Review of "Our Journey Through High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome"
By Linda Andron (editor)Jessica Kingsley, 2001
Review by Jodi Forschmiedt, M.Ed. on Jan 31st 2003
In spite of the roadmap in the title, this is not a systematic examination of the lives of people with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome, but a collection of memoirs written by parents of children with those disorders. Members of a close-knit support group, the writers and their children know one another and refer to each other in their narratives. Six deeply personal essays comprise the bulk of the book, plus two forwards by professionals in the field, and a chapter on the difficulty of teaching or even defining social skills, by the editor and group leader.
In "Humor, Imagination, and Empathy in Autism" Jeannette Darlington disputes the oft-repeated claim that children with autism lack these qualities. She describes in some detail methods she used to help her two autistic sons develop a "theory of mind," the notion that other people are separate individuals who do not see, feel, or think exactly as you do. A series of wonderful cartoons drawn by Darlington when the boys were young illustrate small concepts that gradually built their understanding.
Ruth Mandernach makes a case for the overwhelming importance of peers in "One Best Friend." She refuses to buy into the politically correct assumption that children with disabilities should have neurologically-typical friends. Mandernach spent a great deal of energy helping her son develop a close, lifelong friendship with one of Darlington's sons. She argues that their similar impairments give them a crucial point of commonality, and that they tolerate one another's idiosyncrasies better than a typical peer could. Mandernach also points out that both sets of parents carefully nurtured the relationship between the boys, whereas the family of a typical child would not be motivated to put out the effort required, or to have a child with autism play and eat at their home on a regular basis.
Editor Linda Andron's chapter "The Myth of Social Skills" reveals some of the mishaps that occur when children with autism are taught lists of rules to follow in social situations. For example, children who have been taught to tell the truth may be unable to determine when they should be falsely complimentary, or when they should just say nothing. Andron concludes that for a child with autism or Asperger syndrome, learning to value oneself may be more important in the long run than memorizing rules and skills.
In the most touching chapter, "Making Friends with Aliens," Jennifer Westbay presents an autobiography written (with help) by her son Max, to introduce himself to his new second grade classmates at an inclusive school. Max teaches the children (as well as the teachers) about Asperger Syndrome and how it affects his behavior. He mentions his talents as well as his weaknesses, and asks for patience, understanding, and friendship. Max's book could be used as a template for other kids with disabilities who want to give some information about themselves to their classmates.
The remaining chapters contain additional insights by parents, including a father who realizes that he shares his son's disorder. Not surprisingly, he writes his story in a vague and wandering manner. In general the book would have benefited from a more heavy-handed editor to improve the flow of some of the essays.
Our Journey Through High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome will appeal to parents of young children diagnosed with the disorders. The musings of the writers, and especially some passages written by Darlington's now grown sons, should give frightened parents hope, and a vision of the future for their children. In that respect, perhaps it is a roadmap.
© 2003 Jodi Forschmiedt
Jodi Forschmiedt reads, writes, and teaches in Seattle, Washington.
Resources
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Articles
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An Overview of Child Developmental Theories
- An Overview of Child Development Theories
- Developmental Channels
- Child Development Stages vs. Continuous Development
- Developmental Stages and Milestones of Child Development
- Sensitive Periods in Child Development
- Major Child Development Theories and Theorists
- Sigmund Freud and Child Development
- Erik Erikson and Child Development
- Lawrence Kohlberg and Child Development
- Jean Piaget and Child Development
- Urie Bronfenbrenner and Child Development
- Child Development Overview Summary
- Infants: Parenting and Child Development
- Early Childhood: Parenting and Child Development
- Middle Childhood: Parenting and Child Development
- Adolescence: Parenting and Child Development
- Child Mental Disorders and Illnesses
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An Overview of Child Developmental Theories
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Questions and Answers
- Do I Have a Mental Condition?
- Is There Something Wrong?
- 11 Year Old Daughter Jealous of my Boyfriend
- Are my past sexual fantasies dangerous and unusual?
- A child with a bad attitude
- Children's role-play after loss. Is this an instance of denial?
- young teen response to death and grief
- can 7-yo boy have antisocial personality disorder?
- Self esteem
- I\'m in love with my therapist
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37 more
- Is this a eating disorder ?
- Teen in Full Retreat
- Anxiety in children
- Is Depression a Factor in Children With ADD?
- Dad will shoot through hoops.
- Helping my almost 19 year old daughter face the real world
- dominant ego
- 19 year old daughter in abusive relationship
- Why is my 3 year older fixated with the witch and the bad guys?
- Mother showering & sleeping in same bed with 5 year old
- my 7 year old nephew
- my daughter
- Good 14 Year Old Boy becomes freshman and falls apart
- child psychological disorder
- 10 year old dreaming of killing
- How to communicate to a \'feeler\'
- preteen bad behavior
- Teenager...angst vs. mental health issue
- homesick
- Does My Child Have A Mental Problem?
- How Does Childhood Abuse Influence Adulthood?
- Failing My Daughter
- I Wanna Be Thin!
- Hypochondriac Daughter
- Attachment Disorder
- Self-Abusive Step-Daughter
- Too Young For Meds
- Is Bipolar Inheritable?
- How Long To Diagnose ADHD?
- Childhood Depression
- Perfectionistic Son
- Paranoia
- My Granddaughter Is Acting Bizarrely
- Boarding School Blues
- Self-Punishing Son
- Bipolar Chat Rooms?
- Dogs Instead of Children?
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Book & Media Reviews
- 100 Things Guys Need to Know
- 3 NBS of Julian Drew
- A Guide to Asperger Syndrome
- A Tribe Apart
- A User Guide to the GF/CF Diet for Autism, Asperger Syndrome and AD/HD
- A Walk in the Rain With a Brain
- Adolescence and Body Image
- Adolescent Depression
- After
- Aggression and Antisocial Behavior in Children and Adolescents
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- All Alone in the Universe
- Amelia Rules
- America
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- Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems, Second Edition
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- Bad Girl
- Between Two Worlds
- Beyond Appearance
- Beyond Diversity Day
- Big Mouth & Ugly Girl
- Bill Henson
- Bipolar Disorders
- Body Image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity
- Body Image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity in Youth
- Boy
- Boys
- Branded
- Breaking Point
- Breathing Underwater
- Bringing Up Parents
- Bullying and Teasing
- Can't Eat, Won't Eat
- Catalyst
- Child and Adolescent Psychological Disorders
- Children Changed by Trauma
- Children with Emerald Eyes
- Children’s Dreaming and the Development of Consciousness
- City of One
- Concise Guide to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Conquering the Beast Within
- Contentious Issues
- Cracked
- Cut
- Dancing in My Nuddypants
- Demystifying the Autistic Experience
- Descartes' Baby
- Dilemmas of Desire
- Dirty
- Doing It
- Doing School
- Dying to Be Thin
- Eating an Artichoke
- Educating Children With Autism
- Elijah's Cup
- Ellison the Elephant
- Emerald City Blues
- Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Young Children
- Every Girl Tells a Story
- Fast Girls
- Feather Boy
- Firegirl
- Forever Young
- Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome
- Freewill
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- Georgia Under Water
- Girl in the Mirror
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- How Children Learn the Meanings of Words
- How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do If You Can't
- Hug Me
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- Jake Riley
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- Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas
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- Learning About School Violence
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- More Than a Label
- Myths of Childhood
- New Hope for Children and Teens with Bipolar Disorder
- No Two Alike
- Not Much Just Chillin'
- Odd Girl Out
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- On the Frontier of Adulthood
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- Ophelia Speaks
- Ophelia's Mom
- Our Journey Through High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Out of the Dust
- Overcoming School Anxiety
- Parenting and the Child's World
- Parenting Your Out-Of-Control Teenager
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- The Secret Lives of Girls
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- The Shared Heart
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- The Unhappy Child
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- The Whole Child
- Then Again, Maybe I Won't
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- Touching Spirit Bear
- Trauma in the Lives of Children
- Treacherous Love
- True Believer
- Twisted
- Unhappy Teenagers
- Way to Be!
- We're Not Monsters
- What about the Kids
- What Would Joey Do?
- What's Happening to My Body? Book for Boys
- What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls
- When Nothing Matters Anymore
- When Sex Goes to School
- When Your Child Has an Eating Disorder
- Where The Kissing Never Stops
- Whose America?
- Why Are You So Sad?
- Winnicott
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- You Hear Me
- Young People and Mental Health
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- Developing Brain Injuries
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- Sleep Disorders in Children
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- Parents Slow to Recognize Obese Children
- Development of the Young Brain
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- Learning & cognitive difficulties in children: Challenges after a head injury, including concussion
- Vaccinations and Immunizations
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- Help Your Child with Diabetes Prepare for School
- Back to School: Dr. Stephen Whiteside on Routines
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- Ask the Expert - No more homework battles
- Weight Control For Children: Improving Physical Activity
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- Childhood Cancer facts and treatment information
- Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Cycle Honoring Youth Voices
- 6 Top Tips for Parents
- Kids With Asthma Who Are Exposed To Secondhand Smoke Have Twice As Many Hospitalizations
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