Speak II Me: A Black Father's Journey Raising a Son on the Autism Spectrum

by Jamiyl Samuels, Tracy-Ann Samuels (Contribution by), Jacqueline Stallworth (Artist)

Overview

"My son is my hero."

The long-awaited follow-up from the author of "Pass The Torch: How A Young Black Father Challenges the Deadbeat Dad Stereotype", "Speak II Me" takes an honest and unflinching look at a man whose dreams of having a son carry on his name take an unexpected turn when he learns his child is on the Autism spectrum.

Initially paralyzed by denial and fear of what having a child with a disability would mean for his legacy, Jamiyl has to move past his personal feelings to become a father who is more aware of, and accepts, the challenges that lie ahead in order to save his son's life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780578285351
Publisher:	A Humble Work Publishing
Publication date:	04/19/2022
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Jamiyl Samuels has been a creative writer for over 25 years.From writing screenplays, poetry and song lyrics to contributing to entertainment magazines, blogs, and websites, Jamiyl always strives to make an impact with his work. He began his college career as a Theater major at Morgan State University in 1996,but ultimately graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English and aMaster's degree in Media Arts, with a concentration in screenwriting fromLong Island University in Brooklyn, New York. He is the co-founder of The Amazingly Sensational Kids, a children's media company that fosters growth, creativity, and education through content, as well as the founder of W.R.E.a.C. Havoc Enterprises. Jamiyl was born and raised in Brooklyn, and currently resides in Queens with his wife Tracy-Ann and two kids, Trey and Aja.

Tracy-Ann Samuels began her college career in 1996, studying Psychology at Brooklyn College before transferring to Rutgers University Camden campus in 1998, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She received her Master's degree in Social Work from New York University. Her social work experience provides vital research and information as it pertains to material dealing with special needs children, families, and more. She is the co-founder and chief operating officer of The Amazingly Sensational Kids and W.R.E.a.C. Havoc Enterprises.Tracy-Ann's ultimate goal is to raise awareness about Autism and other developmental disabilities, to assist at-risk children and their families, and ultimately make an impact in impoverished communities around the world through her nonprofit "A Humble Work, Inc.". She is also an Ambassador for the nonprofit organization Autism Speaks.

Editorial Reviews

2022-06-06
Jamiyl Samuels, co-founder of children’s literature media company The Amazingly Sensational Kids, offers a memoir about being a parent to a child on the autism spectrum.

The author notes early signs that his son, Trey, born in 2007,exhibited behaviors that one doesn’t often see in neurotypical children. For instance, as a toddler, Trey would run out of the room if the TV screen went to static; although the author didn’t realize it in the moment, Trey was having a reaction due to his senses being overwhelmed. At the age of 5, Trey, who had difficulty understanding words and phrases, was diagnosed with mixed expressive receptive language disorder, and at the age of 7, he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The book details the many struggles that came with these diagnoses. One of the largest problems, the author says, was schooling, as finding the right place to meet their son’s specific needs initially seemed impossible. The book, which features contributions from the author’s wife, Tracy-Ann Samuels, also discusses how the family endured financial stresses from treatments that may or may not have helped Trey. However, the story is ultimately uplifting; the author notes how the family sought comfort in their Christian faith and found that with the right educational environment, Trey could finally thrive. He and his spouse even started a children’s book series, beginning with The Amazingly Awesome Imani(2018), about a superhero with challenges that were similar to Trey’s. The memoir effectively tackles difficult yet edifying issues, and the author doesn’t sugarcoat the problems the family faced. He also offers self-criticisms, as when he states, “I am no longer ashamed to say that I failed my son. It was my inaction that delayed his diagnosis.” Yet the work is still substantially positive, and although later portions, featuring photos and recollections of book signings, aren’t as memorable as early chapters, they may provide a sense of hope for parents of children on the autism spectrum.

A personable, informative account of parenting a child with special needs.

Kirkus Reviews