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Something Different About Dad: How to Live with Your Asperger's Parent ISBN: 9781849051149
Evans, Kirsti and Swogger, John
Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010
This is a subject not often covered in the literature on Asperger Syndrome. What happens when you have a parent who has been diagnosed with AS? How do you cope with his or her 'differences', and what is AS? In an interesting cartoon style format, we meet Sophie's family, including her dad, Mark, who has Asperger Syndrome. Sections of the book are told by Sophie as part of her diary, and other sections - the ones explaining AS and how to cope - are told by the author and illustrator of the book, Kirsti and John. In a loving family context, we see Mark's obsession with buses, his need to eat exactly on time, and his intense outbursts of anger and rudeness when things don't go as he expects them to. The stories are realistic and the suggestions of how one might deal with situations that arise are helpful. The explanation of AS is detailed in the chapter entitled 'So what is Asperger Syndrome?' and covers things such as: imagination, the senses, communication, and emotions and relationships. Positive aspects of Mark's personality are detailed, and children will learn that their parent acts as he or she does for a reason. This is an important book for children with an AS parent and will help them to feel that they are not alone in coping with unusual behaviour. There is a comic version available, ISBN 9781785920127. Both books available from Amazon, from bookshops, or from the publisher at www.jkp.com.
Age: 10+