Customer Reviews

Autism - Asperger's and Sexuality: Puberty and Beyond

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jerry and Mary do a great job of tackling topics that many of us duck. I truly appreciate their emphasis upon the relationship as the cornerstone of intimacy and sexuality. They also provide practical advice about the sensory, hygiene, and "impression management" challenges that face many adolescents and adults with autism and Asperger Syndrome. Frankly, much of this is advice for anyone getting ready to face the world of dating and relationships!

As a parent and psychologist, I also appreciate the editor's notes that caution parents about the candor of the book and give permission to copy sections for their younger adolescent sons and daughters. It reminds us that even open-minded discussion must be done with sensitivity and responsibility.

Good job, Jerry and Mary!

Going where few have dared to go, Jerry and Mary Newport, have provided a clear road map for dealing with sensitive issues surrounding sexuality for both our peers on the autism spectrum as well as the rest of the autism spectrum community. Straight and to the point there is much for everyone to learn from this work. Thank you and well done!

I appreciate the frankness which the author has decided to 'out' himself as a person with autism. This book tackles many areas which are still considered taboo for people with disabilities to know about.

Society still has hang ups thinking of people with disabilities as autonomous sexual beings. It wants to instead pretend that we are dependent children-vegetables. Even some so-called radical friends have become shocked to learn that people with disabilities participate in and enjoy sex.

Addressing people with disabilities as the primary audience will effectively help to shatter these stereotypes--although the title is also a good read for our families and friends.

However, as a heterosexual ally, I also must concur that he needed to include information on GLBT people--and avoid stereotypes. Because all people with disabilities are also outsiders to the status quo, such a limited and unfortunately one-dimensional view of sexuality is especially shocking and inappropriate.

It's great he acknowledges people with disabilities as being sexual beings, but then he seems to contradict himself by not giving adequate information when he had set out to write a book which was theoretically supposed to provide just that. Hopefully this issue will be resolved in future editions.

because the contents doesn't match it. The views of sexuality in this book doesn't match the nineties. It is out of touch with the ease most teenagers today talk about sex, and seems mostly like a book sent from the fifties by a time machine. Or from somewhere out in the middle of nowhere, where they still live like the fifties. It even goes as far as saying it doesn't "mean to encourage pre-marital sexual activity" in a warning before a chapter about "birth control" etc. This reads as a complete joke to a scandinavian guy.

It completely lacks any information about using the internet!!! How could such a book be relevant today? All my friends use dating sites for finding dates and friends. Everybody has a profile somewhere. Dating sites makes it much easier for asperger people to find other people, which they can relate to, and avoid the hell from normal teenager parties. But the asperger needs some good hints for dating sites, they are not without pitfalls (just like old-style dating, but just a different set of pitfalls). He just mentions it a couple of times and discards it with "As far as getting dates from the Internet, I just don't see it".

I agree with roguealleycat's critique of the very narrow view of valuable lifestyle(s).

The book is set with a large sans serif font, so it's hard on the eyes, and large sections are in italics as they felt is was very important the reader could see what was written by his wife instead of himself. A more professional publishing agency and editing would help the readability. The book is a weird mix of guidelines for the parent, and daddy comments to the young. So it doesn't have a consistent target group.

Conclusion: If you consider living in the fifties, the book might be useful, otherwise...

I appreciate the fact that there has been a book written on this subject especially for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Jerry and Mary Newport have done an excellent job at giving a first hand look at the difficulties of dealing with the sensitive issues of someone's sexuality and offering some very good advice. This is a much needed book. Thanks.

While I adore Jerry Newport, and would love for him to be my son, I couldn't get through this book.

I think if a young adult (16+) with AS would read this book, it may be helpful.

I'm a believer of sex in marriage only, and this book does not promote this belief.

Jerry and Mary give very readable and practical advice on a very delicate and complicated subject. This book shares information learned over two lifetimes in a very sensitive manner.

I found the first customer review the most useful in convincing me to immediately order this book. The review was so explicit as to what was in the book (or to be more specific, what was not), that it sounded perfect for my heterosexual son with a mild case of AS. Thanks!