The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Completely Revised and Updated: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration - Hardcover

Patricia Romanowski Bashe; Barbara L. Kirby; Simon Baron-Cohen; Tony Attwood

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1400081521 ISBN 13: 9781400081523

Publisher: Harmony, 2005

Synopsis

Asperger Syndrome has become an increasingly common disorder. One in 300 individuals may have AS—exhibiting characteristics such as average to high intelligence, obsessive behavior, intense special interests, and difficulty dealing with everyday social situations—and it is now more prevalent than childhood cancer and Down’s syndrome.

As the mother of a boy diagnosed with AS in 1994, Barbara Kirby found scant resources and support. She developed the internationally renowned OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) Web site in 1995 to help other parents find the information they need. She teamed up with Patricia Romanowski Bashe, now co-owner of OASIS and herself the mother of a son with AS, to write The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome, which has become the standout authority in the field and a must-have for this growing audience.

Now Bashe and Kirby have crafted a fully revised edition of this comprehensive resource for parents, teachers, therapists, and anyone who knows or works with someone with AS. In addition to discussing what AS looks like and how parents can guide their unique child through the social, emotional, and intellectual challenges of growing up, this edition includes new developments made in AS research over the past four years, new thinking on diagnosis and evaluation, the latest approaches to medication and social skills development, and tips on navigating the maze of interventions, therapies, and special education. The authors know firsthand the joys and frustrations of raising children with AS, and they share their own experiences as well as those of dozens of parents facing the same issues.

Filled with practical information and emotional support, this is the most complete and authoritative guide available. Whether your child has been diagnosed or troubling symptoms are just becoming apparent, this book will point you in the right direction as you face the particular challenges of loving and raising a child with Asperger Syndrome.

About this title

About the Author:

Patricia Romanowski Bashe, M.S. Ed., co-owner of OASIS, has worked as an author and editor for more than twenty years. She has cowritten more than twenty-three books, including four national bestsellers. She is a certified special education teacher and executive director of the David Center, a Long Island–based not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving children and families facing autism spectrum disorders. She lives on Long Island, New York.

Barbara L. Kirby is the founder and moderator of OASIS, the award-winning online source for AS information and support. She moderates several online support forums and was a founding member of ASC-US, Inc. (Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States) and serves on its advisory board. She is also on the board of Homes for Independence, an organization that helps adults with autism spectrum disorders achieve home ownership. She lives in Delaware. Both Bashe and Kirby are parents of children with Asperger Syndrome.

Review:

“A godsend to the increasing number of families who have a child recently diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS). They will get sympathetic and sound practical advice for the difficulties they are facing, whether it is in coming to terms with the diagnosis or in choosing the right kind of education and therapy. Two heroic mothers, Kirby and Bashe, have made it their business to find out what AS is really like and what it entails in practice. They show by example that it is possible to meet the challenges of a child with unusual skills as well as problems. Above all, they show the way in which AS can enrich our lives.” —Uta Frith, professor of cognitive development, University of London, and deputy director of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, and author of Autism and Asperger Syndrome

“Well beyond merely identifying and defining AS, the authors provide dozens of field-tested strategies that can be used at home, in the classroom, and in the community. . . . Bashe and Kirby offer reliable counsel on topics related to diagnosis, treatment, assessment, and placement. If you share your home or classroom with a child with Asperger Syndrome, buy this book.” —Richard D. Lavoie, visiting professor, Simmons College, and executive producer of How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop

“The OASIS Web site has been a light of hope for individuals with Asperger Syndrome, their families, and advocates. Kirby pioneered ways of transforming the Internet into an accessible tool to help those who needed reputable information and practical guidelines on social disabilities. Her groundbreaking ways continue in this collaboration with Bashe, now in its second edition. . . . Inspired and informed by their professional background and by their uniquely intimate perspective on parenting children with AS, the two compiled a treasure of essential solutions to anyone who, like them, experiences the joys and challenges of nurturing the talents and addressing the needs of these very special individuals.” —Ami Klin, Ph.D., Harris Associate Professor of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center

“The complexities and treatment needs of the person with Asperger Syndrome(AS) are described far better in this comprehensive book than any other book on the subject. Virtually any topic that relates to helping the child with AS is discussed. . . . The reader can explore the emotional impact of this diagnosis on the family while also gaining insight into specific treatment strategies that can be used both by professionals and parents. This is an excellent and uplifting must-read for all parents and professionals trying to come to terms with their child or student who is ‘bright but clueless.’” —Michelle Garcia Winner, M.A., S.L.P.-C.C.C., director, the Center for Social Thinking

“Just when I decided that The OASIS Guide was the ultimate ‘go to’ book for AS, the authors made it even better! The completely revised and updated OASIS Guide yields another nugget of wisdom every time I pick it up. Whether the reader is new to AS, needing ideas about an emerging problem, or facing the next developmental stage, The OASIS Guide offers readable, practical advice. I’ll recommend it enthusiastically and often.” —Teresa Bolick, Ph.D., author of Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens and Teens Get Ready for the Real World and Asperger Syndrome and Young Children: Building Skills for the Real World

“To improve on the remarkable is an achievement few accomplish. With the revised edition of The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome, Patricia Romanowski Bashe and Barbara Kirby have created an even more essential resource for parents and professionals. At once comprehensive and easy-to navigate, the revised OASIS Guide will offer parents, teachers, and other professionals a wealth of information in a compassionate voice by parents who have been there. Every parent of a child with Asperger Syndrome, and every teacher working with these students, should own this book.” —Michael D. Powers, Psy.D., Center for Children with Special Needs, Yale Child Study Center, and author of Asperger Syndrome and Your Child: A Parent’s Guide

“A wonderful book—this volume will be an invaluable guide for parents and teachers.” —Fred R. Volkmar, M.D., professor of child psychiatry, psychology, and pediatrics, Yale Child Study Center

“The OASIS Guide is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on AS. This easy-to-read resource will provide readers with much-needed information on a broad array of topics.” —Diane Adreon, associate director, University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

“OASIS has long been a tremendous resource for family members and professionals. The authors have thoughtfully organized a massive amount of critical information into a comprehensive and valuable guide. Every family and professional should have a copy of this book.” —Dr. Cathy Pratt, board of directors, Autism Society of America

“Barbara L. Kirby and Patricia Romanowski Bashe have provided the community of Asperger Syndrome with more than a rainbow’s end of gold. They’ve opened a treasure chest brimming with understanding and support.” —Liane Holliday Willey, Ed.D., author of Pretending to Be Normal: Living with Asperger’s Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome in the Family: Redefining Normal

“If someone were to ask me to suggest the most useful resource about AS, I would not hesitate for an instant: The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome. This is a must-read book for parents, educators, and individuals with AS alike.” —Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D., author of Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns

“This inspiring book offers sound advice, comforting support, and remarkable insights with clarity of purpose, profound honesty, and depth of meaning. It’s destined to become a classic in its genre.” —Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., executive director, Autism and Developmental Disabilities Consultation Center

“Rarely does one find such a wealth of quality information all between the same two covers. This book has important work to do, and it is more than up to the task.” —Carol Gray, director, Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding

“Incredible! The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome contains tremendous advice, tips, and practical solutions to manage the confusion of special ed and Asperger Syndrome. The new parent and seasoned veteran should read the guide cover to cover. It is excellent.” —Peter W. D. Wright, Esq., coauthor of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law and owner of wrightslaw.com

About this edition

• Publisher: Harmony
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1400081521
• ISBN 13: 9781400081523
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 512