LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
September 17, 2022
EOTM Media Group today announced the upcoming release of Lourdes Duque Baron’s poignant new book, “When Silence is Not Golden.” The captivating memoir tells the story of a family who grows to appreciate the challenges they experienced, and recognizes the gifts that come with autism, leveraging an individual’s talents, and putting aside differences to understand that difference does not mean less.
The critically acclaimed author opens up and shares what life was like caring for her autistic son, Gregg Robinson Baron — and how he learned to grasp life and to express himself through music, by way of Elvis. The book unfolds a family’s compelling journey through autism.
The memoir also offers an intimate and eye-opening view of how an autistic mind uniquely thinks, feels, and perceives the world. This enables the reader to ponder two basic principles pertaining to autism and the world around them. One in relation to freedom of the mind, and the other — freedom from the mind.
A key point in the book takes us back in time when Gregg spoke his first words at the age of eight. As Baron elucidates:
“He watched for the first time the movie, “This is Elvis.” The film, a semi documentary biography of the King of Rock ‘N Roll, focused on Elvis’ extraordinary rise to stardom and his untimely death rather than his music. A moving chronicle of the singer’s life and outlines Presley’s private moments, including his inability to cope with popularity, his seemingly self-destructive moments and his last performance.
As Elvis Presley’s life unfolded on screen, Gregg sat in front of the television unmoving, captivated, enraptured and fully alive. He viewed the same images we all saw six years prior, that fateful day on August 16, 1977 when Elvis’ death was broadcasted around the world.
Gregg sat in front of the television in rapt attention and unwavering focus and watched the more than two hour long film. I had never observed him exhibit this kind of behavior before – as if his mind was actively processing what he saw on screen. However, I thought no more of it and left Gregg alone as he watched the film repeatedly all afternoon.
Later that evening as Robin and I were getting ready for bed, I heard stomping out in the hallway – softly at first but becoming louder and louder. Gregg is at it again, Robin said. He was convinced Gregg was having another meltdown. What is it this time? I signed in exasperation and headed to the door. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Gregg down the hallway, walking to and fro, stomping as he went, rousing everyone in the household. But I also heard an usual sound, a guttural voice that I could not identify.
Gregg, what are you doing? What is going on? I cried out.
He ignored me and went on as before, pacing back and forth, all this time excitedly waving and flailing his arms.
Honey, what’s wrong? I came forward to calm him. When Gregg turned around and faced me, I realized it was his voice I was hearing. He was babbling some words I did not understand.
E-L-V-I-S…. E-L-V-I-S…E-L-V-I-S, Gregg continued. It took a moment to completely process what was going on. My son was talking! Hearing him speak turned me speechless and immobile. I could not understand what he was saying, which sounded like an alien language. Yet there was unmistakable joy on my son’s face as he danced and jumped while blathering incoherently, E-L-V-I-S….E-L-V-I-S…E-L-V-I-S.
As Gregg babbled on, I listened carefully and tried to make sense of the words coming out of his mouth. What is he talking about? Then it dawned on me, and I finally understood what Gregg was saying, ELVIS! He was saying Elvis Presley’s name. He was spelling Elvis’ name!
When a child with autism spectrum disorder makes their first language breakthrough, it is a monumental moment. So, when I heard my son speak for the first time, it felt that my world had stopped, and everything I thought I knew ceased to exist.”
Lourdes demonstrates how she connected with her son, a fascinating young man with a complex mind. Appreciating the challenges experienced and how through religion, she found the strength needed to help him grow and flourish, his way.
Expounding on charming illustrations between the family that illuminates the daily challenges that those with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) and their families face, and ultimately overcome, sometimes with great effort.
“Gregg came to me, Subhuman. He was devoid of social and physical skills and was totally dependent on me. But in his own unique ways, he gave me reverence and showed me how to be a better version of myself. Most of all, Gregg taught me the SIMPLE TRUTH: the MIRACLE OF LOVE is the MYSTERY OF LIFE.” — Lourdes Baron
Whether the reader is a parent caring for a child with ASD or someone on the spectrum, autism can present different challenges and be difficult to fully grasp.
With the writing of this new book, Baron hopes to provide a road map of sorts, to navigate the reader to the inner workings of an autistic mind and the people that love them.
Moreover, “When Silence is not Golden” also expounds on how communication can be uniquely developed, the different experiences of caregivers, and inspirational stories of self-discovery that are identified through navigating through living color.
An interesting fact that must be noted. Many individuals that were labeled autistic back in the early 1900’s were considered by many in their communities as intellectually incapacitated, in some ways these people exuded solid, if not superior cognition. Abilities such as perfect musical pitch, visual hypersensitivity, greater intensity of colors, heightened pitch detection, superior auditory discrimination, savant syndrome, the capacity to understand certain technologies with no prior experience, etc.
According to these same studies, a great many cases were evaluated extensively and it was difficult to say whether the person should be called autistic or a genius.
“When Silence Is Not Golden” is slated for release on November 15, 2022, and will be available for purchase on Amazon.
For more information and or to reserve your copy, email scriptedinheaven@gmail.com.
