Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: autism spectrum, autistic tendencies, Asperger Syndrome, Temple Grandin, Disability Services Office (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...an unusually interesting, well-written and insightful autobiographical account of the life of a person with high-functioning autism/Asperger Syndrome. -- Bernard Rimland Ph.D., director, Autism Research Institute

Stephen Shore's unique perspective makes this autobiography a wonderful, inspirational and educational book. The author provides valuable practical information... -- Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D., co-editor, You Will Dream New Dreams, Inspiring Personal Stories by Parents of Children with Disabilities

Stephen's words softened my heart. They made me proud to be a fellow aspie. -- Liane Holliday Willey, Ed.D. Author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome in the Family: Redefining Normal.

Product Description

This honest courageous book, written by a person with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome offers so much more than the traditional autobiography. Drawing on personal and professional experiences, Stephen Shore, who is currently completing his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University, combines three voices to create a touching and, at the same time, a highly informative book. The autobiographical voice tells Stephen's life, including his parent's frustrations with the educational and medical communities, his adolescence and now married adult life. The "time shifter" fills in the background information about his life that is otherwise out of chronological order of the events being related; finally the researcher's voice puts Stephen's personal life within the context of the research literature on autism and Asperger Syndrome. By using this triple lens, the book offers insights for parents, professionals as well as individuals who have Asperger Syndrome.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Autism Asperger Pub Co; 1st edition (February 2001)
• ISBN-10: 1931282005
• ISBN-13: 978-1931282000
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,541,762 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 118 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exceptional Interpretation of the Experience of Autism, January 11, 2002

By	Robert A. Naseef (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is certainly no shortage of books about autism, and there is also a rapidly growing collection of titles about Asperger Syndrome. When a child receives a diagnosis in the Autism Spectrum, parents search for the key to unlock the puzzle of this mysterious and baffling condition, and it's hard to know where to start reading. Occasionally there is a special contribution such as Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome by Stephen Shore. As an individual who grew up with autism, Shore has an exceptional input to give.

Of course, every parent whose child lives within the autistic spectrum would yearn for their son or daughter to turn out like Stephen Shore or Temple Grandin. I myself am no exception to this rule. For that reason, as the father of a 22 year-old son with classic autism, this was a hard book for me to pick up. If I had not met Stephen at conferences and been awe-struck by his honesty and courage, I may have never opened the book. Although it was painful to revisit my dream for what was not to be, it was well worth the price. In Beyond the Wall, Stephen Shore emerges as a role model for children and adults and as an interpreter of the experience for parents and professionals. This little volume is a beacon of hope and a model of acceptance, and I recommend it with enthusiasm.

Diagnosed with "atypical development with strong autistic tendencies" and nonverbal until four years old, Stephen Shore was once recommended for residential placement. Because his parents believed in him, they rejected that idea, which was fortunate for their family and the world. Stephen is now completing his doctoral degree at Boston University in special education. He has a focus on helping people on the autism spectrum to develop their capacities to the fullest extent possible-whatever that may be. By walking us through his life story with insight and simplicity, Stephen guides the reader to an awareness of the different way of being which he shares with people on the spectrum. His ability to articulate his experiences clearly and with humor make the book seem like a friendly visit with the author.

The author begins by describing a typical day in his life including his strong sensitivities that are the residue of his earlier autism. The sound of a bluejay which may be pleasant to most in the early morning feels like the beak is scraping his eardrum. Shaving feels like a power sander on his chin, so Stephen maintains a beard. He rides his bicycle almost everywhere he goes not just for exercise and relaxation, but also for stimulation and to avoid smelly public transportation-and to meet people with a similar interest. Then based upon his mother's recollections and supplemented by family photos throughout, the author reports on his early life as a quiet and gentle infant who shocked his family by rolling over at eight days. By ten months, he was walking and often turning in circles with a finger in his ear.

As a toddler, Stephen would not kiss his father because of the aversive smell of coffee on his breath and the unbearable scratchiness of his moustache. By the age of four, he entered a therapeutic nursery school which had a strong psychoanalytic bent and only four other children in his class. There his speech resumed but with echolalia. His diagnosis was upgraded to "neurotic," and he was able to go to a nursery school in a Jewish Community Center, but he struggled to relate to other children. This difficulty continues into public school kindergarten a year late where the author describes the wonder of learning and the terror of being teased. Many readers will find direction here in helping their children cope with bullying.

There is so much of value in Stephen's story, such as how he learned to develop friendships through common activities and the role that music has played in his life. By high school, there was more wonder than terror at school. Dating was an intriguing puzzle for the author, but by his college years, it was another dilemma he was able to solve. In the book we are treated to a brief contribution by his wife, Yi Liu, whom the author met as a fellow graduate student in music. The world of work was no less perplexing, and again the author takes us into his confidence and reveals his struggles to find a niche that works for him.

As a way of concluding, the author summarizes with simplicity and clarity his understanding of the autism spectrum. This is done in way that makes the concepts intelligible to families regardless of the individual differences of their child. Perhaps more than anything, Stephen Shore brings us as readers to an acceptance and appreciation for people who are different. With the simplicity and directness of a child, the author shares his well earned knowledge and wisdom. "Beyond the Wall" is on my "short list" of books about autism; it deserves your attention.
Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People With Autism, And Professionals Share Their Wisdom

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insider's Look At Living With Aspergers, June 18, 2001

By	Liane Gentry Skye, "www.writersgonewild.blogs... (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Stephen Shore has written an unusual and worthy addition to the world of literature regarding Asperger's Syndrome.

Shore's work explores aspergers from three different viewpoints: as that of a clinician working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders, as an adult who himself has aspergers, and as an adult remembering the challenges aspergers has presented him with over the course of his lifetime.

As the parent of two boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders, I was delighted with Shore's explanations of why my children feel the need to do some of the things they do, and what purpose those behaviors serve in their lives.

In this reader's opinion, Beyond the Wall is an invaluable guide to anyone who knows someone with aspergers and autism. Shore's writing is right up there with Temple Grandin's, and should be included as a valuable reference book in anyone's collection of books about autism/aspergers.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What It's Like On "The Inside", December 17, 2003

By	Jeffrey Sherman (Ojai, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Second Edition (Paperback)

As the father of a seven year old son who resides at the light end of the Autism Spectrum, I found Stephens book to be one of the very best I have read by someone who resides on The Spectrum themselves. It is also notable as one of the few autobiographical books by a male. Quite simply put, Stephen's forthrightness is wonderfully disarming. And his very unique ability (especially for someone actually on The Spectrum) to relate not only how the world appears to him but also how that reality fits into the one we nuero-typicals live in, shows an oversight I don't encounter in most typical adults. His positive example is nothing short of a godsend. Beyond giving us hope for our sons, daughters and loved ones who reside with Stephen in this very fascinating place, Stephen's book helps to unravel the mysteries we strive to understand every day. And that Stephen has achieved what he has thus far and has dedicated his life to furthering knowledge about and advocating for the individual on The Spectrum is testimony to this wonderful mans character (and to the loving devotion of his mother, his wife and his mentors!). I only hope my son strives to be half the man Stephen Shore has shown himself to be by this book. If you've just had The "Autism Bomb" fall on you - that is to say, just gotten the diagnosis, you owe it to yourself (and your loved one) to pick up this great book and start thinking positively now at the beginning of your journey, about your gifted child.