Customer Reviews

Letting Go of Jason: A Young Man with Asperger's Syndrome and Bipolar Disorder

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When Jason Auell was born on April 22, 1980, autism/Asperger's research was starting to take off. He developed within normal limits as did his brother Luke, who was born on November 30, 1981.

Jason's behavior was closer to the Asperger's end of the spectrum, but as with any continuum, there were overlapping behaviors. He talked to himself; was echolalic well into early adulthood (autistic behaviors); saw the world in black and white, as "either or;" had special interests and facility for language (Asperger's). He had difficulty keeping his school work organized and had melt downs when confronted with making decisions. These problems are ones he has contended with for his lifetime.

Jason was also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD); Bipolar Disorder as well as Asperger's. The boy's mother suffered from bipolar disorder as well. Jason's behavior became seriously erratic when he was 11 which resulted in extended hospitalizations.

From 1990-1992 he was an inpatient at the Forest Lodge Hospital in Colorado. He made great strides in independent living and was doing well on his pharmaceutical cocktail of anti-psychotic medication. His behavior in addition to the autism, bipolar and ADD included psychotic ideation under certain conditions.

He re-entered public school after Forest Lodge. The boy found his niche in math, science, German and band; it was in those classes where he excelled. The autistic aspects of his behavior included difficulty understanding nonverbal language; blunt statements with no intended malice (Asperger's) and the talking to himself and echolalia.

Over time, Jason is rehospitalized several times. After one such stay, he is situated in a halfway house in Macon, Georgia. That turns out to be an inappropriate placement as his housemates are cognitively delayed.

After working with the state systems and publicly elected officials, Jason is able to live in an apartment with another young man who has agreed to act as his mentor. SSI as well as other services helped defray Jason's cost of living expenses. Services for adults with disabilities are included, along with passages from Scripture which the family found comforting. The song "On Eagle's Wings" could easily underscore this entire book.

This book does a real service to the multiply challenged adult; I like the way Scripture is included and the faith that this family had at all times. Despite the many hardships they faced as a family, they pulled together and their devotion to one another is what makes this book stand out.

This is the ideal companion book to INDEPENDENCE BOUND by Marquette.

It was a good book on helping me to know how to let go of my child as he grows older and teaching him independent living skills. I was so pleased with the book and how much it taught me.