Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Issues: Practical Solutions for Making Sense of the World

by Winnie Dunn (Foreword), Penny Chiles (Illustrator), Brenda Smith Myles

This book uncovers the puzzling behaviour by children and youths with Asperger Syndrome (AS) that have a sensory base and, therefore, are often difficult to pinpoint and interpret. Written in a very reader-friendly style, the book covers the impact of the sensory system on behaviour, reviews formal and informal assessment tools and offers an invaluable set of practical interventions that can be used by parents and educators alike to help promote success for children and youths with AS. The "sensory gang" - a set of clever icons used throughout the book- helps the reader navigate between the senses.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Parenting, Aspergers, Education, Self Help

129 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

Winnie Dunn is a writer of Tongan descent from Mount Druitt, Western Sydney. She is the general manager of Sweatshop Literacy Movement. Her work has been published in Meanjin, The Guardian and Sydney Review of Books. She is also the editor of several critically acclaimed anthologies, most notably Another Australia (Affirm Press, 2022). She was the recipient of a 2023 Australia Council for the Arts grant. Dirt Poor Islanders (Hachette) is her debut novel.

Reviews

[James Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really easy to understand book and was the first one I read on the subject. It gave me a great foundation to understand ASD.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a speech-language pathologist who works with many little kids who once would have had the Asperger diagnosis (now subsumed into the ASD diagnosis), this book was revelatory for me. So many of the behaviors that my students exhibit make so much more sense now after reading this book--and I even understand more about my own childhood extremely picky eating ["I remember that you only ate yellow foods." - family friend] and still-extant sensory aversions [the wad of cotton in the vitamin bottle? gag]. This book is incredibly accessible to the layperson and provides numerous intervention ideas that I will be sure to implement. If you have kids or students who:
- can't walk down the hall without rubbing their entire side against it
- spin around and around and around
- bounce around the room
- fall out of their chairs
- refuse to even touch a piece of pasta
- hum constantly
or exhibit other sensory issues, then you must read this book. Your kids aren't trying to be defiant--they just aren't sensing the world the way most people do, which can be completely anxiety-inducing. (Case in point: I still remember the absolute dread I experienced when my kindergarten teacher told me I was going to have to eat fruit the next day in school. It sounds weird, but the texture of fruit was abhorrent to me back then.) Okay, but I've blathered on too long. Basically, if you work with kids: read this book.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read and well presented guide to sensory issues in aspergers, and ideas for interventions to help alleviete these issues and the discomfort they cause. Definately worth a look if you are interested in learning more about Aspergers, or want to find ways to help those with aspergers.

[Wendy Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was given this book from our local Autism Society. I took a while to read it as I had to be in the mood; and I was taking notes as I went. Most of it was just clarification of things I already knew.

[Amber]

1 copy available

[Avien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written insightful book! So much incredible information!

[Melissa Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, new information and ideas. Helpful!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and insightful.