ANN ARBOR, Mich. – For many parents and caregivers of young children with autism, one of the first questions, after diagnosis is, “What kind of future can I expect for my child?” Parents were often given little hope that their child could succeed in school, make friends and live a happy, meaningful life.

But, this doesn’t have to be the case for many children.

In “Autism: The Potential Within: The PLAY Project Approach to Helping Young Children with Autism,” Richard Solomon, M.D., offers a guidebook that can help parents discover the therapeutic power of play, when working with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

“Through intensive, early intervention, many children can gain the language and social skills to become highly functional in society,” Dr. Solomon said, “if their families and the professionals know how to help them.”

Dr. Solomon is a board-certified developmental and behavioral pediatrician, with over 25 years of experience as a clinician and researcher in the field of autism. As the founder and medical director of The PLAY Project, an autism intervention program, Dr. Solomon has helped thousands of families develop joyful relationships with their young children with autism.

“In this book I’m giving practical, professional advice, based on years of proven success,” Dr. Solomon said. “But I’m giving it with the highest possible personal standard: what I would do for my child, if he or she had autism.”