Chasing the Rabbit: A Dad's Life Raising a Son on the Spectrum

The true story of Derek Volk's experiences raising his son, Dylan, who has Asperger's Syndrome. When Derek's oldest child - his only son - was two years old when his wife suggested, "Something is not quite right with Dylan." They struggled for the next several years as they were bounced from one "expert" to another, each offering a unique perspective on Dylan's challenging behaviors. Finally, at eight years old, Dylan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and the Volk family was able to start making sense of Dylan's differences.In Chasing the Rabbit, Derek Volk shares his experiences raising a son on the Autism spectrum. Both Dylan and Derek write about the challenges, triumphs and coping strategies from the early days to the adolescent years to life in the "real world" as a young adult. It is a story of how a dad learned to love the son he never expected he would have and how his son learned to accept himself as well. Throughout the book Dylan shares his perspectives on what Derek was experiencing. This book showcases the unique relationship between a father and his son, voices rarely heard in the autism community. It tells the story of a young man who has spent his entire life "chasing the rabbit." The title Chasing the Rabbit derives from Derek's analogy that Dylan is similar to a greyhound dog running around a track. The rabbit is normal. Dylan can see what normal looks like, and he can almost get to it, but no matter how fast he runs he never catches it. It is also a success story and a testimony to faith as Derek and his wife, Amy, never stopped praying and never gave up on their son.