Point to Happy: Benefitting from Visuals
Point to happy. Point to sad. Point to hug. Give me a hug.
Miriam Smith and her daughter, Afton Fraser, searched for a way to aid Afton’s son, who is on the autism spectrum. Taking matters into their own hands, “Point to Happy” is the first book of its kind: one written and designed for children on the autism spectrum who benefit from visual support. Ingenious in its simplicity, the parent reads and the child points to photographs with the attached pointer.
Children love to look at pictures and share them with others. For those children on the autism spectrum, communicating through pictures is sometimes the only way to express their feelings and emotions—and it can also open a door to further communication. Until now, there has been no book developed specifically for children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) that could help them convey their immediate wants and needs, experiences, and most importantly, their feelings.
The text is clear, and the friendly photographs (by Miriam’s other daughter, Margo Smithwick) are compelling to look at and easy to understand. The simple motor task of using a pointer helps children focus as they select the appropriate pictures. Identifying everyday objects, knowing the rituals of going to bed and getting up in the morning, and choosing what to eat is all made clear through the photos. A child can describe polite language, prompt when he is thirsty, and recognize the colors of the rainbow.
Miriam Smith, a consultant at CUNY Media Relations and former magazine writer and designer, is a doting grandmother of seven. She lives in Northport, New York. Her daughter, Afton Fraser, is a writer, actress, and mother of three, one of whom has autism. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Margo Smithwick, daughter of Miriam and sister of Afton, is a professional photographer. Toni Giannone, who consulted on the book, is a Communication Disorders Specialist CCC/SLP, and founder of The Speech Academy. Purchase the book here.
Editor’s Note: April is Autism Awareness Month. Add your comments below to be automatically entered to win a copy of “Point to Happy.”
