Asperger's from the Inside Out by Michael John Carley

Asperger's from the Inside Out:  A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome, Michael John Carley.  New York: Perigee/ Penguin Books, 2008.  e-book, 201 pps.


Asperger's from the Inside Out is written by the executive director of an organization called GRASP.  The letters stand for (The) Global (and) Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership and the website can be found here at: http://grasp.org/ .  There are many resources on the GRASP site, including but not limited to an informal discussion group on-line that meets twice a week.  Michael John Carley founded GRASP and the work done there is to be admired. 

In his book, Michael John Carley takes on identifying the symptoms of Asperger's, the diagnostic process, passions, and the possibility of happiness.  He also offers a toolbox of tips for use in order to navigate through a world that is often harsh in stimuli.  He is careful to point out that disclosure is always or should always be up to the individual with Asperger's.

sapphoqreviews says:  Yes, Michael John Carley was an unsuccessful playwright.  Yes, he works as an advocate for those with Asperger's.  He does not deserve to be criticized for his life choices, as at least one reviewer chose to do.  He was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult after his young son was diagnosed with Asperger's.
The positives: In Asperger's from the Inside Out, Michael John Carley works tirelessly promoting the idea that a brain which works differently from the average brain is not necessarily an abnormal brain.  He insists that Asperger's is a syndrome or a condition, not a disorder.  The author also talked about his difficulty or unwillingness to "prove" his math work.  [I too had that same glitch.  I figured if I could look at a geometry problem and get the answer, I shouldn't have to write down the steps in the bulky "proofs."  As long as I knew the name of the particular proof, I figured that plus the correct answer ought to have been enough.  In algebra I fared better because the balancing of equations was something that I liked to do.  In regular math, there were times when I could determine the answer but not know how I got there.  So yeah, I related to that].  Michael John Carley took a strong stance against the curebies.  He also stated and restated his belief in the sovereign status of each Aspie to make his or her own decisions. 
The negative:  There was only one negative.  And it is mild.  Perhaps a preference in vocabulary.  I dislike the term "spectrumites." 
The recommendation:  Adults who are on the spectrum will especially find Asperger's from the Inside Out to be a valuable addition to their collection of aspie-related literature.  Others who are not bound up in Autism Squeaks or how "awfully hard it is to be the parent of an autie/ aspie" will also like this book.  Get it. 

Aspergirls by Rudy Simone

Aspergirls, Rudy Simone.  London: Kingsley, Jessica Publishers, 2010.  e-book, 206 pps.


Rudy Simone's daughter has Asperger's.  Because Asperger's presents somewhat differently in girls [and women], the diagnosis is often missed.  Many of the studies done about folks on the autism spectrum in general and about folks who are aspies specifically are conducted on male subjects.  Of late, there has been some question about whether or not the common perception that "mostly males get this" is correct.  Just like the idea that the cute little boys with autism cease to attract attention as adult men with autism-- perhaps they grow out of it or perhaps they ingest invisibility crackers-- so is the idea that little girls and women just don't have autism often.  

The author alternates between narratives about the things that have happened to her daughter and what she has experienced as a mother of a female with Asperger's.  At the end of each chapter is a list of tips for aspergirls and separate tips for the parents.  Intermingled with the narrative are snapshots of girls and women who have Asperger's.

Now that the D.S.M. 5 has come out and further muddied the waters by declaring auties and aspies to all be part of something called Autism Spectrum Disorder, it will be interesting to  find out whether or not most folks-- men and women, boys and girls-- who fit in the aspie camp will be ignored.

sapphoq reviews says:  Although Rudy Simone briefly admits that a few folks with Asperger's have a bisexual orientation [without actually using the word "bisexual"] she does not address lesbianism in aspie teens and women.  This I think is an oversight that should have been addressed.  Lesbian and bisexual intimate relationships work a bit differently from heterosexual relationships.  It is not merely a matter of, "We do the same things you do in bed.  It's just that my partner is the same gender."  Aside from that, Aspergirls is certainly a valuable and readable book for aspies who are female, their parents, and others who are interested in the subject.  Recommended.