Asperger's: What Does It Mean to Me?

This book is great to work with a person to understand themselves without loosing self-esteem. It helps to understand why I'm different.

Although I take a very different approach than the authors as to the basis of autism--I don't believe it is "simply a different way of thinking," for example--I still give this workbook the highest possible rating as a practical guide for children with Aspergers and, even more so, for the teachers and other adults who work with them. For the kids, it promotes self-awareness in a way that doesn't cause harm. The chapter on sensory issues was especially insightful for my son. Because of the way it is formatted it is easy to pick and choose what is applicable and what is not--it's extremely user-friendly. A teacher can have quick access to real-life strategies in a matter of minutes. Finally, I love the fact that for the MOST part it does not over-generalize. I've grown weary of books that describe Asperger kids as something totally unrelated to my child. This book did that only one time and because of the way it's arranged we simply skipped that page. I bought two of these--my son and I spent several months doing the workbook together and I gave the other one to his school. Whenever anyone asks what Asperger book they should get, this is at the top of my list.

How I wish I had had this book as a child. This is a good teaching tool for helping children with Asperger's understand their "undefined differences," make peace with them and explain them to other people. I like the way the book emphasizes the point that "different" does not necessarily mean stigmatized. This work does a great service in making efforts to remove the stigma often associated with Asperger's. Although Asperger's is a neurological "difference" that IS on the Autism spectrum, it is not "autism," per se. Many argue the point that it is a form of autism, or a "milder form," but that question remains open. What IS known about Asperger's is that it is INDEED a spectrum condition and that it DOES share some autistic properties. Sadly, "autism" is such a highly charged term that it often eclipses the different challenges people with Asperger's contend with. This book does an admirable job of addressing this issue.I highly recommend this one for all people whether or not they are on the spectrum. It has good information and paves the way to acceptance.

Catherine Faherty has created a masterpiece using "TEACCH" as an approach to working with "Aspergers" and high end "Autistic" children.This workbook is a must for parents, and for all teachers in the field of Autism/Aspergers. What makes Catherine's approach so unique is her outstanding ability, using worksheets, to help students with Autism and PDD (Pervasive DevelopmentalDisorders) increase their communication skills and self-awareness. Participation in activities that were once ignored can be accomplished using Catherine's method.She begins her book with a dynamic approach to help the student accept herself/himself for exactly the way they are. Many Autistic children have questions related to their disability. Through a carefully structured model, the author is able to guide an Autistic child through a series of discoveries tailored to his or her individual needs.The "TEACCH" approach begins at the point of the child's current educational requirements. The method does not force the child to learn educational material just because it is required by a specific curriculum. The individual student's immediate needs come first. ASPERGER'S: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? accomplishes its goal.Catherine Faherty deserves 10 stars for writing a book that truly helps an Autistic/Asperger student develop at his or her correct learning level. Topics such as "How I Learn", Who I Am", "What My Interests Are", "How Can I Deal With My Disability?", are brought to fruition through worksheets, questions, and important information. The author also allows the student to discover there is no shame in being different. A lesson all of us need to "grasp" in today's world.Whether you are a teacher, a parent of an Autistic child, or an Autistic/Asperger student, this workbook is more than a must...it is a necessity.Catherine Faherty's book is brilliant!Steve Horwitz Hart - Autistic Specialist

Singularly the most thorough, sensitive resource to help children with autism spectrum disorders understand their strengths, personalities, and unique challenges.Also equally effective in helping parents and professionals understand aspects of a childs personality that they may not already be aware of.