Liane Holliday Willey

Susan Dunne's life changed forever when a chance question from a doctor led her back to horses, an unfulfilled childhood passion. Detached and isolated due to undiagnosed autism, Susan had already survived rape, battled eating disorders and self-harm, and spent time homeless, when her world was turned upside again by a vicious, life-threatening assault. Severe post-traumatic stress disorder left her feeling distrustful and more cut off than ever before from a world she saw as confusing and dangerous. But as Susan's connection with horses grew stronger, her world started to open up. Poignant and witty by turns, Susan shares her story of survival and transformation, offering a rare insight into her relationship with horses, and how they helped her to find a safe place in the world.

Happily married to her husband with Asperger Syndrome for 25 years, Ashley Stanford is an expert on how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can affect a relationship and her bestselling book has helped thousands of couples. Brought fully up to date, this second edition clarifies the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and explains how, without a solid awareness of the condition, ASD behaviors can easily be misinterpreted. Stanford's book provides a wealth of strategies for living with the more uncompromising aspects of ASD, pointing out that ASD also brings enormous strengths to a relationship. It shows how understanding the intentions, motivations and reasoning behind ASD behaviors can lead to better communication, relief of tension, and ultimately to a happier, more mutually fulfilling relationship.

Compelling and witty, Liane Holliday Willey's account of growing to adulthood as an undiagnosed 'Aspie' has been read by thousands of people on and off the autism spectrum since it was first published in 1999. Bringing her story up to date, including her diagnosis as an adult, and reflecting on the changes in attitude over 15 years, this expanded edition will continue to entertain (and inform) all those who would like to know a little more about how it feels to spend your life `pretending to be normal'.

"Meine Tochter hat Asperger " Liane Willey hatte von dieser Krankheit noch nie geh rt, und nun erf hrt sie: Unter Asperger oder "High-function-Autismus" leiden viele Menschen, ohne es zu wissen - "besondere" Menschen, die zu zur ckgezogenem oder egozentrischem Verhalten neigen, die oft hoch begabt sind, aber an Selbstwertproblemen, berempfindlichkeit, Unsicherheit, Verzweiflung leiden. Sie f hlen sich mitunter wie "Ausl nder im eigenen Land" oder wie "Au erirdische, die auf einem falschen Planeten gelandet sind". Die Diagnose ihrer Tochter ver ndert ihr Leben, denn Liane Willey begreift, dass sie seit Jahrzehnten mit den gleichen Symptomen zu k mpfen hatte: "Ich kann die Erleichterung nicht ausdr cken, die ich empfand, als ich schlie lich realisierte, dass meine Tochter und ich nicht an einer Geisteskrankheit oder einer gespaltenen Pers nlichkeit litten oder etwas hnlichem. Wir haben Asperger. Damit k nnen wir leben Wir k nnen unsere Ziele und Tr ume erreichen, und wir k nnen unser Leben weiterf hren - mit Optimismus und Hoffnung. Wie aufregend die Erkenntnis, dass ich ganz einfach Dinge anders sehe, anders auffasse, anders empfange als andere und dass das so in Ordnung ist. Es ist meine Normalit t." Liane Willey erz hlt ihre Lebensgeschichte von der fr hen Kindheit ber die Schul- und Collegezeit bis zum Leben als Berufst tige und Mutter von drei Kindern. Sie macht deutlich, wie die Welt von einer "Aspie" erlebt wird - von den Strategien, mit denen es ihr gelang, ihren eigenen Weg zu finden, aber auch von dem oft erheblichen Leidensdruck, der damit einherging. In einem Anhang folgen praktische Hinweise "von immenser Pr zision, was die Vorschl ge (und Erfahrungen) angeht, im Alltag Probleme zu bew ltigen, die sich einem Menschen mit Asperger-Autismus stellen" (Ulrich Rabenschlag). Ein pers nliches Buch, das die Menschen, die Asperger haben - einer gro en europ ischen Studie zufolge in Deutschland pro Jahrgang ca. 5000 Menschen -, in ihrer Besonderheit versteht und ihnen Achtung und Sympathie entgegenbringt. Ein spannender Fallbericht nicht nur f r Betroffene, sondern auch f r Eltern, Erzieher, Lehrer, Psychologen und rzte.

As a parent, a teacher and an Aspie herself, Jennifer O'Toole provides the definitive insider's view of Asperger syndrome. She shows how to help children on the spectrum by understanding how they think and by exploiting their special interests to promote learning. Her strategies work because she thinks like the children that she teaches. This exciting book is full of effective and fun ways of engaging with children with Asperger syndrome. Jennifer explains how theory of mind difficulties create the need for concrete forms of communication, and provides original methods to inspire imagination through sensorial experiences. In particular she reveals the untapped power of special interests, showing how to harness these interests to encourage academic, social and emotional growth. Affirming that different doesn't mean defective, this book offers the insight and guidance that parents, educators, and other professionals need to connect with the Asperkids in their life and get them excited about learning.

Containing life-changing strategies and solutions, this book will enable everyone who knows, lives with or works with an individual with autism to achieve a positive relationship that fosters cooperation and mutual respect. The author has dedicated over 20 years to studying, observing and implementing communication strategies that help him, his wife, their three children and his clients experience positive relationships. His immediate family are all on the autism spectrum and they work together to understand one another, resolve misunderstandings, and help each other feel important, loved and respected. Sharing their inspirational personal experiences and interweaving every chapter with practical hints and tips, the book looks at how to get communication working for everyone and emphasizes the importance of laying down ground rules and building confidence. This book will be essential reading for family, friends and professionals who wish to communicate more effectively with those on the autism spectrum.

Life with Asperger Syndrome can be a challenge at the best of times, and trials and tribulations that neurotypicals take in their stride can leave Aspies perplexed and unsure of how to solve problems and keep themselves safe, both physically and emotionally. Liane Holliday Willey explores the daily pitfalls that females with AS may face, and suggests practical and helpful ways of overcoming them. The focus throughout is on keeping safe, and this extends to travel, social awareness, and general life management. With deeply personal accounts from the author's own experiences, this book doesn't shy away from difficult issues such as coping with bullying, self-harm, depression, and eating disorders. The positive and encouraging advice gives those with AS the guidance to safeguard themselves from emotional and physical harm, and live happy and independent lives. This book will be essential reading for all females with Asperger Syndrome, their friends and families, and all professionals whose work brings them into contact with females with AS.

Growing up isn't easy, and the trials and tribulations of being a teenager can be particularly confusing for girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This book covers all the concerns commonly faced by girls with ASDs and their parents, from periods and puberty to worries over friendships and "fitting in". Taking a good look at these adolescent issues, and many more, within the context of specific areas of difficulty for girls with ASDs, the authors provide families with the knowledge and advice they need to help their daughters - and the whole family - through the teenage years. This book addresses core issues such as cognition, communication, behavior, sensory sensitivities, and social difficulties; it gives candid and realistic advice on a wide range of important teenage topics. Providing professional perspectives alongside personal experiences from mothers, daughters and educators, this is a unique and indispensible guide for families and their daughters with ASDs, as well as the teachers and professionals who work with them.

Liane Holliday Willey and one of her daughters both have Asperger Syndrome. In Asperger Syndrome in the Family she looks, with honesty, wisdom and humor, at the implications this has for her family, both the Aspie and the non-Aspie members. Through personal vignettes, frank discussions and practical suggestions for dealing with everything from major to minor Aspie challenges, Liane, her husband and their three daughters bravely open their home to their readers, inviting them to look behind the curtains at their version of Aspie life. Not only does the book underscore the importance of mutual support and respect in an Aspie family - in fact in any family - it offers practical help for families in similar situations. This is a rich and positive book that will speak to all those whose lives have been affected by Asperger Syndrome.

For the families who have contributed to this book, living with autism spectrum disorders has been a journey of self-discovery. With honesty and humor, they describe the ways autism has affected their daily lives, the challenges they have faced and the approaches they have found beneficial. They share their practical and original strategies for dealing with issues such as helping children to develop empathy and humor, developing and maintaining friendships and explaining their autism spectrum disorders to other people. This book will be a source of advice and inspiration for families of children with autism and the professionals who work with them. It is practical, realistic and positive - autism is seen as something to be understood and celebrated. As 11-year-old Glen states in the Appendix, written by some of the children with autism featured in the book: `I like myself and consider my difference something positive.'