Customer Reviews

Martian in the Playground: Understanding the Schoolchild with Asperger's Syndrome (Lucky Duck Books)

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Clare Sainsbury gives a wonderful account of what it is like to be a schoolchild with Asperger syndrome drawn from her own experience, as well as commenting about theories on the subject. This should provide valuable insight to both teachers and parents as well as being one of those 'me too' reads for other people with Asperger syndrome like myself. If you are a teacher though and you only want to read one book then this one probably shouldn't be it, simply because I don't think this book alone is enough.

Bought from publisher in UK in 1999. Author addresses useful sociological theory (Theory of Mind) as well as noting, for example, that Asperger social behavior is mistaken for mental retardation, even by a doctor. Read several "a-ha" facts that made sense from my Asperger childhood life. Recommend it, sorry it is so hard to find.

I take issue with the title because it suggests that people on the autism spectrum are aliens and are not a part of this world. I also don't like it because I think it is very divisive and further underscores differences rather than helping to foster acceptance and understanding. It sounds as bad as playground bullies' jeers!

Asperger's is a neurobiological condition that is on the spectrum with autism. People who are on the spectrum confront a myriad of social challenges including difficulty in decoding facial expressions; verbal expressions and nuances. The "martian" (I prefer the terms "observer," "sociologist" and "anthropologist") is used to mean one who does not fit into the social mode. Non partisan politician comes into play here because a person on the a/A (autism/Asperger's) spectrum has difficulty knowing which peers voice the party line they support.

From the a/A perspective: Imagine how terrifying it is to be around peers who hound, harass and ridicule you. Imagine being a preschooler who can read and you are the only one in your class who can. You don't know how to read your peers, however and they are more enigmatic than people say you are! You learn from babyhood to align yourself with adults because they can read and can provide you with some protection. They are less apt to ridicule you. Imagine replaying conversations and other things you have heard because a script makes sense to you; you can use it as a guideline for future reference. Imagine thinking every time you are confronted by peers, "What do I say? What do I do? What if they start to laugh at me or try to hurt me?" This is what a person on the a/A spectrum contends with on a routine daily basis.

Imagine not understanding their games; their rules and their social dicta which change on a whim based on their neurotypical (NT) needs. Imagine having a love for reading and having one or more special interests and not knowing how to share them with one's peers. Imagine being nonplussed over why people keep pushing peers on you and blaming you because you don't provide your parents/legal guardians with play dates and playmates. Imagine people blaming you for being unfriendly when you simply don't know the Tacit Social Codes & Rules, which always change at the behest of the NT population. Your self esteem plummets and you feel like an anthropologist, observing your peers and trying to learn how to pass at best. Imagine wanting to be forgettable and indistinct. Trevor Romaine's book, "Cliques, Phonies" is an excellent look at clique formation and is a handy tool for the a/A and NT population alike.

I recommend "Finding Ben" by Barbara LaSalle & Ben Levinson; "There's a Boy in Here," another mother-son effort by Judy Barron & Sean Barron as they address the issues beautifully. Kenneth Hall, a gifted young man with Asperger's has made having it an asset and his book, "Asperger's, the Universe & Everything" along with Tony Attwood's book, "Asperger's Syndrome" and Kristi Sakai's book, "Finding Our Way" would be my top recommendations.

Still, this is a decent effort.