Asperger's Syndrome ― Tips & Strategies

Tips and strategies for those with autism, their parents/carers, employers, friends, and teachers

My first book Look Into My Eyes, which I described as ‘an autobiography through the lens of Asperger’s Syndrome’ shared my experiences growing up and living with Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. In it I shared my personal experiences about what it is like to live with Asperger’s, what I have found helpful, and not so helpful. I also shared my professional experiences based off of almost 20 years of working with children, teens, and adults with autism, and their parents, carers and involved professionals.

After writing Look Into My Eyes I decided it would be useful to write a book of tips and strategies for those who interact with people with autism spectrum disorder, specifically Asperger’s Syndrome, or high-functioning autism, and tips and strategies for people who have autism around various life areas, from work, and relationships, through to interview skills.

When I have given talks I have often been approached by parents of adults with Asperger’s, who have said to me that their son or daughter is very intelligent (they often tell me their child has a degree, for instance) but can’t get a job because they don’t do well in interviews. This always confuses me when I hear it because, to me, interviews are fine. They have a structure, and there is a process to follow; the challenge for me is remaining in the job once I have it, rather than the interview. So, in this book I share my views and strategies around interview skills.

I will also share parenting tips for managing children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - ways that you can make the individual with ASD more comfortable. I will share tips that those with ASD of all ages can use to help themselves managing areas like sensory overload, what friends can do to help those with ASD, strategies teachers can use, and what work colleagues and employers can do to help too.

All of the tips and strategies I share are based on what has worked for me personally as someone with Asperger’s, what has worked for me professionally as someone who has worked with autistic people of all ages, and what has worked for parents, carers and other professionals who I have worked with too.

I know that the parenting strategies work with children and teens with other conditions as well as autism, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), and angry or challenging behaviour, because I have used them myself with hundreds of children of different ages, as well as working with parents to help them use the strategies. I have also had feedback from children and teens themselves after they have improved their behaviour about what made the difference, and they report that it was changes the parents made: “My mum is now calmer and more relaxed, so I feel happier at home”, or “My dad no longer shouts at me”.