I Wonder Why I Have Autism

By Jacob Tanner and Cindy Tanner

I Wonder Why I Have Autism was six years in the making. Started by a particularly difficult time in Jacob’s life.

When he was younger, fourteen-year-old Jacob Tanner knew he was different than other children his age; everything was hard for him to learn. He couldn’t play in physical education or cut with scissors like others nor ride a bike. He didn’t know how to talk to other kids, but he worked hard every day because he wanted to be like everyone else.

In I Wonder Why I Have Autism, Tanner shares his story of what living with high-functioning autism is like. Written from his perspective, he talks about school, learning, teachers, friends, pets, and his challenges and his wins. In addition, he offers insights from his friends and his parents.

I Wonder Why I Have Autism is a tool to be used by God to give hope to kids who have struggles like Jacob’s and to the parents of those children who need guidance to help them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664270770

Jacob Tanner

Jacob Tanner is now 15 years old. He currently lives in Auburn Ks. and attends Manhattan Virtual School. He is passionate about animals. He is involved in clubs at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard Ks., as well as the Topeka Zoo in Topeka Ks. He was president of his middle school eco club at the Topeka Zoo. Jacob also works at Hidden Hill Farms. He enjoys attending youth group at his church, learning to play percussion instruments, and doing CrossFit. Jacob really enjoys hanging out with some of the friends mentioned in the book, building Lego, and writing scripts for YouTube videos.

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Copyright © 2022 Jacob Tanner with Cindy Tanner.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-7076-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7077-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022912103

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/15/2022

CONTENTS

Foreword by Deb Farr

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 The First Eight Years

Chapter 2 Ages Nine through Eleven

Chapter 3 Ages Twelve to Fourteen

Chapter 4 My Friends’ Perspectives

Chapter 5 A Mother’s View on God and Autism

Chapter 6 Epilogue: The Continuing Journey From A Father’s Perspective

DEDICATED TO

Jesus Christ,

WHO MAKES NO MISTAKES

FOREWORD BY

DEB FARR

J acob Tanner and I first met in August 2016 when he was in third grade. As the school psychologist at Jacob’s school, it was my responsibility to guide a team through the process of a three-year reevaluation for Jacob, and through this process I first came to know Jacob and his parents. Jacob met every challenge with a spirit of enthusiasm and a goal of improvement. He wanted to know what he could do and how he could do it to grow stronger skills, be more successful, and achieve his goals. Those goals included learning to tie his shoes, knowing how to have and hold eye contact, learning how to demonstrate interest in others’ hobbies, and growing into his own person.

It is unusual to work with a student with a developmental disorder, such as autism, who was as young as Jacob but quickly showed so much improvement. Even at age nine, Jacob exuded a confidence that supported his ability to state what he believed he needed to support his success in school. He was not always aware of areas in which he needed to learn to do better, but once he understood his areas