Greetings to all,

I invite you to read my new book Becoming Remarkably Able: Walking the Path to Talents, Interests, and Personal Growth. Readers will find a practical way to frame their thinking about how to expand and nourish the growth of youth with ASD and other disabilities. Identifying new areas of living for our youth with ASD requires everyone to think out of the box and help them explore what really moves them. At the most basic level, I encourage readers to see that what is good for people without a disability, is good for people with disabilities. The book is about identifying talents and strengths, then transferring them into tangible forms. It’s all about finding and pursuing that hobby, that activity, that job, or that subject to study which makes the heart sing.

My focus is experienced based, meaning I fully participated in these activities, both with other families and with my son Trent who has autism. The process involves a combination of examining and exploring interests as well as taking a microscopic look at patterns of relating and participating in all aspects of life--responses to people, places, interests, and involvement. This constant interplay with the environment is pursued in order to answer this question: What brings enjoyment, interaction, growth, and peace? Supports are then identified, negotiated, and implicated to help lift and link the individual to full involvement and participation.

Today’s problems require new thinking and new actions in order for people with ASD and other disabilities to have opportunities to develop responsibility, growth, and to function at one’s highest capability level. I would rather see individuals with disabilities as vibrant and strong, producing and contributing in society, not lapsing into a glazed acceptance of outdated negative images that isolate.

My book is about activism, an imperative to claim hope for an optimistic life using methods I’ll share with you. My emphasis is on action and technique, and it is passionately practical: improving life, health, and relationships. If previous transition plans have failed your son or student, despite diligence and the best of intentions, you may have picked ones that were counter supportive to the individual’s needs. This book can assist the reader who is acting as a guide to the young person to find an outlet h/she is in harmony with regardless of the severity of disability. It is based on compassion and passion. Using one’s strengths “with supports” provides the individual the opportunity to sense what feels right. I assure you this isn’t just hard work or “another thing to do.” Tapping into talents and strengths feels GREAT and can lead youth to opportunities of growth and independence.

My deepest wish is that you join me in this practice and quest.

My best regards,

Jackie M. Marquette, Ph.D

  Author, Consultant, Researcher  

     Founder of The Marquette Group