Title:
The everything parent's guide to children with Asperger's syndrome : help, hope, and guidance
Author:
ISBN:
9781593371531
Publication Information:
Avon, Mass. : Adams Media, c2005.
Physical Description:
xvi, 301 p. ; 23 cm.
Series:
Contents:
1. Defining Asperger's syndrome -- Background and history -- On the autism spectrum -- Asperger's defined -- Asperger's and autistic-like commonalities -- Prevalence and misdiagnosis -- 2. Positive perspectives -- We're all more alike -- Similar habits -- Confronting negative feelings -- Offering encouragement and support -- Positive philosophies -- Comfort zones -- 3. Seeking diagnosis -- Is a diagnosis necessary? -- Making the decision -- Local resources for diagnosis -- Intervention -- Disclosure and self-understanding -- 4. Discipline -- Your approach to discipline -- Setting rules -- Communicating expectations -- Seeing your child's point of view -- Knowing when to discipline -- Meltdowns -- 5. Communication -- How would you feel? -- Communicating visually -- Extra processing time -- Eye contact -- Creating trust -- Helping your child crack the "social code" -- Additional social strategies --
6. Physical health -- Recognizing pain -- Allergies -- Gastrointestinal issues -- Why does pain go unreported? -- Stories for reporting pain -- 7. Mental health -- Prevention not intervention -- Depression -- Bipolar disorder -- Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder -- Ways to approach mental health -- Fostering mental health self-advocacy -- 8. Passions -- Identifying and valuing personal passions -- How others perceive passions -- Passions and relationship-building -- Passions as bridges to learning -- Passions as bridges to employment -- When is a passion an OCD? -- 9. Family dynamics -- Parents with Asperger's -- Recognizing Asperger's in you or your spouse -- Sibling relationships -- Extended family -- Your community -- 10. Fostering relationships -- Your child's interactions -- The dance of reciprocal flow -- Conversational "bag of tricks" -- Opportunities for bonding -- Finding allies -- Is it okay to be alone? --
11. Educational programming -- Your child's school experience -- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act -- Special education -- Creating the individual education plan -- Resolving disagreements -- Alternative education programs -- 12. School-related issues -- The school day -- How your child learns -- Environmental issues -- Homework -- Bullying -- Unstructured school environments -- 13. Extracurricular activities -- Athletic options -- Playing on a team -- Being a good sport -- School-sponsored activities -- Summer camp -- 14. Significant transitions and change -- Attending a new school -- Transition to new home -- Transition to college -- Handling divorce -- Loss of loved ones -- Follow-up support -- 15. Traveling and vacations -- Fun vacations -- A role in planning -- Vacation anxieties -- Flying -- Amusement parks --
16. Sexuality -- The birds and the bees -- Masturbation -- Infatuation -- Dating -- Same-sex attraction -- 17. Strategies of lifelong value -- Personal schedules -- The touchstone -- The social out -- Acting and music -- Written narratives -- Spirituality -- 18. Employment -- Identifying job interests -- Part-time and after-school work -- Applying for the job -- The job interview -- If your child doesn't get the job -- On-the-job issues -- 19. Transitioning to adulthood -- Planning for the future -- The person-centered planning process -- Independent living -- Learning new responsibilities -- Don't get taken -- Mark's strategies -- 20. Law enforcement -- Understanding justice -- Misunderstandings -- Calling the police -- 21. The rewards of being an Asperger's parent -- What have you learned? -- The desire to give back -- Asperger's and the world -- The future -- Appendix A. Further reading -- Appendix B. Web site resources.
Summary:
While children with Asperger's are generally of average or above average intelligence, they experience challenges with social skills, communication, and coordination, among other issues. The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Asperger's Syndrome is an informative resource that helps parents to recognize areas in which their child needs support. Filled with helpful hints and practical guidance, this authoritative work is designed to provide parents with the latest information on the best treatments and therapies available, education options, and ways to make life easier for parent and child on a day to day basis. Parents learn how to begin the process of seeking diagnosis, introduce their child to social settings, build positive relationships inside and outside the family unit, prepare their child for adolescence and adulthood.
