Customer Reviews

Girls Under the Umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Practical Solutions for Addressing Everyday Challenges

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

 

 

What a refreshing perspective this book offers by focusing on girls under the autism spectrum. I found it fascinating and shocking while reading this book to discover that their may be a vast number of undiagnosed girls flying under the proverbial radar due to how society views gender differences which could affect whether or not a girl is diagnosed with autism versus being viewed as shy and/or eccentric. This book does many things including discussing that "the underdiagnosing of girls with ASD is due to our reliance on male prototype of autism, whereby diagnosis is based on behaviors that are more extreme in how they present themselves to the clinician or educator."

In addition to the interesting topic of gender difference in ASD and how it presents, this book is a "scrapbook" or journal of personal journeys from the perspective of young and young at heart ladies on the autism spectrum...the challenges they have faced, their hurdles and successes. It brings a unique insight into the world of autism from a girl's point of view.

The book is also a great resource including an appendix full of suggestions, checklists, plans, resources, etc. to help parents help their daughters navigate through the world of IEPs, advocacy and social skills. An even more important resource comes from the women who are advocating for these young ladies and are living examples to what those with autism can do with their life and suggestions on how to succeed...for example from Temple Grandin and Zosia Zaks.

I would highly suggest this book for a parent with a daughter who has been diagnosed with autism and/or a young lady who would like to further understand her autism. Also, teachers and para-professionals would learn a LOT from this book and it's a quick read full of information.

The "icing on the cake" was the wonderful painting and poem by Amanda, a fine young lady with autism.

Author and Instructional Aide, Joanna L. Keating-Velasco
A Is for Autism F Is for Friend: A Kid's Book for Making Friends with a Child Who Has Autism

My 9 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with PDD. I knew "something" was wrong but never had a name for what it was. Her diagnosis has finally told me where we are in the world of disabilities and this book is like a map. It has given me suggestions on how to manage behaviors, suggestions for IEPs and even potential therapy goals. I would recommend this book to anyone with a daughter in the spectrum.

Much of what has been written about autism applies only to boys/males, which accounts for about 80% of sufferers. This book is one of the only sources I have found which refers to girls. It gives plenty of helpful advice and is written by sufferers themselves. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I was quite eager to read this book, as there is so little written about girls with autism. And perhaps that's the key word---autism. This book seems to be aimed at girls with Aspergers or if not that, very high functioning autism. I'm based that on many things---a casual statement that most girls with ASD are verbal (and no discussion of the girls that aren't), the chapter on college, with no similar chapter on what happens after school to girls that aren't going to college and a bright cheery statement on page 208 "The future for girls with ASD is unlimited and boundless" Well, we can hope that, but I really don't think that's a statement that applies to ALL girls with ASD. What about the considerable percentage of autistic girls who are also retarded (to use the blunt term I prefer) such as my daughter?

I tried to then judge the book based on what I think it really was---a book about the high end of the spectrum for girls with ASD. Even there, I would not say it really stands out from the many other general books of this type. There's a bit of a chapter about dating and hygenie, but the advice is rather non-specific. I've been thinking about how I will help my daughter with issues like her period, if she has no idea what is going on---things like that weren't addressed here. The advice on toilet training, IEP meetings, food issues---all fairly sound if not in depth, but none are issues not covered in other books.

I also looked in vain for information about studies of girls with autism and how it differs than autism in boys. I've read here and there how although there are less girls with classic autism, it is often more severe in girls. I wanted the author's take on that, and on how classic autism might show itself differently in the early years in girls. The latter was addressed mainly in statements along the lines of how autism in girls might be missed until they are in elementary school, because the girls have such good verbal skills. Well, what if they don't?

The personal accounts scattered here and there were interesting, but once again, obviously written by very literate and bright women. I guess ASD is a huge umbrella, and perhaps I am way off near one edge with my daughter, and felt a little rained on by this book. However, if you have a bright, verbal girl with mild autism or with Aspergers, this book might be helpful. Otherwise, I'd wait for a book for the rest of us.

My daughter was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 5. This book is full of great information for someone who's just received the diagnosis and isn't sure what to do next for their child. It covers childhood, adolescence and adulthood and the particular challenges each of those life milestones bring. I particularly enjoyed reading the personal stories of the parents and the affected children. This book would be great for parents and anyone else who's involved with their daughter's life on a regular basis, like grandparents or weekly babysitters, etc. I have heard Dr. Lori speak and she is very knowledgeable and well-respected in the community as a top autism expert/advocate. Danielle Wendell's writing brings the very human perspective into this book, which is something I desperately needed. Teachers would benefit from reading this book, as it would help them better understand their AS students from a social/emotional perspective. Overall, this book really helped me see my daughter's diagnosis in a much more positive and hopeful light and provided some great ideas that we are implementing in the home. If you're waffling on whether or not to purchase this book, definitely purchase - you won't be sorry!

This is a book that is well written and explains in layman's terms what to expect when you have a daughter that has been diagnosed with ASD disorder.

I appreciated the fresh perspective from the author -- through the eyes of a Mom. The stories from other parents were compelling. This book was more about navigating the maze of resources outside the home, with very little information about managing Asperger's within the family. If you have a Asperger's girl in school, there are many points that will be helpful. As a home schooling Mom (for now), I'm putting it on the shelf for a possible future reference.

"One day you'll find that I have gone/But tomorrow may rain,so I'll follow the sun." -- Paul McCartney, late 1964 from "I'll Follow the Sun" on "Beatles For Sale"

This is an excellent book designed to help people prepare girls on the autism spectrum for developmental changes as well as social changes. It is a tool of empowerment and the beautiful poem by Amanda, a young poet who has autism will provide rays of hope and optimism for all who read it.

"I can show you that when it starts to rain, (When the Rain comes down.)
Everything's the same. (When the Rain comes down.)
I can show you, I can show you.
Rain, I don't mind./ Shine, the world looks fine.
Can you hear me, that when it rains and shines,/(When it Rains and shines.)
It's just a state of mind?/(When it rains and shines.)" -- John Lennon, from "Rain," 1966

Indeed, the metaphoric umbrella or catch-all is just a state of mind for when the jargon rains down. When they DO start to rain, everything's the same (meaning the issues and the catch-all umbrella don't change the individual, just others' perception of the individual) and regardless, perceptions are often a state of mind. How these perceptions are used to help inviduals with autism is wherein the rub lies. This book does a stellar job of addressing this issue head on.


What makes this book distinct is that it is a forum for girls with autism to speak of their views on issues from the a/A perspective. Many girls are not as readily diagnosed until adulthood in part because of the prevailing statistics that show the majority of people of autism are male. The other part to this dilemma is that behaviors for each invididual are so radically specific to that individual, so a less discerning eye could easily miss the a/A markers in girls who are not apt to acting out.

Paul McCartney's classic "I'll Follow the Sun" could easily be the soundtrack of this book. One can view the lyrics through an a/A lens by interpreting them as meaning one has "gone" from the more challenging aspects of autism/Asperger's by maintaining optimism by following the sun, that is never giving up.

Very poorly done. This was not what I was expecting based on the title and previous reviews. This book is atheoretical. I was saddened to see that this was NOT related to girl at all or autism for that matter. (loosely based on autism).