Hope for Autism: The 262 Billion Dollar Solution: Improving Medical, Academic, and Behavioral SolutionsWritten by Jamie Juarez Melillo, MSThis book is a comprehensive volume detailing with all aspects of autism. The author is the parent of an autistic child. She writes from the heart, expressing her frustrations with the confusion and misinformation often associated with a diagnosis of autism.Melillo begins by giving background on her personal experience. She continues by describing some of the inaccuracies commonly accepted by the public before proceeding to describe what happens to an autistic child. Next Melillo discusses the empirically accepted treatments like Applied Behavioral Analysis, Cognitive Assistive Technology, Augmentative Assistive Technology, and Rapid Prompting Therapy. Although these are technical terms unfamiliar to the layman, the author does a good job of simplifying what they are and how they operate. Parents are provided a better understanding of which program might be appropriate for their child. Melillo also gives tips as to how to negotiate the complicated bureaucracy that needs to be navigated by parents and therapists in order to secure and pay for the appropriate treatment. The appendix offers a reference guide that can be consulted over and over again. Melillo also explains the diagnosis guide in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual V, commonly known as the DSM Manual used by medical practitioners to support an autistic diagnosis. She includes case studies to explain the behaviors.This book is comprehensive and written from the heart. I believe it will be useful to anyone involved in the care or treatment of an autistic child. Especially recommended for parents of newly diagnosed children.