This Ph.D. dissertation reviews the literature with a life-span perspective on autism and gives rise to the formulation of a general research problem: Can demographic factors, individual factors, & social factors explain some of the variance in autistic behaviour and social adaptation in adult life? Historic influences, such as the Acts on services for people with mental retardation, reflected in social factors are emphasized.

Asperger Syndrome (AS) has often been considered to be incompatible with love and relationships, but as the number of diagnoses increases, it is becoming apparent that people with AS can and do have full and intimate relationships. Maxine Aston frankly examines the fundamental aspects of relationships that are often complicated by the disorder. Illustrated with real-life examples, the book tackles issues such as attraction, trust, communication, intimacy and parenting and includes a section on frequently asked questions, making it a must for all those with AS and their partners, as well as for friends, family and counselors.

Based on academic research as a qualified couples counselor specializing in this area and from her own personal relationship experiences, the author uses quotations and real-life examples to illustrate her points with a compassionate understanding. Practical everyday topics include living and coping with AS, anger and AS, getting the message across, sex and AS, parenting, staying together and AS cannot be blamed for everything.

Puberty is a time of huge change in the physical body, in emotional experience and in social relationships. Having an understanding of these developments and learning how to deal with them is essential, and for people with Asperger's syndrome it can be a challenge to get to grips with the social and emotional aspects of puberty, sex and relationships. This book is ideal for those who need clear, detailed explanations and direct answers to the many questions raised by puberty and sexual maturity. Sarah Attwood describes developments in both the male and female body, and explains how to maintain hygiene and personal care, and to promote general good health. She examines emotional changes, including moods and sexual feelings, and provides comprehensive information on sex, sexual health and reproduction. She looks at the nature of friendship, how it changes from childhood to adulthood and its importance as a basis for sexual encounter. She also offers coping strategies for different social experiences, from bullying to dating, and includes essential tips on the politics of mature behaviour, such as knowing the difference between public and personal topics of conversation.

Communication is one of the biggest challenges faced by people with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), yet an Asperger marriage requires communication more than any other relationship. Thousands of people live in Asperger marriages without knowing the answers to important questions such as 'What behaviours indicate that my spouse has AS?' 'Is it worthwhile to get a diagnosis?' 'Is there hope for improvement?' Katrin Bentley has been married for 18 years. Since receiving her husband's diagnosis of AS, their marriage has improved substantially. They learnt to accept each other's different approaches to life and found ways to overcome problems and misunderstandings. Today they are happily married and able to communicate effectively. Alone Together shares the struggle of one couple to rescue their marriage. It is uplifting and humorous, and includes plenty of tips to making an Asperger marriage succeed. This book offers couples hope, encouragement and strategies for their own marriages.

This guide for professionals working with students with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) in further education meets the increasing demand for information and support on this subject. Christine Breakey provides useful guidelines and practical advice on teaching young adults successfully and confidently, emphasising the development of resources and practical skills for use specifically in FE colleges. The author covers all the key areas and offers strategies and solutions for communicating effectively, helping students to manage transition, and understanding and minimising the causes of ASC behaviours as well as teaching social skills and ASC self-awareness. The Autism Spectrum and Further Education will be a vital resource for professionals in FE institutions who have to meet the needs of young adults with ASCs.

Kari Dunn Buron has done it again. Building on her popular 5-Point Scale, A 5 Is Against the Law! takes a narrower look at challenging behavior with a particular focus on behaviors that can spell trouble for adolescents and young adults who have difficulty understanding and maintaining social boundaries. Using a direct and simple style with lots of examples and hands-on activities, A 5 Is Against the Law! speaks directly to adolescents and young adults. The notion behind the 5-point scale is to take an idea or behavior and break it into five parts to make it easier to understand the different degrees of behavior and, eventually, the consequences of one's behavior. A section is also devoted to anxiety and how to cope with this emotion before it begins to escalate, often leading to impulsive and unacceptable behavior. Throughout the book, the reader is encouraged to think about and create his own behavior and anxiety scale that applies to his particular emotions and situations.

Michael John Carley was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at thirty-six-when his young son received the same diagnosis. This fascinating book reveals his personal experience with the confusion and trauma associated with this condition-and offers insights into living an independent and productive life. Now the Executive Director of the world's largest Asperger's oranization, Carley helps readers in such areas as: - Social interactions - Nurturing interests - Whom to confide in-and how - Dealing with family and oved ones - Finding work that suits your strengths and talents.

Individuals with autism are seven times more likely than other people to come into contact with police and their responses to encounters with authority may not always be appropriate. Private investigator and autism advocate Dennis Debbaudt explains how typical manifestations of autism spectrum disorders, such as running away, unsteadiness, impulsive behavior or failure to respond, may be misunderstood by law enforcement professionals, with serious consequences. For parents or carers of those with autism, he offers advice on how to deal with problems arising from their encounters with professionals in positions of authority. Aimed at raising awareness and improving communication, this is a much-needed book.

Following the successful publication of the Asperger Love Guide and Asperger Social Guide this third book in the series of three self-help practical life guides covers the personal issues that an adult with Asperger's syndrome faces in a world not designed for people with autism. Written from the male and female perspective of two Asperger's adults it looks at: the positive aspects of Asperger's syndrome; how these translate into everyday life; whether Asperger's syndrome is in fact a disability; strategies to gain mental and physical health as an adult with ASD. The book aims to help adults gain self-esteem and get the most out of themselves as a unique adult with Asperger's syndrome. These courageous authors have drawn upon their personal experiences to provide an outstanding series of books aimed to support and enhance the quality of life for other Asperger adults.

Social interaction among neurotypical people is complex and in many ways illogical. To the person with Asperger Syndrome (AS) it is also woefully unintuitive. In this book, adults with AS discuss social relationships, offer advice and support for others with AS and provide necessary insights into AS perspectives for those working and interacting with them. The contributors evaluate a range of social contexts and relationship aspects, including: online relationships - a worldwide social network based on non-verbal communication, the unwritten rules of neurotypical socialising, the need for mutual understanding between those with AS and neurotypicals, the effects of struggling socially on one's self-esteem and frame of mind, and the opportunities provided by social skills workshops or interest groups. This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, as well as service providers and other professionals providing support for people with AS in adult life.

Employment is an important part of a healthy, balanced and fulfilling life but less than 20 per cent of people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are in work at any one time. The adults with AS in this book explore the issues surrounding employment, providing advice and insights for others with AS, as well as their employers and colleagues. Drawing on personal experience and lessons learned, Asperger Syndrome and Employment looks at the transition from education to employment; the importance of matching skills to career choices; practical coping strategies for employees with AS in the workplace; advice for employers, including the need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to avoid discrimination; ways in which employment services ought to work for people with AS. This is essential reading for adults with AS, their family and friends, employment services and career advisers, and companies needing to know how, in practical terms, to accommodate employees with AS.

One element at the heart of effective service provision is an understanding of the service user's needs. This book unravels some of the common misunderstandings between people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and providers of support services, and offers practical advice on how to ensure that the needs of people with ASD are catered for effectively. Denise Edwards writes directly from her own experiences of finding appropriate support for her adopted son, John Paul, who has Asperger's syndrome, but also draws on the experiences of a broad range of service users. She emphasises the importance of understanding and conveying the nature of ASD so that support services can meet a person's needs effectively. She discusses common areas in which difficulties arise, including communication, social situations and the organisation of information, examines the implications of support in wider society - education, employment, the legal system - and makes practical suggestions for changes that can improve access to benefits and services for people with ASD. Informative and down-to-earth, this book is essential reading for the providers of services for people with ASD for service users themselves as well as formal or informal carers, friends, family, related professionals and policy makers.

Autism Undiagnosed is a book everyone can benefit from reading! It covers my sweet, dear autistic husband's life from birth until our marriage! I tell of struggles my mother-in-law had because Brian was not diagnosed with autism as a child. She tried to tell his doctor he had autism after she saw an autism program on TV, only to be told, "No! That's a little kid disease; you have a big kid!" He was ten years old! People think individuals grow out of autism -- I am here to tell you they do not! They do grow out of some of the symptoms, however! For instance, my husband does not scream constantly like he did until thirteen! Thank God! Autism is a spectrum disorder; you can be anywhere on the spectrum! Some people with autism do not like to be touched. I married a "HUG MACHINE." This book is full of early signs of autism; you are in for a learning experience!

Everything bad you can imagine had happened to me as a little girl, so when Brian asked me to marry him after four days of dating; I said yes! After all I had been through, life could only get better. It is truly a miracle how God brought two broken people together to make us one. Joys and Sorrows of Living with Adult Autism tells you from my point of view what it is like to deal with all of the joys and sorrows I have gone through in our first six years of marriage. My life has never been boring. Brian keeps me going all the time. I have to watch out for him just like you do a child. He is like a two-year-old stuck in a man's body. Our marriage has been quite an exciting journey! Put on your seat belt. You're in for a ride! I love you most! But God loves you more!

Most people with Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD) or Asperger Syndrome (AS) are underemployed. With practical and technical advice on everything from job-hunting to interview techniques, from 'fitting in' in the workplace to whether or not to disclose a diagnosis, this book guides people with NLD or AS successfully through the employment field. There is information for employers, agencies, and careers counsellors, including an analysis of typical strengths, and how to use these positively in the workplace. Practical information and resource material is supported by numerous case studies to inspire and advise. This is an essential resource for people with NLD or AS seeking or in employment, and their employers.

Marc Fleisher's new self-help guide for autistic teenagers and adults will help readers improve their quality of life and overcome many everyday challenges, be it through the acquisition of independent living skills, developing a more varied and fulfilling social life, or mastering a course in higher education and broadening one's opportunities for the future. Marc Fleisher speaks from first hand experience about the coping strategies he himself has had to learn - often the hard way. Written particularly for young people who are just beginning to become independent from their parents, perhaps living in their own home for the first time, this book shows how to approach apparent problems with hope and the expectation of an improved quality of life. Survival Strategies is an invaluable source of advice and reassurance for people with ASDs across a wide age range. Other readers such as relatives and friends of people on the autism spectrum, and professionals working with them in an educational or therapeutic capacity will find it provides a host of new insights.

An invaluable resource for therapists, this lucidly written book provides research-based strategies for addressing the core problems of Asperger syndrome (AS) and helping clients manage frequently encountered comorbidities, such as anxiety disorders and depression. Detailed case examples illustrate the complexities of AS and the challenges it presents in daily life, relationships, and the workplace. The author presents a cogent rationale for cognitive-behavioral intervention and offers clear guidelines for conducting assessments and designing and implementing individualized treatment plans. Throughout, the emphasis is on helping people with AS decrease distress while preserving and building on their unique strengths. Special features include a case formulation worksheet and other helpful reproducibles.

Focuses on adult autism treated through the concepts used at Bittersweet Farms, an 80-acre farm in northwest Ohio. The innovative program is based on the premise that adults with autism continue to need special care and training throughout their lives. Available in paper also (057-1, $17.95). Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Steve Gutstein, psychologist and autism specialist, sought to discover why children with autism lack the social skills that come so easily to the rest of us. The result of his efforts is an innovative program - Relationship Development Intervention - that take social skills teaching to the next level. You'll learn about the social development pathway of the nondisabled child and the life-changing detour taken by children on the autism spectrum. However, instead of leaving you there, Autism/Aspergers: Solving the Relationship Puzzle describes ways to steer children with autism onto a bright new path of self discovery and social awareness, one that will ultimately bring them home to meaningful friendships, shared emotions and heartfelt connection with the people in their lives.

Published simultaneously as Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, volume 18, number 1, 2000, this book explores research findings and practice implications pertaining to normative and disability-related aging experiences and issues. It discusses the effectiveness of specific interventions targeting aging adults with intellectual disabilities like Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and epilepsy. Touching upon many areas of geriatric disability care and intervention, the book also offers suggestions for practice and for future research.

College life is particularly stressful for students with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and the resources that colleges provide for such students are often inadequate. This much needed guide provides information to help these students prepare successfully for the rites and rituals of studying, interact with staff and fellow students, cope with expectations and pressures, and understand their academic and domestic responsibilities. How will I cope with the workload? What do I do if I feel ill? How do I make friends and initiate relationships with the opposite sex? Drawing on first hand interviews with AS students and direct clinical experience, the authors address these and many other questions thoughtfully and thoroughly, making practical recommendations. Succeeding in College with Asperger Syndrome demystifies the range of college experiences for students with AS. It is a must for these students, their parents and counselors alike, providing benefits that will continue throughout the college years and beyond.

Playing the dating game is often tricky: all the more so for individuals with Asperger Syndrome. How do AS adolescents and their families cope with sexual feelings and behaviour? What help can be given if a man with AS oversteps the mark in expressing his sexuality? How do people with AS deal with intimacy and communication in sexual relationships? In this comprehensive and unique guide, Isabelle Hénault delivers practical information and advice on issues ranging from puberty and sexual development, gender identity disorders, couples' therapy to guidelines for sex education programs and maintaining sexual boundaries. This book will prove indispensable to parents, teachers, counsellors and individuals with AS themselves.

The number of adults with Asperger Syndrome retaining full-time employment is extremely low in comparison to those who may be considered to have more limiting conditions and disabilities. This book identifies why this is the case by asking the individuals concerned what they find difficult about working. Looking at expectations, motivations, working conditions and other factors, Sarah Hendrickx explores the reasons why work just doesn't work for many people with Asperger Syndrome and how to resolve these issues. Featuring personal stories from those with AS, the book highlights successful scenarios and provides suggestions for both employers and those in search of work on how to improve employment for the benefit of everyone. Asperger Syndrome and Employment provides essential information for those making the decisions and acknowledges what people with AS really want from a job so they can make employment work for them.

What are the motivations and desires behind relationship choices and sexual behaviour? Are they very different for those with Asperger Syndrome (AS) than for anyone else? Does having extreme sensitivity to physical touch or an above average need for solitude change one's expectation of relationships or sexual experience? Many people on the autism spectrum have limited knowledge of how to establish or conduct sexual relationships: drawing on extensive research with people on the autism spectrum, the book openly explores such questions. For the first time people with AS discuss their desires, needs and preferences in their own words. AS attitudes to issues such as gender, sexual identity and infidelity are included, as well as positive advice for developing relationships and exploring options and choices for sexual pleasure. This accessible book is an invaluable source of information and support for those with Asperger Syndrome and couples in which one or both partners has Asperger Syndrome, as well as counsellors and health and social care professionals.

Working towards greater access and inclusion in education and employment for young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) continues to be a challenge with varying degrees of success. Matthew Hesmondhalgh outlines the inherent problems with improving services for people on the autism spectrum, from specialised schooling to supported living schemes and examines the social issues and attitudes that people with ASDs confront in so many aspects of life. The author draws on his own experience of working at The Integrated Resource, which offers educational opportunities for secondary school aged pupils with ASDs and provides a charity funded supported employment programme for young adults with ASDs. He includes a host of case examples of young people and their parents who have fought battles for inclusion, explaining the obstacles they faced, their failures and their inspiring successes. Autism, Access and Inclusion on the Front Line is a frank and honest appraisal of service provision for young people with ASDs that will both inform and encourage parents and professionals.

This report examines the needs of offenders with learning disabilities and identifies the most appropriate ways of meeting their requirements. A key principle is that offenders should receive care and treatment from the health and personal social services rather than in the criminal justice system.

Autism and related disorders affect almost every area of an individual's functioning. Yet little has been written on the outcome of autism in adult life, particularly for adults who are of high ability but who continue to be handicapped by their social, communication and behavioral difficulties. Autism and Asperger Syndrome reviews what is known about adults with autism in terms of their social functioning and educational and occupational status. Focusing on the problems experienced by people with autism and ways of overcoming them this new edition has been completely updated to take account of the latest research in the field and includes an additional chapter on the differentiation between autism and Asperger Syndrome. It will be widely welcomed by professionals and those caring for people with autism.

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) affects as many as one in ten people. With humour, optimism and compelling honesty throughout, this is an insightful handbook that provides invaluable practical advice, including: AS Facts and figures; Asperger's questionnaires; Advice and guidelines on diagnosis; Asperger's and employment; How to handle the difficult times; and Personal accounts from people with Asperger's. By researching expert opinions and telling her own compelling human story, Barbara Jacobs reveals the truth about those with Asperger's and all those who love them.

A superb read not only for therapists and clinicians, but for parents and teachers - everyone seeking a deeper understanding of adult autism and accompanying disorders.

Families of Adults with Autism is a collection of real-life stories of people on the autism spectrum growing up, as told by their parents and siblings. The individual accounts explore the challenges that families of people with autism have faced, and the techniques they have used to improve the quality of their children's lives, from mega-doses of vitamins and dietary changes to intensive interaction. The contributors also relate how they have worked with their children or siblings to help them to function at their highest possible level, be it showing an awareness of their environment, holding down a full-time job in a local store, competing in the Special Olympics, or achieving international recognition as an artist. This book will offer practical and heartwarming advice to families who are affected by autism spectrum disorders, and provide insights for professionals working with people with ASDs.

Asperger Syndrome: An Owner s Manual 2 for Older Adolescents and Adults is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Asperger Syndrome--An Owner s Manual, primarily written for middle school-age children. Using the same easy-to-follow format, this interactive workbook deals with issues that older adolescents and adults face such as relationships, marriage, independent living, employment, self-care, etc. The author uses the nonagram, a nine-pointed star symbolizing achievement and completeness to visually guide readers through each major section of the book This much-needed resource is designed to inform and support individuals with AS as they come to grips with their strengths and challenges and plan for a successful adulthood within the neurotypical world.

In this study of women with mild and moderate learning disabilities, Michelle McCarthy investigates how these women experience their sexual lives, basing her research on interviews with the women themselves. She argues the importance of informing the work of those responsible at research, practice and policy levels with the voices of people with learning disabilities. In the interviews, women talk openly about what form their sexual activity takes and what it means for them, the circumstances in which it occurs, and the pleasures (or lack thereof) associated with it. These interviews directly shape the policy and practice recommendations the author makes. Michelle McCarthy's findings suggest that women with learning disabilities commonly find themselves engaged in sexual activity which is not to their liking and not of their choosing. A high level of sexual abuse was also reported. The author discusses this in relation to the cultural forces which have influenced Western perceptions of sexuality, feminism and theories and prejudices about learning disabilities. She also studied the impact of institutional and community settings on the sexuality of women with learning disabilities. In Sexuality and Women with Learning Disabilities, McCarthy makes recommendations for policy and practice which will protect this vulnerable group, and advises on education, support and seeking justice for abused women.

As many health care professionals will attest, there is a scarcity of literature that specifically addresses autism in adults. This volume sets out to fill this gap by providing practical help and guidance specifically for those caring for the growing recognized population of adults with autism. Throughout the first several chapters, the contributors to this volume probe issues of theory and practice from both local and international perspectives. Subsequent chapters analyze the implications that arise from thought and behavior inflexibility, with emphasis on the management of transition and bereavement. Later chapters explore themes such as models for practice in employment and further education, pharmacological and educational approaches to mental health problems, and epilepsy and challenging behavior. This work concludes with a chapter that develops many themes of this text as the basis for a medical training program. This is an essential guide for all those concerned with the care and well-being of adults with autism, including parents, researchers, practitioners, and community care workers.

An encouraging, educational, and often humorous guide for teens and young adults with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism. Jerry, a man with autism, gives advice on dating, money, traveling independently and more! This clever book will help others live fuller, more independent lives.

The realization that "our community seemed to know more about the first twenty years of an autistic person's life than it did about the rest of that life" leads the Newports to tell their own boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-finds-girl love story�but with a difference, for both suffer from Asperger's syndrome. At times, this "terminal cluelessness" seems both the cause of and the least of their problems: Jerry's life "had drifted from one failed vocation to the next, [among them] pot dealer, horse-race betting fanatic, taxi driver, Goodwill bell ringer, bookstore cashier, elementary school librarian." Mary's more traumatic experiences included a cult marriage, abusive lovers and mental hospital stints. Both grapple with anxiety and despair before epiphanies: for Jerry, when he sees Rain Man; for Mary, when her brother directs her to the Autistic Society. Love for the two slips in the day they meet at a party for adult autistics. Then they experienced media fame, becoming "Mr. and Mrs. Autism" (a front-page profile in the Los Angeles Times; a 60 Minutes visit; an eponymous movie). Boy loses girl again in a divorce, but love triumphs. Along the way, autistic readers will find comforting fellowship, and general readers will acquire valuable knowledge. (Publisher's Weekly)

Open, honest and upbeat, this book gives personal insight into both the ups and downs of an Asperger relationship. Seeking to challenge the bad press that people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) get as partners, Sarah and Keith tell their story of how they are making it work and also how they got it wrong with disarming frankness and humor. When Sarah and Keith met in 2003 neither knew much about Asperger Syndrome. Sarah thought Keith was weird and couldn t work out why; and Keith thought Sarah was obsessed with diagnosing him with something-or-other. Difficulties ensued that brought the relationship to an end. Slowly, however, they each built up their knowledge of AS and in the meantime developed a mutual understanding, mutual acceptance and a desire to be together again. This personal account is supplemented with professional knowledge and anecdotes gained from Sarah s work with adults with AS a career which started as a result of her experiences with Keith. She swears that she didn't take her work home with her! It is inspiring reading for couples in Asperger relationships as well as for counseling professionals.

Realizing the College Dream with Autism or Asperger Syndrome is both a practical and a personal account of one ASD student's successful experience of going to college. This accessible book focuses on how to get there and stay there: deciding to go, how to get in and how to get the most out of it. Ann Palmer advises parents and professionals how to prepare the student for the transition from school and home life to a new environment and educational challenge, and how to support them through potential problems such as academic pressure, living away from home, social integration and appropriate levels of participation in college. She offers helpful strategies that will encourage and inspire parents and students and show that college can be a suitable option for students with an autism spectrum disorder, as well as the basis for a successful independent life later. This book is essential reading for any parent considering college as an option for their child, disability service providers in colleges and for ASD students themselves.

This resource provides practical strategies for helping teenagers and adults with Asperger Syndrome to navigate social skills, friendships and relationships at home and in the community. The author offers advice and useful strategies for tackling day-to-day problems such as visits to the dentist or the doctor, searching for a job, sorting out personal finances, going on vacation, and dealing with public transport, as well as more intimate topics such as dating and acquiring and maintaining friendships. The chapters are structured around real-life scenarios and the challenges they present, followed by step-by-step solutions and suggestions. A final section provides a set of practical self-help tools, which encourage the reader to note down answers to the questions posed and record personal reflections. This accessible guide will be essential reading for teenagers and adults with Asperger Syndrome and their families, teachers, therapists, counsellors, carers, social and health work professionals.

Adults on the Autism Spectrum Leave the Nest provides a guide for parents on how to prepare their children for adulthood, and describes in detail the kinds of services people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) need in order to live independently, away from the parental home. The author explains the importance of the cognitive abilities that enable us to regulate behavior and adapt to changing situations, known as Executive Functions, and how an individual's deficits in this area can be especially problematic in the adult world. The book provides approaches to managing Executive Function Deficits and describes an innovative therapeutic program that successfully allows adults with ASDs to live with their peers and develop meaningful adult relationships. This book provides practical and accessible guidance for parents, therapists, people with ASDs, and anyone with an interest in helping people on the Autism Spectrum lead their lives with a sense of dignity and independence.

Expecting Teryk is an intimate exploration, written in the form of a letter from a parent to her future son, that reclaims a rite of passage that modern society would strip of its magic. Dawn Prince-Hughes, renowed author of Songs of a Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism, considers the ways her disabilities might inform her parenting. She candidly narrates her experience of becoming a parent as part of a lesbian couple-from meeting her partner and the questions they ask about their readiness to become parents, to the practical considerations of choosing a sperm donor. Expecting Teryk is expressed through the lens of autism as Prince-Hughes shares the unique way she sees and experiences.

Filled with strategies, and resources, this book uses the author's groundbreaking research about successful adults with learning disabilities, to promote self-advocacy. This work is brimming with useful and practical information. It is easily understood and embraced by students with learning disabilities, their parents, guidance counselors, and stakeholders in the fields of both higher education and special education.

The difficulties faced by people with Asperger Syndrome (AS) cannot be underestimated, but the emotional problems experienced by those around them - partners, family and friends - are often overlooked. Focusing on what is referred to as the Cassandra phenomenon, where the neurotypical partner often needs more emotional guidance than the AS partner, this volume gathers together letters, thoughts and poems to give voice to the loneliness, frustration and love felt by many individuals who are close to one or more people with AS. This collection provides the emotional support, insight and understanding needed to deal with the emotions that AS evokes within close relationships. FAAAS Inc. (Families of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome) aims to offer support to the family members of adult individuals afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome.

This honest, courageous book, written by a person with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome, offers so much more than the traditional autobiography. Drawing on personal and professional experience, Stephen Shore, who is currently completing his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University, combines three voices to create a touching and, at the same time, highly informative book. The autobiographical voice tells the story of Stephen's life, including his parents' frustrations with the educational and medical communities, his adolescence and now adult married life. The "time shifter" fills in background information about his life that is otherwise out of the chronological order of the events being related; finally the researcher's voice puts Stephen's personal life within the context of the research literature on autism and Asperger Syndrome. By using this triple lens, the book offers insights for parents, professionals as well as individuals who have Asperger Syndrome.

Written by the wife of a man with Asperger Syndrome (AS), this book will provide the answers to many of the questions asked by the increasing number of people in that situation. Ashley Stanford explains how behaviors that may have appeared odd - or even downright irritating - are the manifestation of AS, and shows how understanding can lead to change, or to greater tolerance. She provides a wealth of strategies for living successfully with characteristics that cannot be changed, pointing out that AS brings also enormous strengths to a relationship, and emphasizing the value of understanding. Including numerous quotes from people in long-term AS relationships, the book describes many positive solutions that have worked for other couples.

If you're the parent of a child with a disability, this book is of critical importance to you. Laying Community Foundations emphasizes the need to begin now to build a caring community of people who will provide emotional support and guidance for your child after your death. Chapters discuss: how to assess your child's needs; how to foster long-term relationships for your child; where to look for relationships; how to ask people for a commitment; and independent living arrangements.

Interest in Asperger Syndrome is on the rise, but until recently it has been examined almost exclusively in children and adolescents. Here, three leading researchers provide an overview of the relevant issues in adults, including diagnosis, co-morbid psychiatric conditions, psychosocial issues, and appropriate interventions, from psychotherapy to psychopharmacology.

Asperger Syndrome and Alcohol exposes the unexplored problem of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) using alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with everyday life. Alcohol can relieve the anxiety of social situations and make those with ASDs feel as though they can fit in. Ultimately, however, reliance on alcohol can lead the user down a path of self-destruction and exacerbate existing problems. Utilizing their professional and personal experience, the authors provide an overview of ASDs and of alcohol abuse, and explore current knowledge about where the two overlap. Tinsley explores his own personal history as someone with an ASD who has experienced and beaten alcohol addiction. He discusses how the impact of his diagnosis and his understanding of the condition played a huge part in his recovery, and how by viewing his life through the prism of autism, his confusion has been replaced by a greater understanding of himself and the world around him. This inspiring book on an under-researched area will be of interest to professionals working with people with ASDs, as well as individuals with ASDs who may be dealing with alcohol or substance misuse, and their families.

How can a social worker assess the risk that an older person with dementia faces? How would a nurse or housing support worker decide on the balance between danger and safety? In cases of potentially serious harm, as in the examples of abused children or sex offenders, can risk taking work? In this practical and accessible book, Mike Titterton offers an innovative model of risk work in health and social care. He argues that a thoughtful risk-taking approach can lead to empowerment and greater independence for vulnerable individuals. The author explores the dilemmas frequently faced when working with older people, homeless persons, and people with physical or learning disabilities or with mental illness, and proposes a systematic framework for assessing and managing the risks involved. He also discusses contemporary theories and definitions of risk, and identifies the essential skills needed by professionals, with an emphasis on developing creative approaches to practice. Offering a wealth of case studies, examples of good practice and a clear overview of the legislative framework, this book is an invaluable resource for social work, health and housing practitioners, trainers and policy makers.

Four years ago, Chris Slater-Walker was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. For him this was an explanation of why he has always regarded himself as 'socially handicapped,' but for his wife Gisela it meant coming to terms with a marriage in which there would never be any intuitive understanding, despite Chris's good intentions. This book is an open and honest account of a long and still unfinished process of learning to live with a disability that some regard as incompatible with marriage. It is a story whose wider implications will be of compelling interest to anyone who has encountered autism spectrum conditions.

Using case studies and examples that show the reader how to put theory into practice in multi-disciplinary settings, Education and Care for Adolescents and Adults with Autism clearly explains how changes in policy and provision have affected how young people and adults with autism are cared for and educated. The author highlights current problematic outcomes from a multi-agency perspective and offers: * Up-to-date and accessible information on the nature and affects of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) * A detailed chronology of legislation across disciplines * Recommendations on family issues surrounding the care and education of those with ASD * Possible intervention programs * Appropriate strategies for use in care settings, education settings, and at home. Based on years of experience, this resource offers a range of strategies for all those working with or caring for adolescents and adults with ASD.

From one of the most well-known authors in the area of transition comes a book focused on youth with autism. Together with two community-based professionals, Paul Wehman discusses how considerations for transition are different for young adults with autism and presents proven strategies for successful planning.

Exposure anxiety is increasingly understood as a crippling condition affecting a high proportion of people on the autism spectrum. To many it is an invisible cage, leaving the person suffering from it aware, but buried alive in their own involuntary responses and isolation. Exposure Anxiety: The Invisible Cage describes the condition and its underlying physiological causes, and presents a range of approaches and strategies that can be used to combat it. Based on personal experience, the book shows how people with autism can be shown how to emerge from the stranglehold of exposure anxiety and develop their individuality.