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Jennifer Celeste Briggs has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore college. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism. When Sarah was four, Jenny decided to run a Son-Rise Program for her, calling it Sarah-Rise, and training at the Autism Treatment Center of America. The Son-Rise Program is a loving child-centered approach to helping those with autism and other challenges connect socially, verbally, and through increased eye contact. Organizing hundreds of hours of therapeutic play time for Sarah, Jenny trained and coordinated multiple volunteers who contributed their love and creativity to the venture. Jenny started a blog to share the experience of Sarah-Rise and has heard multiple times that her words were helpful to others dealing with life struggles. Jenny wants to help parents feel understood and to spread the word about The Son-Rise Program. She hopes that her words bring comfort, joy, and inspiration to readers whatever their challenges and journeys may be.
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Watching Sarah Rise by Jennifer Celeste Briggs is a heartfelt and inspiring memoir that chronicles her journey as the mother of a daughter with autism, and the transformative power of love, patience, and the Son-Rise Program®. The book begins with Sarah's early struggles—delays in developmental milestones, challenging behaviors, and the emotional upheaval of diagnosis. Briggs shares her raw, honest experiences of exhaustion, grief, hope, and eventual empowerment as she learns to support her daughter through a combination of unconventional therapies, family dedication, and community support. Over time, Sarah's language, social skills, and independence progress illustrate the profound impact of a loving, child-led approach rooted in respect and connection.
My friend has a child with autism, and I have watched her struggle with him and watched the child develop as well. When I found Jennifer Celeste Briggs’ memoir, I said, “I must read this.” Thank heavens I picked it up and will be sharing it because it is packed with wisdom, love, and invaluable information and skills to help parents with children struggling with autism. This memoir introduces us to great people, including Briggs, her husband Carl, her daughter Sarah, and her supportive network of volunteers and professionals, who are vividly portrayed. Watching Sarah Rise is a memoir about acceptance of neurodiversity, the importance of trusting one's intuition, and the necessity of setting boundaries while maintaining unconditional love. I loved how Briggs looks at Sarah, not as someone physically limited, but as someone with possibilities. The central message advocates for a shift away from limiting expectations based on social norms to embracing each child's unique potential and honoring their way of thriving. This memoir is written in a compelling and compassionate voice and offers uplifting messages.
