Living Your Best Life with Asperger's Syndrome
How a Young Boy and His Mother Deal with the Challenges and Joys of Being Eleven, Brilliant and Socially Absent
"Both parents and professionals need to read this book, and then other children with Asperger's syndrome will indeed live a better life"
-Tony Attwood, Clinical Psychologist
Co-founder, Minds & Hearts Clinic
Effectively accommodating the social and academic needs of children on the autistic spectrum is an important task in every school. This extraordinary book, written by the mother of a child with Asperger's syndrome, focuses on living your best life despite your difference. The author describes the problems and pain she faced as her son changed and encountered difficulties at every stage, and demonstrates her own resilience and determination.
Each chapter provides a summary with anecdotal stories describing how a young boy navigates his way through the social challenges that he faces every day. It discusses:
- Diagnosis and recognizing the difference
- Providing support and understanding
- Communication
- Concrete thinking
A practical guide to benefit parents, teachers, and international autism organizations, this book also is a celebration of a mother and son and their relationship.
'Every year I read several manuscripts written by mothers about having a child with Asperger’s syndrome. The quality of manuscripts varies considerably. As soon as I started to read ‘Living Your Best Life with Asperger’s syndrome’ I knew it was going to be one of my favourite biographies. I was entranced by Karra’s descriptions of her son’s intellectual abilities, his perspective on life and sense of humour. The anecdotes illustrate aspects of Asperger’s syndrome perfectly. Professionals will have the ‘Ah ha!’ moment, as the descriptions of events and conversations are consistent with the theoretical models of Asperger’s syndrome. Both parents and professionals need to read this book, and then other children with Asperger’s syndrome will indeed live a better life' - Professor Tony Attwood
'This book is a worthwhile read and written in a very positive way. Many professionals will find the anecdotes evocative and perhaps illumination. There are also useful and practical tips and ideas noted throughout the book. I would happily recommend it to parents, especially those who are in the early days, post diagnosis and looking for information, ideas and a positive perspective' - Alison Leask, Chair of Autism, Argyll, Scotland
'This is a very accessible book which would be helpful to parents and teachers meeting autism for the first time. The book charts a success story and as such should make an encouraging read. This would be well worth having a parents' group or staff room library.' - Special
