This insightful book investigates the experiences of seven women with autism as they transition from childhood to adulthood, and how they make sense of that journey. Taken from the autobiographies of women including Liane Holliday-Willey and Temple Grandin, these accounts shine a light on issues unique to women with autism. Heather Stone Wodis provides a detailed and thoughtful exploration of their common experiences, and each story offers a new perspective that illuminates the diagnosis from a different angle. This is a fascinating look at how generational differences, such as access to the internet, can provide more avenues toward self-expression, political mobilization, and advocacy. It also explores the idea that, no matter the era, the unyielding support of family and a diagnosis in childhood can help girls with autism transition toward adulthood.
Often thought of as a predominantly ‘male’ disorder, autism has long gone unidentified, unnoticed and unsupported in girls – sometimes with devastating consequences for their social and mental well-being. As current research reveals a much more balanced male-to-female ratio in autism, this book provides crucial insight into autistic girls’ experiences, helping professionals to recognize, understand, support and teach them effectively. Drawing on the latest research findings, chapters consider why girls have historically been overlooked by traditional diagnostic approaches, identifying behaviours that may be particular to girls, and exploring the ‘camouflaging’ that can make the diagnosis of autistic girls more difficult. Chapters emphasize both the challenges and advantages of autism and take a multidisciplinary approach to encompass contributions from autistic girls and women, their family members, teachers, psychologists and other professionals. The result is an invaluable source of first-hand insights, knowledge and strategies, which will enable those living or working with girls on the autism spectrum to provide more informed and effective support. Giving voice to the experiences, concerns, needs and hopes of girls on the autism spectrum, this much-needed text will provide parents, teachers and other professionals with essential information to help them support and teach autistic girls more effectively.
"What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew" is the book that many of us wish our parents would have had access to when we were growing up. In this first book release from the Autism Women's Network, the autistic contributors write with honesty and generosity about the emotional needs, sensitivity, and vibrancy of autistic girls.
Internationally acclaimed life coach, Dr. Claire Jack, draws on her extensive experience of working with women with autism, in addition to her personal experience as a woman with autism, to help you shape the life you deserve. This book takes you through the stages you might encounter in coming to terms with your autism - from fear to relief, shame to self-validation, confusion to excitement - so that you can lead a life which respects and celebrates your unique needs. Do you want to continue living a life which is just ok? Or do you deserve to live a life which allows you to embrace your true self? If "ok" isn't enough any more, this book will support you in creating the changes you desire. So many women with autism spend their lives masking, or camouflaging, their autistic symptoms that they lose their sense of self. This book helps you accept yourself, as you are, and move towards a point of authenticity. After a lifetime of feeling confused, emotionally overwhelmed, socially awkward and being considered "odd" by others, many women become so good at camouflaging that they forget who they are and what they need from life. They may suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and self-sabotaging coping mechanisms. Masking seems like a common sense approach to pass as "normal", but the cost is huge. This book explores what it is to live in a world where you stop trying to be that square peg fitting into a round hole, and explore how you can make the hole fit your needs instead. From mundane everyday decisions to life changing choices, you'll learn how to create a world in which you and others value you. This book takes you on a journey, from exploring how and why you might choose to seek out a diagnosis, to how to nurture your unique autistic brain with passions and interests, to how to create healthy social boundaries and develop emotional regulation strategies. You're provided with exercises which encourage you to think about what autism means to you and how you can practically apply what you've learned. Throughout, you're provided with insights into the experiences of the many inspirational women I have worked with who, like you, have faced considerable challenges in their lives and who have been determined to turning their lives around.
This honest, to-the-point guide illuminates the experience of young Autistic girls and explores the situations they can easily fall victim to. Powerful case studies show how easily misunderstandings can arise for Autistic girls and help the reader to identify common patterns of abuse. Providing professionals with access to safeguarding strategies that are straightforward to implement and highly effective, this is essential reading for everyone who wants to better understand the challenges faced by this vulnerable group, and ensure they have access to the same opportunities to secure a good education and build safe and happy relationships as their peers.
Why is Autism Spectrum Disorder so misunderstood in girls and women and why do so many go under the radar without the support that they need? This practical guide explains the unique issues that affect females with autism and provides tools and strategies that girls, women and their families can use in day-to-day life. Following the story of Alison, a girl diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, through both childhood and adulthood, we get an inside view of the challenges that girls and women with autism face. Straightforward information and advice is provided on key topics including: · social skills and communication · how to overcome bullying · sensory issues and food sensitivity · the need for routine · perceptions of gender · and physiological changes. Essential reading for parents of daughters on the spectrum, as well as girls and women who carry the diagnosis themselves.
Since the early 1940s, when first identified as childhood psychosis and autistic psychopathy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has continued to burgeon into a major focus of inquiry and interest among researchers, practitioners, and the public alike. With each passing decade, the number of scholarly articles addressing ASD and related disabilities continues to soar. Today, thousands of papers on autism are published annually across various disciplines and journals, making it challenging – if not impossible – to keep pace with, let alone synthesize, all the latest developments. Based on a solid historical foundation of autism theory and research, the International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders integrates the broad scholarly base of literature with a trenchant analysis of the state of the field in nosology, etiology, assessment, and treatment. Its expert contributors examine recent findings and controversies (e.g., how prevalent autism actually is), along with longstanding topics of interest as well as emerging issues. Coverage includes: A survey of diagnostic criteria and assessment strategies. Genetic, behavioral, biopsychosocial, and cognitive models. Psychiatric disorders in persons with ASD. Theory of mind and facial recognition. Diagnostic instruments for assessing core features and challenging behaviors. Evidence-based psychosocial, pharmacological, and integrative treatments. Interventions specifically for adults with ASD. Training issues for professionals and parents. A review of findings of successful and promising therapies, coupled with guidance on how to distinguish between dubious and effective treatments. The International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders is an indispensable resource for researchers, professors, graduate students, and allied practitioners in clinical child and school psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, education, social work, rehabilitation, pediatric medicine, and developmental psychology.
Subject: Girls with Asperger's Syndrome are less frequently diagnosed than boys, & even once symptoms have been recognized, help is often not readily available. The image of coping well presented by AS females can often mask difficulties, deficits, challenges, & loneliness.
Ellie notices that her body is changing. Hair is growing in new places and there are other changes happening too. Ellie's mum helps her understand that she has started growing into a woman. Following Ellie as she begins to notice changes to her body, this simple resource helps parents and carers teach girls with autism and related conditions about puberty. It covers all the changes that they will experience, both emotional such as new feelings and physical such as periods. This fully illustrated positive and entertaining book provides the perfect opportunity to talk about puberty with girls and young women with autism or related conditions.
