Asperger Syndrome, Adolescence, and Identity: Looking Beyond the Label [Paperback]

Latika Vasil (Author), Harvey Molloy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2004 | ISBN-10: 1843101262 | ISBN-13: 978-1843101260 | Edition: 1

How do teenagers with Asperger Syndrome view themselves and their own lives?
This book is based on extensive interviews with adolescents diagnosed with AS. It includes six life stories, as distinct from clinical case studies, written in collaboration with the teenagers themselves. These present an authentic and fascinating look at the lives of the teenagers and how AS has shaped their growing identities. The stories provide the basis for a discussion of common themes and issues facing teenagers with AS. Asperger Syndrome, Adolescence and Identity also questions the medicalized deficit approach to Asperger Syndrome and discusses the social repercussions of labelling teenagers as having AS.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Latika Vasil has a doctorate in educational psychology and is a researcher and writer specialising in Asperger Syndrome based in Singapore. Harvey Molloy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Scholars' Programme at the National University of Singapore. Both authors research and write on AS, and do volunteer work with autism and AS organisations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843101262
• ISBN-13: 978-1843101260
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,345,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expanding One's View, April 26, 2005

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BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Asperger Syndrome, Adolescence, and Identity: Looking Beyond the Label (Paperback)

I think it is CRUCIAL and paramount for people to know what their "undefined differences" are that are causing them problems, e.g. social difficulties. I can think of nothing more cruel and counterproductive than to withhold diagnoses and direct requests for information from a person. It always seemed so stupid to keep vital parts of a person's life from them and does not appear to have served anyone well.

There is no one answer. Adolescence is a time of identity quest and for those on the autism/Asperger's (a/A) spectrum, it is an act of kindness and honesty for them to know if they have Asperger's. It is up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to disclose that information with others. As for professionals who are in direct contact with adolescents on the spectrum, I think they are the ones who most need to look beyond the label.