Self and Intersubjectivity in the Atypical Child Chapter 13 Parent-Child Interaction with Children with Disorders Affecting Self and Self-Other Relationships Chapter 14 Help Him Make You Smile Part 15 Years Later Chapter 16 Introduction to Part III: Same But Different Chapter 17 Benjamin Today Chapter 18 Benjaminisms

The book is fascinating... It is an interesting and readable tale of the growth of a severely, perhaps autistic, neurologically impaired child... The book has value for the professional and for parent?caretakers of these children in its suggestions for interventions and for providing a view of a possible, optimistic, although limited outcome. Eagle's message is a positive one that is appropriately captured in the title of the book: Help Him Make You Smile.