Asperger's: What Does It Mean to Me? [Paperback]

Catherine Faherty (Author), Gary B. Mesibov (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 1, 2000

This is a book that will never become irrelevant or "outdated." Every child who uses it also becomes its co-author. Each chapter is divided in two parts: the first part - the Workbook - is for the child to complete, by writing or highlighting "What is True for Me" in lists of simple statements. The second part - "For Parents and Teachers" - contains helpful tips/information for the adult who guides him through the exercises. The book will provide insight into your child's mind, and make him/her more self-aware, learning what autism means in relation to crucial areas of his/her life: friendships, fears, abilities, and much more.

Helpful chapters include:

• Ways of Thinking—Workbook
• The Sensory Experience—Workbook
• Artistic Talent--Workbook
• People—Workbook
• Understanding—Workbook
• Thoughts—Workbook
• Communication—Workbook
• School—Workbook

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is information that every kid with autism should have.”
Thomas Johnson, a ten-year-old

 

“This book offers another approach to furthering the understanding of autism … encouraging autistic children to learn more about themselves, and guiding them through a journey of self-discovery. It is a valuable resource for awareness and … self-esteem! Such a book could have been very helpful to me and my family when I was a child.”
Dave Spicer, diagnosed at age 46

 

“It is important to understand that as a child, people bothered me. I didn’t know what they were for or what they would do to me. They were not always the same and I had no security. Even a person who was always nice to me might be different sometimes. Things didn’t fit together for me with people.”
Sean Barron, Author of There’s a Boy in Here

 

About the Author

Catherine Faherty works with children and adults with autism through the well-renowned TEACCH program in North Carolina. She is also a parent consultant and child therapist; consults to school programs; trains teachers and other professionals locally, nationally, and internationally; and runs social groups for children and adults with autism. She has written manuals used in TEACCH trainings, developed training models, and has written a workbook for children with autism and their parents and teachers, titled Asperger’s: What Does It Mean To Me? Catherine Faherty resides in Asheville, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: Future Horizons; SPI edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885477597
• ISBN-13: 978-1885477590
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome
  • #92 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Internal Medicine > Pediatrics

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Didn't Buy This Book....Glad I did! January 9, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I almost didn't buy this book because of the price...but decided that I wanted to get as many resources as I could to help our son. AM I GLAD I DID! When I opened the box at home, as soon as my son saw it, he said, "Hey, what's that?" I showed him the book, and then went to do some cleaning up. The next time I checked in on him, he was sitting on the couch, writing away happily in the book! He likes the "fill in the blank" questions, and we have learned so much about him from the responses he has given. If you are a parent of a child with AS, you will like this book, which is loaded with helpful information.

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a useful book! December 13, 2000

By Carol Gray

Format:Paperback

Singularly the most thorough, sensitive resource to help children with autism spectrum disorders understand their strengths, personalities, and unique challenges.

Also equally effective in helping parents and professionals understand aspects of a childs personality that they may not already be aware of.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS WORKBOOK IS MORE THAN A MUST! IT IS A NECESSITY. November 28, 2002

By Steve Horwitz Hart - Autistic Specialist

Format:Paperback

Catherine Faherty has created a masterpiece using "TEACCH" as an approach to working with "Aspergers" and high end "Autistic" children.

This workbook is a must for parents, and for all teachers in the field of Autism/Aspergers. What makes Catherine's approach so unique is her outstanding ability, using worksheets, to help students with Autism and PDD (Pervasive Developmental
Disorders) increase their communication skills and self-awareness. Participation in activities that were once ignored can be accomplished using Catherine's method.

She begins her book with a dynamic approach to help the student accept herself/himself for exactly the way they are. Many Autistic children have questions related to their disability. Through a carefully structured model, the author is able to guide an Autistic child through a series of discoveries tailored to his or her individual needs.

The "TEACCH" approach begins at the point of the child's current educational requirements. The method does not force the child to learn educational material just because it is required by a specific curriculum. The individual student's immediate needs come first. ASPERGER'S: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? accomplishes its goal.

Catherine Faherty deserves 10 stars for writing a book that truly helps an Autistic/Asperger student develop at his or her correct learning level. Topics such as "How I Learn", Who I Am", "What My Interests Are", "How Can I Deal With My Disability?", are brought to fruition through worksheets, questions, and important information. The author also allows the student to discover there is no shame in being different. A lesson all of us need to "grasp" in today's world.

Whether you are a teacher, a parent of an Autistic child, or an Autistic/Asperger student, this workbook is more than a must......it is a necessity.

Catherine Faherty's book is brilliant!

Steve Horwitz Hart - Autistic Specialist Read more ›

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible and Promotes Self-Awareness August 2, 2005

By Elizabeth Jennings

Format:Paperback

Although I take a very different approach than the authors as to the basis of autism--I don't believe it is "simply a different way of thinking," for example--I still give this workbook the highest possible rating as a practical guide for children with Aspergers and, even more so, for the teachers and other adults who work with them.

For the kids, it promotes self-awareness in a way that doesn't cause harm. The chapter on sensory issues was especially insightful for my son. Because of the way it is formatted it is easy to pick and choose what is applicable and what is not--it's extremely user-friendly. A teacher can have quick access to real-life strategies in a matter of minutes.

Finally, I love the fact that for the MOST part it does not over-generalize. I've grown weary of books that describe Asperger kids as something totally unrelated to my child. This book did that only one time and because of the way it's arranged we simply skipped that page.

I bought two of these--my son and I spent several months doing the workbook together and I gave the other one to his school. Whenever anyone asks what Asperger book they should get, this is at the top of my list.

34 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent "TEACCHing" Tool June 6, 2003

By BeatleBangs1964 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

How I wish I had had this book as a child. This is a good teaching tool for helping children with Asperger's understand their "undefined differences," make peace with them and explain them to other people. I like the way the book emphasizes the point that "different" does not necessarily mean stigmatized.

This work does a great service in making efforts to remove the stigma often associated with Asperger's. Although Asperger's is a neurological "difference" that IS on the Autism spectrum, it is not "autism," per se. Many argue the point that it is a form of autism, or a "milder form," but that question remains open. What IS known about Asperger's is that it is INDEED a spectrum condition and that it DOES share some autistic properties. Sadly, "autism" is such a highly charged term that it often eclipses the different challenges people with Asperger's contend with. This book does an admirable job of addressing this issue.

I highly recommend this one for all people whether or not they are on the spectrum. It has good information and paves the way to acceptance.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for us, just yet September 3, 2007

By D. Odeh

Format:Paperback

My son is 10 years old. He has not attained "theory of mind" yet. As we tried to work our way through this book, it became more obvious that he just wasn't "getting" how this book worked. I ended up having to answer for him at times so we stopped in chapter 3. Despite it not working for us yet, I will keep it and we will continue to try it because one day, he will get it. I know this book will work wonderfully for some families, just not ours, not yet.