"The Loving Push" Book Study for Parents of Middle Schoolers
About this Event

Please read all of the information below before registering. It provides the answers to all of the most frequently asked questions.

If you have a middle schooler, the time is NOW to start building the skills for independence. In this “must read” book, Dr. Temple Grandin partners with psychologist and autism specialist, Dr. Debra Moore, to outline the “must-dos” for parents to help their child with autism build hope, motivation, and success! Dr. Grandin credits the loving pushes that her mother provided to her during her childhood and adolescence to be one of the key factors in her life success and in this book she shares with you how to do the same for your children!

Join UCF CARD Autism Disorders Specialist, Jennifer Cicia, in reading and discussing “The Loving Push” with other parents. We will discuss reactions to the book, strategies outlined, and how to put all of this into practice with your own child.

The book study will meet for 5 discussion sessions on the following dates: 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19. There will be weekly readings (about 40-70 pages per week) and assignments. Before the first meeting, parents will be expected to have acquired a copy of the book and read the assigned pages (you will receive an email after registration closes for more information about the assigned reading).

This offering is for parents of registered UCF CARD constituents that are currently in middle school. We will have future opportunities for other age groups. Please do not register if your child is not currently in grades 6-8. It is expected that participants will come prepared to discuss and will have their cameras on, as this is an interactive discussion group.

Parents must purchase or borrow this book and have read their first assignment before the first meeting on 10/22. Please note that there are two editions of this book. We will be using the second edition (labeled “new edition” on the bottom of the front cover). UCF CARD does have copies of the older edition that you can borrow if purchasing this book is cost prohibitive. Be aware that you will not have access to the new information in the chapter about technology or chapter 8 of the book to read before class if you use an old edition. Please make sure to have a copy of the book secured in your possession by Tuesday October 15 so that you will have time to read the assigned pages before our first meeting. If you plan to borrow from the CARD office, please contact at 407-823-6001 to ensure that there are still copies available before you drive over to pick up. Our office is open M-F from 8:00am-5:00pm.

Registration will close when we reach maximum capacity or at 11:59pm on Sunday October 13 (whichever comes first). Do not delay in signing up, this group always fills! If registration is full BEFORE October 13, you can email Jennifer at to ask to be placed on the waiting list. No additional registrations will be taken after August 13 for any reason.

You can contact Jennifer Cicia at if you have any questions about this offering.