Embracing Asperger's: A Primer for Parents and Professionals
Who is this child? Who is this student?
If I tell you that he has a 125 IQ, do you know him? How about if I add that he has a unique neuropsychological profile, with wide-ranging strengths and weaknesses? Do you sense that you know him when I say that he is socially awkward, preoccupied with airplanes and prone to one-sided conversations? How about when you hear that he doesn't like sunlight in his eyes, loves the smell of old books and enjoys pressing his thumbs hard into the tips of his other fingers? And will you recognize him when I inform you that he's a bit clumsy, speaks with an adult's vocabulary, is awfully disorganized and suffers colossal anxiety?
Like most of us, hearing this description will give you some sense of the child. You will begin to form an impression of him. And when you actually meet him in person, you probably will not be surprised by much of what you see and hear. When he starts to talk and recites in detail the weight and wingspan and flying range of military aircraft, you may nod to yourself. Just as you will when he avoids your eyes or sits rigidly and uncomfortably, as if your mere presence poses danger to him. His relative lack of social etiquette and stilted way of talking will confirm what you're already fairly sure of.
Yes, you are right. This is a boy with Asperger's syndrome. But just because you can rightly identify the child and the Asperger's, does that mean you really know him?
"Captures the essence of the many complexities of Asperger syndrome from child, parent, and teacher perspectives. Bromfield's clear and compassionate guidance, informed by his 30 years of clinical work, will serve readers well. Embracing Asperger's provides important guidance for supporting children with differences of any kind."
–Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychoogy
'Delves into the minds of children with Asperger's, enlightening the reader as to how to nurture, honor, and understand them. Perhaps the most important lesson to be garnered from the book is Bromfield's view that all children with Asperger's need to be loved and honored to the same extent as neurotypical children.
–ForeWord Review
"Implores us to consider what life must be like for each child.... Ideal for all parents and educators but would be particularly useful for the parent who has read widely, attended every course, become bankrupt from trying many 'experts' and feels stuck and worn down. [A] gentle, sweet and kind book.
–AS Teens
"Offers compassionate insight and realistic advice for parents and educators, in what is perhaps above all, a celebration of human uniqueness."
–Teach Secondary
"Offering rich insights into what Asperger's is like for the child himself or herself, this compassionate book will empower parents and teachers, enabling them to nurture the child's strengths and work towards a happy and promising future."
–ERIC
Contents
1. The Child's Burden.
2. The Child's View.
3. The Parent's View.
4. The Teacher's View.
5. Creating a Safe Place.
6. Treasuring Precious Goods.
7. Quieting Sensory Overload.
8. Quelling Anxiety.
9. Facilitating Communication.
10. Tending the Intellect.
11. Connecting to Feelings.
12. Promoting Friendship.
13. Giving and Nurturing Empathy.
14. Feeding Creativity.
15. Considering Girls.
16. Other Children's Views.
17. Butterfly Love.
18. Connecting It All.
References.