Sabine Oishi
Sabine Oishi is a retired psychologist, who has
worked as a child, adolescent and family therapist, mostly in community settings.
In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of two books about autism spectrum disorder, The Hidden Child and Behind the Mirror, and now her newly published novel, Twilight Fires.
READ BOOKS
Published by Woodbine House. 1985, 1987, Presently out of print, but can still be found on Amazon and more.
The Hidden Child describes the path-breaking, child-centered treatment method developed by Jeanne Simons, a pioneer in the treatment of children on the autism spectrum. She was an early collaborator of Leo Kanner's of Hopkins University, who first described the disorder and first person to prove conclusively that
children, who had previously been destined for a life in an institution, could be treated and integrated into society.
Published by the Johns Hopkins University Press, 2021
Behind the Mirror is the biography of Jeanne Simons, as told to Sabine Oishi. It documents her amazing life trajectory, including, the founding of the Linwood Center, dedicated to the treatment of children on the autism spectrum. It was only late in life that she came to realize that she was on the spectrum herself - a fact that helps to explain her extraordinary insight into the needs of the children in her care and her treatment success.
Published by Archway Publishing, 2023
Gabrielle, a young French woman, who is studying art history at the Sorbonne and Paul, an aspiring American attorney, meet and fall in love in Paris. They start married life in Baltimore, where Paul joins a law firm. As they need more room for their growing family, they are given the chance to acquire and renovate an old carriage house. Together, they also turn the overgrown patch of land that comes with it into a beautiful garden, modeled in part after a painting by Monet.
After Paul 's sudden death, Gabrielle, now in the twilight of her life, is resigned to spending the rest of her life alone. Grieving, she loses herself in memories of her childhood during WWII where, being half-Jewish, she had to hide in plain sight, of her return to post-war Paris, long-suppressed images of a forbidden love, and of her whirlwind courtship. And while she struggles to maintain a property that is too large for her to manage on her own, she is reminded at every turn of the ups and downs of her life with Paul.
A friend introduces her to Leila, a landscape architect, who is coping with a loss of her own. In the process of redesigning the garden together to make it more manageable, the two women develop a deepening bond. But to escape the pull of the past and accept that she might have a future after all, Gabrielle has to open herself up to a transformation of her own. Will she dare to open her heart one last time and reach for a new beginning?
REVIEWS & PRESS
TWIGHLIGHT FIRES
Amazon 5 Star
"The author captures the revelation of how the physical creation of something beautiful, in this case a garden, can engendered the creation of inner peace. A wonderful read especially for anyone who has lost a loved one." Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
THE HIDDEN CHILD
From the Publisher
"Oishi provides an excellent explanation of autism, then a step-by-step analysis of the Linwood method of establishing relationships, patterning good behavior, overcoming compulsions, developing skills, and fostering social and emotional development. This valuable guidebook for teachers and therapists also has a hopeful message for parents of autistic children." --Library Journal
THE HIDDEN CHILD
Amazon - 5 Start
The best I've read on how to live with an autistic child!
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2001
I have read too many books and articles on autism to count but this is the book I go back to time and again and recommend it to anyone with an autistic child. I even share it with teachers and paraprofessionals. The approach is common sense and unlike many books the therapy does not degrade the child but shows you ways to get around their behaviors or use their own obsessions to their and your benefit! The author is very creative in the way she individualizes each childs strengths and needs. Excellent source! It's right on the money! I can't say enough about this book! You can tell that the author actually lived with autistic children. It's a big difference than those that only observe for a few hours. She covers it all!
THE HIDDEN CHILD
From Library Journal
Linwood Children's Center for autistic children was founded in 1955 by teacher and therapist Simons. Oishi skillfully combines Simons's case studies, anecdotes, and reminis cences with her own observations and research to produce a readable, moving account. She provides an ex cellent explanation of autism, then a step-by-step analysis of the Linwood method of establishing relationships, patterning good behavior, overcom ing compulsions, developing skills, and fostering social and emotional development. This valuable guide book for teachers and therapists also has a hopeful message for parents of autistic children.
Shirley L. Hopkinson, Library & Information Sci ence Div., California State Univ., San Jose Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
THE HIDDEN CHILD
Amazon - 5 Start
My Son's Autism
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2000
A few years ago, I found this book in the library. My son has autism and I have read this book and used some of the things in this book. They worked and he now can talk and answer my questions and he has come along ways. I will order this book and I hope to share some of this in my clubs in Yahoo. You that have autism in your life and work withit, you should get this great book.
THE HIDDEN CHILD
Amazon - 5 Start
Great new view on autism. Very helpful
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2018
Very informative. I like the perspective of asking “why” the child is exhibiting behaviors instead of just trying to control them after the fact.
BEHIND THE MIRROR
“An outstanding book."
Céline Plachez Hussman Institute for Autism
“This autobiographical gem tells the life story of Jeanne Simons, a pioneering and uniquely talented healer of children. In mid-life, pondering how her therapeutic gift had come to be, Simons realized that she was fundamentally like her patients: she could help them survive in a world that they seemed unable to tolerate because she herself had found a way to exist and find meaning in the 'neurotypical' world as an autistic person. Her life commitment to help children survive and thrive in the face of adversity is an inspirational story in its own right, rendered even more compelling by her simple, matter-of-fact writing voice. Simons's memoir stands beautifully by itself and can be experienced as an illuminating work of the spirit. For readers unfamiliar with the medical and social history of ASD diagnosis and treatment, as well as student therapists and doctors in training, Oishi and Harris's informative commentaries and appendices place the life and times of Jeanne Simons and her founding of the Linwood Treatment Center in a broader context.”
children." --Library Journal
BEHIND THE MIRROR
Richard D. Bucher, MD
Jeanne Simons, the founder of the world-renowned Linwood Method, was not afraid to do things differently. Instead of trying to find a cure for autism, she accepted autistic children as they are. This was a radical departure from how these children were treated during most of her lifetime. Instead of harping on their limitations, she nurtured the autistic children in her care, initially unaware that she herself was autistic. This is a story of hope and possibilities. Simons never saw autism as something that limited her potential. Perhaps this is why she never saw herself or others with autism as disabled. Her life story, told in her own words, reveals quite the opposite: her dogged determination, coupled with an abundance of kindness, patience, and understanding, changed the world of autism at a time when the world desperately needed change