Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #716584 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Synopsis
Varying needs and emotions involve compromise in any family, especially where one or more members have Asperger Syndrome (AS). The McCabe family provide a rounded picture of such a household, taking turns to discuss how the father Patrick's AS affects each relationship. Estelle, Patrick's wife, talks about how she has adjusted her speech and social life in order to live peacefully with her husband and avoid his seemingly irrational reactions to her 'normal' behavior. In turn, Patrick discusses how he has learnt to accommodate Estelle's needs and his teenage son's growing independence into his desire for 'people-free time', strict routine and clear communication. Jared discusses how his father's AS characteristics have affected growing up and highlights how issues can be resolved without either losing face with his peers or upsetting his parents. Supplemented with interviews with friends and colleagues, this book is invaluable for anyone closely involved with AS, focusing positively on the relationships that are both the most important and the most difficult to maintain.

Customer Reviews

An intimate story
This is a fine book, which describes the relationships in one family with Asperger syndrome, in detail. It provides much to think about.

The main criticism I have is that it appears to take Patrick as exactly THE archetype for AS. Reading a wide range of books, it is clear to me that AS is not a single pattern but a range of ways in which people develop differently and adapt to the world. This book should be taken as one instance, not a universal description.