Books on Children with Asperger Syndrome

Books on children with Asperger syndrome are one of the first resources a parent can turn to when dealing with their own child. Because autism spectrum disorder diagnoses have skyrocketed over the last several decades, many books have been written on the subject. However, that is a mixed blessing – not all of the books are accurate, and at the very least, finding the right book to meet parents or teachers' needs can be a challenge in and of itself.

Teaching reading to autistic children

When asked to recommend helpful books on children with Asperger, Dana Pellebon, the mother of a four-year-old high-functioning autistic child, immediately responded: "Anything by Temple Grandin." Diagnosed at age two, Dr. Temple Grandin was lucky enough to have early treatment and the support of many family, educational, and medical specialists. Now a successful veterinarian, author, and speaker, many of her books deal with the life of a child with Asperger syndrome from a first-hand perspective.

Thinking in Pictures is Dr. Grandin's autobiography, speaking to what it is like for a child to live with autism from a survivor's point of view. She not only goes through her own particular coping mechanisms (such as the ‘’’squeeze machine’’’ modeled after the squeeze chutes used to manage cattle) but also discusses other treatments, medications, and diagnoses.

Dr. Temple Grandin has written many other books such as The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s and Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships (with Sean Barron). More information on her work is available on her website.

Developing Talents is a career-planning guide focused on the opportunities and strategies available to the support teams for high-functioning adolescents including those with Asperger syndrome. Written with Kate Duffy, mother of two, the book is very practical and a useful guide in finding the right career to suit the abilities of children with ASD as they grow older.

One of the best ways to find out about good books on this subject is to join support groups for autism either locally or online and simply ask others what books have helped them. Often large organizations such as Autism Speaks will have lists and recommendations as new books come out, sometimes even reviewed by professionals.

Another resource is something like lists on Amazon.com such as Asperger's Books that are Godsends. These lists are personal recommendations of people who have read these books and want to share.

The lists include books that are good for the nitty-gritty details of life with Asperger's syndrome, such as the works of Tony Attwood or The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration by Patricia Romanowski Bashe.

Other works that are more general or anecdotal include Finding Ben: A Mother's Journey Through the Maze of Asperger's by Barbara LaSalle and Running on Dreams' by Herb Heiman. These very personal works can serve as a source of inspiration for everyone working to overcome the challenges of Asperger's syndrome.

[[Asperger Syndrome Therapies|Asperger syndrome therapies vary almost as much as the characteristics of the disorder itself, and there is often a great deal of controversy among experts as to the best methods of treatment. Books like The Self-Help Guide for Special Kids and Their Parents by Joan Lord Matthews and When Love is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder by Nancy L. Thomas lay out specific strategies for dealing with the difficulties of autism.

It's important to remember that there are often more children in the family affected by ASD than just the one diagnosed with it. Jeanne Safer's work The Normal One: Life With a Difficult or Damaged Sibling is an account of over 60 interviews with the siblings who may experience early maturity, an overdeveloped sense of responsibility or perfectionist attitude and sometimes even guilt for their own health.

While no book can replace a loving and concerned family of parents, siblings, and professionals working to improve the lives of children with Asperger syndrome, they can help let people know two of the most important things: they are not alone, and there is hope.

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