Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-teen and Teenage Years [Paperback]

Shana Nichols (Author), Gina Marie Moravcik (Author), Samara Pulver Tetenbaum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1843108550 | ISBN-13: 978-1843108559 | Edition: 1

Growing up isn't easy, and the trials and tribulations of being a teenager can be particularly confusing for girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This book covers all the concerns commonly faced by girls with ASDs and their parents, from periods and puberty to worries over friendships and fitting in .
Taking a good look at these adolescent issues, and many more, within the context of specific areas of difficulty for girls with ASDs, the authors provide families with the knowledge and advice they need to help their daughters and the whole family through the teenage years. This book addresses core issues such as cognition, communication, behavior, sensory sensitivities, and social difficulties; it gives candid and realistic advice on a wide range of important teenage topics.
Providing professional perspectives alongside personal experiences from mothers, daughters and educators, this is a unique and comprehensive resource for families and their daughters with ASDs, as well as the teachers and professionals who work with them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A"This book is not only reassuring; it is inspiring, and bursting with ideas and achievable strategies. The authors write with authority and conviction, and tackle even the most difficult and delicate of topics. If ever you needed to be convinced that girls with ASD can overcome the difficulties and challenges of puberty and adolescence, have successful friendships and relationships and enjoy a healthy sexuality, then take the time to read this book-it is a must-have for families, teachers and therapists alike.A"-Sarah Attwood, author of Making Sense of Sex: A Forthright Guide to Puberty, Sex and Relationships for People with Asperger's SyndromeA"The authors tackle an important and sensitive issue for young people with ASC. The information presented is based in research and presented clearly in a most usable format. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to young people (it might even help a few boys!) with ASC and their parents.A"-E. Veronica Bliss, psychologist and Director of Missing Link Support Services, Ltd

About the Author

Shana Nichols, PhD, is Clinical Director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders affiliated with AHRC Nassau, and the North Shore - LIJ Health System on Long Island, New York. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked in the areas of assessment, treatment, and research related to autism spectrum and other developmental disorders for over ten years. Gina Marie Moravcik, MA, CCC-SLP, is Coordinator of Education and Speech Language Services at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders. She is a speech and language pathologist specializing in social communication and autism spectrum disorders. She is Adjunct Professor and Clinical Supervisor in the Speech Pathology program, St. John's University, USA, and also runs a private speech-language therapy practice. Samara Pulver Tetenbaum, MA, is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has been working in the field of autism and related developmental disabilities for the past five years and is currently employed as an applied behavior specialist at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (November 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843108550
• ISBN-13: 978-1843108559
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shana Nichols, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher and has worked in the field of autism spectrum disorders and child development for over twelve years. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and did her internship and post-doctoral training at JFK Partners Center for Autism in Denver, Colorado. She currently specializes in adolescence and growing up, dual diagnosis and mental health issues, and the experiences of girls with autism spectrum disorders. Originally from Ontario, Canada, she now lives on Long Island, NY and is Clinical Director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Her book, entitled Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents Should Know about the Pre-teen and Teenage Years was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in December 2008. She was a recipient of the Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence in 2005 Award for her Ph.D. thesis work, and has received grant support for her work in sexuality, puberty, and autism spectrum disorders from the Organization for Autism Research, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and Autism Coalition/Autism Speaks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wishing I had this book while growing up on the spectrum!, January 11, 2009

By 

Andrew Peterson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-teen and Teenage Years (Paperback)

As one of the many women who contributed their experiences to flesh-out this book, I knew this would be a cathartic look at my earlier years. Although I am a self-diagnosed Aspie upon my son's official diagnosis of Autism, I could identify with the myriad traits and antecdotes of other women in the same boat. I applaud the authors for their dedication to shed light on the inner workings of the female psyche, neurotypical or otherwise. Most of the strategies can be used in guiding all girls through the adventures in adolescence!

Although I was excited to participate in this book project, reading it ripped open wounds from long ago. I had forgotten how exactly the pain felt until reading the passages in Chapter 9. It cannot be said enough how much the effects of childhood torment plays into how people attempt to forge a social life. Navigating the school years is tough enough even for typical children.

Some of us never have that innate sense of 'when to do what and how to do it'. As any parent, I want to spare my children undue pain. However, I don't want to handicap them further by sparing them the experiences of conflict that serve to aid their maturity. This book is a resource that should be in every parent's arsenal for raising their daughter who happens to be on the Autism Spectrum.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and much-needed resource, December 8, 2008

By 

E. Raphael - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-teen and Teenage Years (Paperback)

This book is thorough, quite parent-friendly, and valuable. It has a lot of practical suggestions for everything from teaching autistic young women how to handle their menstrual cycles to addressing the issue of fashion/trends to the potential physiological bases for the different manifestations of autism in boys and girls.

The sections on sexuality are, IMO, particularly valuable: parents of people with disabilities often don't want to face these issues because the future can be so scary to contemplate. I saw Shana Nichols talk on this topic at a conference and it was a real eye-opener for me.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate, helpful & readable, December 24, 2008

By 

Bookreader14 (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-teen and Teenage Years (Paperback)

This book is very helpful for parents of autistic girls, as well as for educators and those who work with girls on the autistic spectrum. It delicately and compassionately handles the particular problems that girls on the autistic spectrum face as they go through puberty. It makes excellent suggestions and gives tangible ideas to both the autistic girl and her parents as the youngster makes the transition from child to young woman. The book is very well researched, yet remains very readable. It can certainly help parents to feel that they are not "alone" and that the authors really have studied this and know what they are talking about. Highly recommended.