Children, Youth and Adults with Asperger Syndrome

Gail Hawkins is an experienced vocational consultant, who has specialized in working with people on the autism spectrum for the past 15 years. Formerly Director of the Kerry's Place Autism Services, in 1995 she founded Mission Possible, the first agency in North America to find avenues to employment specifically for people with Asperger Syndrome. Isabelle Hénault has a masters degree in sexology and a doctorate of psychology from the Quebec University in Montreal. She has a private practice that provides assessment and therapy for individuals, couples and families, and acts as a consultant to a variety of organizations and schools. Her expertise lies in Asperger's Syndrome, with a special emphasis on sexuality, and she is the author of a sociosexual education programme for people with AS. She is involved with several international research projects on sexual education and psychotherapy for people on the autism spectrum.

This book covers a lot of ground, but it does not stint on detail and thoroughness. It is easy to read and yet includes information and knowledge that will be useful in many different situations. It offers an insight into many important perspectives it is necessary to understand if one is to offer a useful response to Asperger's syndrome. This is a book that everyone should have the opportunity of reading and thinking about.

• Preface. Introduction to Asperger Syndrome: A developmental lifespan perspective. Kevin P. Stoddart, Aspergers Society of Ontario. Part I: Clinical and Service Perspectives. 1. Clinical assessment of children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. Rosina G. Schnurr, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. 2. Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. M. Mary Konstantareas, University of Guelph. 3. Enhancing academic, social, emotional, and behavioural functioning in children with Asperger Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disability. Barbara Muskat, Integra Foundation. 4. Tourette Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome: Overlapping symptoms and treatment implications. Trina Epstein and Jennifer Saltzman-Benaiah, Toronto Western Hospital. 5. Young adults with Asperger Syndrome: Psychosocial issues and interventions. Kevin P. Stoddart, Aspergers Society of Ontario. 6. Getting to work: Helping the adolescent with Asperger Syndrome transition to employment. Gail Hawkins, Mission Possible. 7. Sexuality and Asperger Syndrome: The need for socio-sexual education. Isabelle Hénault, University of Québec. Part II: Discipline-based Perspectives. 8. Communication and Asperger Syndrome: The speech-language pathologist's role. Tracie Lindblad, Child Development Centre of Oakville. 9. Integrating paediatrics and child development: Asperger Syndrome and the role of the developmental paediatrician. S. Wendy Roberts and Tamarah Kagan-Kushnir, University of Toronto. 10. Children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome: Social work assessment and intervention. Kevin P. Stoddart, Aspergers Society of Ontario, Barbara Muskat, Integra Foundation, and Faye Mishna, University of Toronto. 11. Medication use in children with high-functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Asperger Syndrome. Leon Sloman, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 12. Meeting the educational needs of the student with Asperger Syndrome through assessment, advocacy, and accommodations. Georgina Rayner, Parent Advocate. 13. Sensory and motor differences for individuals with Asperger Syndrome: Occupational therapy assessment and intervention. Paula Aquilla, Ellen Yack, and Shirley Sutton, Occupational Therapists in private practice. 14. Psychological assessment of more able adults with autism spectrum disorders. Lillian Burke, Psychologist in private practice. Part III: Theoretical and Research Perspectives. 15. Developing a research agenda in Asperger Syndrome. Peter Szatmari, McMaster University. 16. In search of an Asperger culture. Charmaine C. Williams, University of Toronto. 17. Child social interaction and parental self-efficacy: Evaluating simultaneous groups for children with Asperger Syndrome and their parents. Leon Sloman, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Jonathan Leef, Aspergers Society of Ontario. 18. The genetics of autism spectrum disorders. Jeanette J.A. Holden and Xudong Liu, Queen's University. 19. Quality of life for children with Asperger Syndrome: Parental perspectives. Anne Fudge Schormans, Rebecca Renwick, Renée Ryan, and HeeSun Lim, University of Toronto. 20. Depression and anxiety in parents of children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. Kevin P. Stoddart, Aspergers Society of Ontario. Part IV: Parent and Personal Perspectives. 21. Asperger Syndrome: Perceiving normality. Peter Jansen, Brampton, Ontario. 22. From despair to hope: A mother's Asperger story. Fern Lee Quint, Toronto, Ontario. 23. Searching for home in a foreign land: My discovery of Asperger Syndrome. Donna Moon, Toronto, Ontario. 24. Asperger Syndrome: It's a family matter. Margot Nelles, Aspergers Society of Ontario. 25. Life on the outside: A personal perspective on Asperger Syndrome. Chris J. Dakin, Victoria, British Columbia. Afterword. Contributing Authors. Subject Index. Author Index.