The "first-stop, must-read" autism book for parents and caregivers, now in its second edition

Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism:

Between Now and Dreams

By Shahla Ala'i-Rosales and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe

The cover art for the second edition of Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism, by Shahla Ala'i-Rosales and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, is built around Dena Pritchett's painting of a paint-by-numbers canvas featuring a mother looking lovingly down at her child in a late impressionist style, surrounded by a gold border and set over a periwinkle background. The cover includes a brief testimonial from Peter Gerhardt, a researcher and clinician who specializes in supporting adults with autism.

 

Ways to buy

 

 

 

What readers are saying about Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams

"A book like this comes around only a handful of times in one's life."

"An important, beautifully written, and engaging book for parents and a must-read for teachers, therapists, behavior analysts, and others who work with children with autism."

"As a statement about humanity, and how we can relate to one another to find moments of joy and connection, there are layers of messaging that can be savored and re-read multiple times. You will want to go back to it over and over."

"A truly beautiful thing, verging on poetry."

Both evidence-based and wise, this autism book for parents and caregivers helps you tap your own superpowers, whether your family is new to the autism diagnosis or further along in life's journey. Check out additional resources below. We are in your corner, and we'd love to hear from you. Email us at: loveandsciencepublishing@protonmail.com.

 

 

Resources for parents

  • Listen to a podcast created just for parents

"Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: A conversation with Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe." Mother's Guide Through Autism, July 27, 2025. URL

“Finding Confidence as a Parent”. Moms Talk Autism, June 3, 2024. URL

  • Create your own Between Now and Dreams Bookmark for special education meetings

Many parents and caregivers find special education team meetings stressful. A bookmark, with a picture of your child on the front and a helpful list on the back, can assist you with important actions throughout the meeting. In pages 96-97 of the second edition, we explain the purpose and the science behind the bookmark.

Instructions: Download the pdf 8 Tips Bookmark and insert a photo of your child, print, fold in half, and secure.  (Prints to 5" x 7", and folds to 2.5" x 7")

  • Host a book club with families to read and discuss important concepts from the book 

Suggested questions to read and discuss Between Now and Dreams

 

Resources for clinicians

  • Listen to a podcast (some with CEUs)

"Supporting Parents - A Conversation with Shahla Ala'i-Rosales". The Behavioral View, February 27, 2025. URL

“Our Next Guest, A Conversation with Drs. Shahla Ala’i-Rosales and Bridget Taylor, and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe”. Behavior Live (CEUS available), Summer 2024. URL

“Importance of Family Guidance”. ABA Unfiltered, March 21, 2024. URL

“ABA as a Science of Love and Change with Dr. Shahla Ala’i-Rosales and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe”. Autism Outreach, August 15, 2023. URL

“Preview: Between Now and Dreams book club”. ABA Inside Track, February 3, 2023. URL

“Bonus Episode: An Interview with Dr. Shahla Ala’i-Rosales and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe”. ABA Inside Track, January 30, 2023. URL

 

 

Other resources

 

Shahla's biography

Shahla Ala'i-Rosales smiles for a portrait wearing a white cardigan over a navy top and hoop earrings.

Shahla Ala'i-Rosales

Shahla Alai-Rosales, Ph.D., BCBA-D, CPBA-AP, is a professor in the Department of Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas. She has more than four decades of experience working with families and has trained hundreds of behavior analysts, teaching a variety of topics, including ethics, early autism intervention, parent training, behavioral systems, applied research methods, technology transfer, behavior change techniques, and cultural diversity. Her published and presented research focuses on social justice, ethics in early intervention, play and social skills, family harmony, and supervision and mentoring. Shahla is also the co-author of Building and Sustaining Meaningful and Effective Relationships as a Supervisor and Mentor (LeBlanc, Sellers & Alai, 2020). Find her vita here. Shahla is honored to be a mother and grandmother to three amazing humans!

 

Peggy's biography

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe
(photo credit: Mary Lide Parker)

Peggy's first book, See Sam Run, a mother's story of autism, won the Mayborn Prize for Literary Nonfiction in 2005 and was published in 2008 by the University of North Texas Press. She explores themes in autism parenting and self-determination on her blog, peggyheinkelwolfe.com. An award-winning writer and journalist, Peggy holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of North Texas and a master's degree in music performance from the Eastman School of Music.

Find Peggy on Mastodon @phwolfe

 

 

 

Other Media clips

Commentary: Communities can help a family with an autistic child. March 26, 2023, San Antonio Express-News.

Telehealth offers boost to children with developmental needs. New research shows online help for children, parents and caregivers enhances services once limited to personal visits. January, 2023, ICT News. Link archived with Solutions Journalism.

Reviews

Celiberti, D., & Heward, W. L. (2023). Book Review: Between Now and Dreams. Science in Autism Treatment, 20(3).

Hockman, A. (2023). Book And Product Review: A First‐Stop Read for New Autism Caregivers and All Professionals: Review of Ala’i‐Rosales and Heinkel‐Wolfe’s Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams. Behavior Analysis in Practice (accepted for publication, April 3).