by Liane Holliday Willey (Author)
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.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 176
Edition: 2nd Ed
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published: 15 Mar 2001
ISBN 10: 1853028738
ISBN 13: 9781853028731
Book Overview: A personal look at the implications of AS within a family for all the members
This autobiography gives us insight into the lives of a family dealing with Asperger Syndrome (Liane and her daughter are both aspies ). Where Liane Holliday Willey excels is in her ability to see the humorous side of the many unusual strategies that her family and in particular, herself, have to develop. For example, Create a few personae you can put on like you put on a coat or Never talk about private matters in public, body parts that are covered by underwear, siblings' diaries, parents' arguments .
Her anecdotal accounts of family issues are honest and quite touching. Her need to know what her family think of her behaviour, and ways to make her acceptable to them, are heart warming. The spinach between the teeth of her daughter's class teacher and Liane's attempt to remove it, with resulting confusion and embarrassment, emphasize the lack of understanding in some social situations and the need to laugh at them and then learn from them.
Through it all, Liane remains determined to try and live happily in a neuro-typical world and to help her Aspie daughter and herself function successfully in day to day encounters.
For families living with Aspies and professionals working with them, this is highly recommended to further understand the challenges of Aperger Syndrome.
-- Joan Wheeler. Regional Services Coordinator Autism Association Queensland Inc.