Asperger Syndrome in Adolescence

Childhood and adult experiences of individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are becoming increasingly well documented, yet the crucial formative teenage years have, so far, been neglected. Adolescence is a difficult time for any teenager, but when you have Asperger Syndrome this already emotionally complex time of life becomes all the more challenging. Reflecting the views of parents, professionals and those with AS themselves, this book tackles issues that are pertinent to all teenagers, such as sexuality, depression and friendship, as well as discussing topics like disclosure and therapeutic alternatives that are more specific to those with AS. This book aims to make the transition from child to adult as smooth as possible, and is an essential survival guide to adolescence.

Isabelle Hénault has a masters degree in sexology and a doctorate of psychology from the Quebec University in Montreal. She has a private practice that provides assessment and therapy for individuals, couples and families, and acts as a consultant to a variety of organizations and schools. Her expertise lies in Asperger's Syndrome, with a special emphasis on sexuality, and she is the author of a sociosexual education programme for people with AS. She is involved with several international research projects on sexual education and psychotherapy for people on the autism spectrum. Jacqui Jackson is a single parent and, in addition to raising seven lively children, has a first class degree from the Open University. She is a frequent speaker on autism issues. Mike Stanton teaches in a school for children with severe learning difficulties in the UK. Some of his pupils are children with autism, and despite the difference in ability he recognizes the similarities between them and people with high functioning autism like his son. Since Matthew was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome the whole family has been active in the National Autistic Society. Thus Mike brings both professional understanding and personal experience to the subject. He is, as he likes to style himself on Internet forums, 'a parent and a teacher and learning all the time'. Dennis Debbaudt is a licensed private investigator and the owner of Debbaudt Detective Agency. As an autism advocate, he has authored the booklet Avoiding Unfortunate Situations (1994), articles for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, and newsletters of the Autism Society of America, Autism-Europe and TASH among other advocacy organizations, and presented information to law enforcement professionals and advocacy organizations in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. He's been involved in the development of Maryland's Police and Correctional Training Commissions autism curriculum, an award-winning training video and numerous grass roots training projects. His 18-year-old son, Kelly, has autism. Clinical Psychologists and husband/wife team Steven Gutstein and Rachelle Sheely are founders of the internationally known Connections Center for Relationship Development. Steven Gutstein is the author of Autism/Aspergers's: Solving the Relationship Puzzle. Tony Attwood, PhD, is a clinical psychologist from Brisbane, Australia, with over 30 years of experience with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. He is currently Adjunct Professor at Griffith University in Queensland. Luke Jackson is 13 years old and has three sisters and three brothers. One of his brothers has AD/HD, one is autistic and Luke has Asperger Syndrome. Luke Jackson, Jacqui Jackson and the rest of their family were featured in a documentary on BBC2 which you can read about on the BBC website. Luke also recorded a column for BBC Radio 4's Home Truths programme. You can hear it online. Lise Pyles lives with her family in Aurora, Colorado and is the mother of a son with Asperger Syndrome who, homeschooled for several years, is now at university. Her family's journey has encompassed living on three continents and following many paths including therapy, diet, medication and several schooling options.