Hidden Brilliance: Unlocking the Intelligence of Autism

A groundbreaking exploration of the ways in which the intelligence and abilities of children and young adults with autism are often overlooked and misjudged, with tried-and-true interventions that can be used to help them reach their full potential.

A Life-Changing, Life-Affirming Book for Parents and Educators

Warm and hopeful, Hidden Brilliance opens the door to a new way of looking at people diagnosed with ASD, who deserve to have their brilliance shine brightly for all to see.

Purchase the book

Available in hardcover, e-reader, and audiobook. Order your copy now!

Praise for Hidden Brilliance

“Hidden Brilliance will help both parents and teachers find and develop a child’s unique skills in memory, music, math, art, and attention to details. Development of these skills can lead to both a more rewarding life and possible careers.”

Temple Grandin, PhD, Professor, Colorado State University, Author of Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstraction

“One of the most intriguing aspects of work with children on the autism spectrum has been the awareness of areas of hidden strengths.  This marvelous volume explores these areas and give new  insight into how our views of ‘normal’ can bias  our appreciation of these strengths. The authors explore the ways these strengths can be overlooked and underappreciated and how a new approach may reveal ways to use these hidden strengths to enhance the lives of persons on the autism spectrum.  Parents and teachers will be very interested in using this book to uncover areas of strengths in individuals with ASD.  Well written and understandable this volume will become must reading in the field.”

Fred R Volkmar MD, Irving B. Harris Professor Of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology Yale University

“In Hidden Brilliance, Lynn Koegel and Claire LaZebnik provide families with a wide range of valuable strategies and supports that can be used to help autistic children nurture their talents, succeed academically, and improve their overall quality of life. Despite acknowledging a wide range of challenges associated with autism, Hidden Brilliance demonstrates that a strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming approach can have far-reaching benefits for autistic people of all ages and ability levels. Filled with practical guidance on topics as varied as cultivating your child’s friendships, planning for IEP meetings, and practicing self-care, this book is a crash course in parenting an autistic child that I highly recommend to new and veteran autism parents alike.”

Zack Williams, Autistic Self-advocate and Autism Researcher

Read more