Thursday, January 9, 2014

Read All About It

Here is a list of books that have been helpful in our journey with Asperger's Syndrome.  This is not an end-all list; there are many wonderful books out there.  I will add more as I come across them.    If you have some to share with me, please leave a comment.

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When Audrey first started OT (Occupational Therapy) this book was suggested to us by her therapist.  It helped us to understand so much of what she was dealing with when it came to her Sensory Processing Dysfunction.

The Out-of-Sync Child  Written by:  Carol Kranowitz & Lucy Jane Miller

From Amazon's Book Description:  The Out-of-Sync Child broke new ground by identifying Sensory Processing Disorder, a common but frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. This newly revised edition features additional information from recent research on vision and hearing deficits, motor skill problems, nutrition and picky eaters, ADHA, autism, and other related disorders.

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When Audrey was officially and clinically diagnosed with ASD we bought this book to read with her.  She felt so empowered to have this information and know there were other kids like her.

Can I tell you about Asperger's Syndrome?  Written by: Jude Welton

From Amazon's Book Description:  Meet Adam - a young boy with AS. Adam invites young readers to learn about AS from his perspective. In this book, Adam helps children understand the difficulties faced by a child with AS; he tells them what AS is, what it feels like to have AS and how they can help children with AS by understanding their differences and appreciating their many talents. This book is ideally suited for boys and girls between 7 and 15 years old and also serves as an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

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School Success for Kids with Asperger's Syndrome  Written by:Stephen M. Silverman & Rich Weinfeld

From Amazon's Book Description:  Hundreds of thousands of children face life with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism spectrum disorder that affects a child's language and social skills. Kids with Asperger's have average to above-average intelligence, but often have obsessive interests, are socially awkward, and do not understand the subtleties of language and conversation. With concentrated effort on the part of parents and educators, these children can begin to overcome the difficulties of this disorder and find success in school and life. 

School Success for Kids with Asperger's Syndrome covers topics such as recognizing and diagnosing Asperger's syndrome, addressing the needs of students with Asperger's, implementing successful practices in the classroom, working with the school system, and providing interventions in the home to help develop needed skills.

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How To Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger's  Written by:  Jennifer McIlwee Myers, Foreword by:  Temple Grandin

From Amazon's Book Description:  In the real world, people on the autism spectrum need the same kinds of day-to-day skills everyone else needs to be functional!


It's true. No matter how high-functioning children with autism or Asperger's may be or may become, they function better as adults if they’ve had the chance to learn basic skills, from being on time to good personal hygiene. But many reach adulthood without those skills.


Enter Jennifer McIlwee Myers, Aspie at Large.
Coauthor of the groundbreaking book Asperger's and Girls, Jennifer's personal experience with Asperger's Syndrome and having a brother with autism makes her perspective doubly insightful.
Jennifer can show you how to:
  • Create opportunities for children to learn in natural settings and situations
  • Teach vital skills such as everyday domestic tasks, choosing appropriate attire, and being polite
  • Help individuals on the spectrum develop good habits that will help them be more fit and healthy
  • Improve time management skills such as punctuality and task-switching
  • And much more!
 Jennifer's straightforward and humorous delivery will keep you eagerly turning the page for her next creative solution!

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Identity Revealed

Photo courtesy of Google Images

When I started this blog I used our daughter's nick name, "Boo".  I did this for two reasons.  One, I wanted people who read this to be able to identify with Asperger's Sydrome itself and not with just the individual that I identify Asperger's with.  Two, I wanted to somehow protect our daughter's true identity.

I have been thinking a lot about this and decided that my reasons didn't make perfect sense.  Coincidentally not much about Asperger's makes perfect sense.  There is a saying out there in the Autism community:  "If you've met one person with Autism you've met ONE person with Autism".  This is a great quote because   there are incredible differences among children and people on the spectrum in how they learn, think, feel, behave and communicate.  People on the spectrum have many of the same characteristics that help diagnose Autism, but they are as individual as snowflakes; no two people with Autism are alike.

Our daughter is Audrey.  She is our "Boo".  At the time of this entry she is nine years old.  She has Asperger's Syndrome.  She does not define herself as Autistic.  You may read this blog and identify with a lot of her traits characteristic with Asperger's, but she is not like you, not like your child.  She is her own person.  I hope relating to her for who she is, her true identity will actually help you identify more with your own experiences as a parent to a child on the spectrum, particularly Asperger's, or as someone living with ASD.

Be true to yourself, do not hide your real identity.