Talking Teenagers : Information and Inspiration for Parents of Teenagers with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome

This book considers parenting across the spectrum during the teenage years. It provides the information that will encourage other parents with teens on the autism spectrum. Covering topics from what to take on vacation and dealing with anger, to sex education and planning for the parents' own demise, Ann ends each chapter with thoughtful vignettes. A parent's heartache, ever present? Nugget #1: HFA or ASA, what's the diff?? What do I tell people about autism? Nugget #2: Dealing with the good intentions of others? IEPs and those elusive goals? Nugget #3: Autism and gray Charting growth? Nugget #4: Living with fear! Understanding Jon's way of understanding or, lost in translation is not just a movie title? Nugget #5: Sometimes it's all Greek to me! What to take on vacation? Nugget #6: On perseveration : stop beating that dead horse! What about anger? : just because your child as a disability, doesn't make you a floor mat? Nugget # 7: I love you, but we are not connected at the hip! Straight talk for parents : we need to be like the energizer bunny, we must keep going and going, and? Nugget #8: Birthday parties-so simple, yet so impossible An interview with the school counselor? Nugget #9: Is there a lesson in these socks? A bully by any other name is still a bully? Nugget # 0: Parents and sanity 101? An interview with an autism expert, Dr. B.J. Freeman Nugget #11: Literally speaking? Choosing your battles? Nugget #12: Get off my back! please? An interview with a parent expert, Emily Pearl Kingsley Nugget #13: Stopping to note the successes? Planning for our own demise : an interview with an attorney Nugget #14: Changing my view? Resources-re-mix? Nugget #15: We must see differently! Explaining differences to our teens? Nugget #16: Thoughts on normal? A case for empathy? Nugget #17: But do I have to fix him? The s-e-x word meets the a-u-t-i-s-m word Nugget #18: Waiting for the other shoe to drop ... Charting behaviors? Nugget #19: Three steps forward, one step back : not the latest dance craze Family members and autism : the good, the bad, and the ugly? Nugget #20: Finding hope at the library? Autism and religion? Nugget #21: Angels by my side? Shadow dancing? Nugget #22: Serendipity-the sauce for those nuggets! Ann Boushéy's teenage son Jon was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in kindergarten. Having mastered the day-to-day challenges that parenting a young child with autism or Asperger's Syndrome pose, Talking Teenagers considers questions surrounding parenting across the spectrum during the teenage years. Written out of her own experience, this inspirational book provides the information that will encourage other parents with teens on the autism spectrum. Covering everyday topics, from what to take on vacation and dealing with anger, to sex education and planning for the parents' own demise, Ann ends each chapter with thoughtful vignettes: "Chicken Nuggets for the Soul". After reading this book, parents will come away with a sense of empowerment and feeling that they are not alone, while professionals will gain a valuable and compassionate insight into the world of parenting a teenager on the autism spectrum. Ann Boushey's teenage son Jon was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in kindergarten. Having mastered the day-to-day challenges that parenting a young child with autism or Asperger's Syndrome pose, the author considers questions surrounding parenting across the spectrum during the teenage years. Written out of her own experience, this inspirational book provides the information that will encourage other parents with teens on the autism spectrum. Covering everyday topics, from what to take on vacation and dealing with anger, to sex education and planning for the parents' own demise, Ann ends each chapter with thoughtful 'Chicken Nuggets for the Soul'. After reading this book, parents will come away with a sense of empowerment and feeling that they are not alone, while professionals will gain a valuable and compassionate insight into the world of parenting a teenager on the autism spectrum. Written from first-hand experience, Talking Teenagers is an encouraging and inspiring book for parents of teens on the autism spectrum. Everyday questions, from how to deal with anger and what to take on vacation, as well as more complex issues, such as how to approach sex education and plan for the future, are discussed with insight and compassion.

Ann Boushey provides accessible question and answer sections, interviews with school counselors and other parents, and thoughtful vignettes, or "Chicken Nuggets for the Soul", that conclude every chapter. Both empowering and practical, this book is ideal for parents and useful for professionals working with young people on the autism spectrum.