books
Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism
Winner of the Autism Society of America’s Dr. Temple Grandin Award for the Outstanding Literary Work in Autism
A groundbreaking book on autism, by one of the world’s leading experts, who portrays autism as a unique way of being human—this is “required reading….Breathtakingly simple and profoundly positive” (Chicago Tribune).
“A must-read for anyone touched by autism… Dr. Prizant’s Uniquely Human is a crucial step in promoting better understanding and a more humane approach” (Associated Press). Instead of classifying “autistic” behaviors as signs of pathology, Dr. Prizant sees them as part of a range of strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming. Rather than curb these behaviors, it’s better to enhance abilities, build on strengths, and offer supports that will lead to more desirable behavior and a better quality of life.
Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System
Interoception is a hot topic in other fields, however, up until this point, little has been discussed about interoception in the field of autism. Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System provides a detailed connection between interoception and common experiences of individuals with autism. “Mahler provides research and practical strategies that can be easily implemented across the lifespan to help individuals manage their bodies, emotions and self-regulation” (Brenda Myles, PhD).
The research showing just how important interoception is to many aspects of life is unequivocal.
Interoception: The Eighth Sensory delivers an overview of this research and describes the clear link between interoception and important skill areas such as self-awareness, self-regulation, problem solving, social intuition, perspective taking and many more.
Sensory Issues and High-Functioning Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders
This is the first book on the sensory issues in ASD that throughly describes my child. This Book provides realistic strategies and truly consolidates the variety of complex issues faced by parents in dealing with the symptoms of high-functioning autism. –Angela Collins, parent and special education parent advocate, Atlanta, Georgia.
…This is the most comprehensively practical sensory-related book I have read to date! I will be carrying this book along as I go on consultations because it addresses most of the gaps I see between knowing sensory issues are important for individuals with ASD and related disorders and understanding how to meet them… –Judy Endow, MSW, autism consultant
Navigating the “neurotypical” world with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism (AS/HFA) can be extremely stressful. But by understanding the specific ways your brain works differently–and how to tap into your personal strengths–you can greatly enhance your well-being. In this wise and practical book, experienced therapist Valerie L. Gaus helps you identify goals that will make your life better and take concrete steps to achieve them. Grounded in psychological science, the techniques in this book help you: *Learn the unspoken rules of social situations.*Improve your communication skills.*Get organized at home and at work.*Manage anxiety and depression.*Strengthen your relationships with family and friends.*Live more successfully on your own or with others. A wealth of stories, questionnaires, worksheets, and concrete examples help you find personalized solutions to problems you are likely to encounter. You can download and print additional copies of the worksheets for repeated use. Of special note, the Introduction was updated in 2017 with the latest information on how autism spectrum disorder is defined in DSM-5. Finally, a compassionate, knowledgeable, positive guide to living well on the spectrum.
In these pages, Temple presents the personal success stories of fourteen unique individuals that illustrate the extraordinary potential of those on the autism spectrum.
One of Temple’s primary missions is to help people with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and ADHD tap into their hidden abilities. Temple chose these contributors, from a wide variety of different skill sets, to show how it can be done. Each individual tells their own story, in their own words, about their lives, relationships, and eventual careers. The contributors also share how they dealt with issues they confronted while growing up, such as bullying, making eye contact, and honing social skills.
Different…Not Less shows how, with work, each of the contributors:
Found invaluable mentors
Learned skills necessary for employment when young
Became successfully employed
Developed self-confidence
Faced the challenges of forming and maintaining relationships, and raising families
The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum
A cutting-edge account of the latest science of autism, from the best-selling author and advocate. Weaving her own experience with remarkable new discoveries, Grandin introduces the neuroimaging advances and genetic research that link brain science to behavior, even sharing her own brain scan to show us which anomalies might explain common symptoms. We meet the scientists and self-advocates who are exploring innovative theories of what causes autism and how we can diagnose and best treat it. Grandin also highlights long-ignored sensory problems and the transformative effects we can have by treating autism symptom by symptom, rather than with an umbrella diagnosis. Most exciting, she argues that raising and educating kids on the spectrum isn’t just a matter of focusing on their weaknesses; in the science that reveals their long-overlooked strengths she shows us new ways to foster their unique contributions.
From the “aspies” in Silicon Valley to the five-year-old without language, Grandin understands the true meaning of the word spectrum. The Autistic Brain is essential reading from the most respected and beloved voices in the field.
Dr. Temple Grandin is a doctor of animal science, a professor at Colorado State University, a best-selling author, an autism activist, and a consultant on animal behavior. She also invented the “hug box”, a device to calm the sensory systems of those on the autism spectrum. The subject of an award-winning, 2010 biographical film, Temple Grandin, she also was listed in the Time 100 list of the one hundred most influential people in the world in the “Heroes” category.
Have you even wanted to talk to Temple about the sensory issues people with autism, Asperger’s, PDD and Sensory Processing Disorder deal with? Here, in this handy reference book, Temple gives a overview of what it is like to have autism and sensory difficulties, tells how she overcame her sensory issues, gives useful tips, then answers your questions in an easy to reference Q&A.
Born with autism, both Temple Grandin and Sean Barron now live famously successful social lives. However, their paths were quite different. Temple’s logical mind controlled her social behavior. She interacted with many adults and other children, experiencing varied social situations. Logic informed her decision to obey social rules and avoid unpleasant consequences. Sean’s emotions controlled his social behavior. Baffled by social rules, isolated and friendless, he made up his own, and applied them to others. When they inevitably broke his rules, he felt worthless and unloved.
Both Temple and Sean ultimately came to terms with the social world and found their places in it. Whether you are a person with autism, a caregiver in the autism community, or just someone interested in an outsider view of society, their powerful stories will enthrall and enlighten
Older Adults and Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Introduction and Guide
The first book to look seriously at the practical issues facing older adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), Wenn Lawson’s groundbreaking handbook offers support, advice, and sensible ways in which to look at the issues.
Informed by current research, interviews with older people diagnosed with ASC and his own experience, the author covers a multitude of issues including dealing with transitions and changes to routine, communicating an individual’s particular needs and wishes to care home staff, the social and financial impact of retirement, mental health, and sensory and physical changes and challenges.
Older people with ASC and their family and friends, as well as the professionals supporting them, will find this an indispensable and accessible book.
Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults
Written for adults on the spectrum and those involved parents, spouses, friends this book is divided into two sections: life and love. In the life section, the author describes and suggests concrete ways to deal with some of the issues and problems faced by those on the autism spectrum. Examples include how to accommodate sensory issues, maintain a home, and manage a career. In the love section, instead of focusing on one topic, the author includes a broad spectrum of suggestions for different types of relationships and weaves these together with the core concept of self-esteem.
Up to 85% of the Asperger’s population are without full-time employment, though many have above-average intelligence. Rudy Simone, an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome and an accomplished author, consultant, and musician, created this insightful resource to help employers, educators, and therapists accommodate this growing population, and to help people with Asperger’s find and keep gainful employment.
Rudy’s candid advice is based on her personal experiences and the experiences of over fifty adults with Asperger’s from all over the world, in addition to their employers and numerous experts in the field. Detailed lists provide balanced guidelines for success, while Rudy’s “Interview Tips” and “Personal Job Map” tools will help Aspergians, young or old, find their employment niche. There is more to a job than what the tasks are: from social blunders, to sensory issues, to bullying by coworkers, Simone presents solutions to difficult challenges. Readers will be enriched, enlightened, and ready to work―together!
Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook: An Employment Workbook for Adults with Asperger Syndrome
This practical manual will enable people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism to deepen their self-understanding and appreciate their value as working individuals. Through step-by-step self-assessment, the reader is encouraged to engage actively in a self-paced exploration of their employment history, and ultimately to identify the work best suited to their personal needs, talents and strengths. The workbook contains practical exercises, with clear explanations and examples of how to use them. It leads the reader to identify and explore:
* three jobs they have held in different life periods
* their interests, skills and talents, and their application to work
* their style of learning and style of work
* the social skills required by specific jobs, as identified by other people than the autobiographer
* the AS characteristics which further and impede work performance
* successful and unsuccessful survival strategies
* issues around diagnosis and disclosure which affect life at work and outside it
* creative problem solving for the present and the future – a personal wish list.
Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Expanded Edition
Compelling and witty, Liane Holliday Willey's account of growing to adulthood as an undiagnosed 'Aspie' has been read by thousands of people on and off the autism spectrum since it was first published in 1999. Bringing her story up to date, including her diagnosis as an adult, and reflecting on the changes in attitude over 15 years, this expanded edition will continue to entertain (and inform) all those who would like to know a little more about how it feels to spend your life `pretending to be normal'.
Women from Another Planet?: Our Lives in the Universe of Autism
Mention the word autism and the room suddenly turns silent. Its the dreaded A word. Peoples attention turns to late night TV public service ads declaring that autistic children are imprisoned by autism and need curing at all cost. Recent autobiographies have helped dispel this dire description by suggesting that autism is not a prison and that the door is unlocked and youre free to come in. Women from Another Planet? moves beyond these autistic life stories in important ways. Its a collection of stories and conversations, all of them by women on the autism spectrum who speak candidly, insightfully, and often engagingly about both their gender in terms of their autism and their autism in terms of their gender. It is written not just for parents and professionals, like the other works, but also to those women still searching for ways to understand the unnamed difference they live with, as well as the wider audience of discerning readers. If you enter the unlocked door of these Women from Another Planet? you may end up with a question mark or two about your planet. Is normalcy really all its cracked up to be?
If you’re in a relationship with someone who has Asperger’s syndrome, it’s likely that your partner sometimes seems cold and insensitive. Other times, he or she may have emotional outbursts for no apparent reason. And in those moments when you can’t understand each other at all, you both feel fed up, frustrated, and confused.
The behavior of people with Asperger’s can be hard to understand and easy to misinterpret, which is why it’s so important to learn more about your partner’s condition. The tools presented in Loving Someone with Asperger’s Syndrome will help you build intimacy and improve the way you and your partner communicate. Filled with assessments and exercises for both you and your partner, this book will help you forge a deeper, more fulfilling relationship.
•Understand the effect of Asperger’s syndrome on your partner
•Practice effective communication skills
•Constructively work through frustrations and fights
•Establish relationship ground rules to help you fulfill each others’ needs