Full Description
Many teenagers with Asperger's Syndrome leave school feeling unsure of how to take the next steps in their lives. Leaving the comforts of home and facing the unknown can be daunting, but with the right support and advice these young adults can adapt and enjoy their newly-acquired independence.
Filled with useful advice, easy-to-apply techniques, and insights from both the author's own experiences of Asperger's Syndrome and those of his students, this book is a practical guide for helping young adults on the spectrum achieve independence and learn life-long skills of self-knowledge, self-sufficiency, and self-advocacy. With chapters on social skills, handling finances, keeping healthy, and succeeding in higher education or first employment, Dr. McManmon provides the encouragement that any young Aspie needs to make the transition from an adolescent into a happy, confident and engaged adult.
This book will be essential reading for parents, young adults with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism or learning differences, and any professionals who work with them.
Contents
Foreword by Stephen Shore, Ed.D. Opening Statement. Introduction. 1. Understanding Your Diagnosis: The Power of Knowing. 2. Learning the Art of Letting Go: The Steel Umbilical. 3. Keeping it Real: The Donkey Rule. 4. Pulling it all Together: Executive Functioning. 5. Being in the Groove: Social Competency. 6. Having a Shoulder to Lean On: Social Mentoring. 7. Get a Job, Son: Internships and Community Service. 8. Handling Finances: Money Makes the World Go Round. 9. Feeling Fit, Groomed, and Fueled: Health and Wellness. 10. Learning the "Hidden Curriculum": Friendship then Love. 11. Learning Openness, Tolerance, and Diversity: Be Yourself... Everyone Else is Taken. 12. Moving Forward: The Genuine Evokes the Genuine. Epilogue. References. Index.
