Your Life Is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome for Parents, Professionals and You!

by Jerry Newport

Book Overview

Jerry Newport, diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome / High Functioning Autism at age 47, wrote this book for those with developmental disorders, but it resonates with people with any disability. His message: everyone has the power, and the right, to improve the quality of their lives despite their disability. Don't believe you must be "normal" to be happy; learn to co-exist with neuro-typicals, and become the best human being you can be. Jerry candidly...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885477775
• ISBN13: 9781885477774
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Future Horizons
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 6.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very informative

This book is very informative if you have autism or Asperger's Syndrome (which I do), and Jerry really gets to the point of what he's talking about. I even like the interview chapters where you get to hear about his wife's expereinces as a child who doesn't fit in because of an undiagnosed condition. I recommend this to individuals with either of these disorders, or people who know/live/work with such people. You won't be disappointed in reading this, as I wasn't.

A "How To" Guidebook - Launching Pad for People With Autism

This is a much needed work that addresses the needs of adults with autism. It covers areas such as finances and relationships and the author never loses his sense of humor. I love his quick wit and many times I found myself laughing over some clever phrase or original description. For any adult on the spectrum, make this book your best friend when you need a quick consultation. This book is very helpful in navigating in NT (neurotypical) territory. A must read for all!

Gives advice I want my teenager to hear

When I picked up Jerry's book I had a hard time putting it down. I am a parent of an adolescent with AS and have been "winging it" for most of his life. No books for parents were ever written on the subject until 1999. I've relied on my own parenting experience of neurotypical children and professional autism journals to figure out what to do. Now that I'm preparing my child to be "launched" into college, having a life handbook that he can rely on is very important. Jerry's book is very concrete with common sense information, and an attitude about life that I hope my own son will adopt. I can recommend this book to any person on the spectrum, and also to parents of children age 11 to adulthood. Sometimes when you are feeling most challenged as a parent of an AS preteen or teen, it is very helpful to remind you where you are heading!

A "must read" for everyone!

It's been said that those of us on the autistic spectrum have a special sense of humor--and I will add, a special wisdom, too. In this book, Jerry combines a tremendous amount of practical advice (which he has likened to "a Chilton's Repair Manual")with an incredible and devious sense of humor, adding amazing insight all the way through. Hopefully, Jerry's with and language use will not be lost on those of you "off" the spectrum.Jerry tackles the most personal and complicated issues along with the seemingly mundane ones, such as how to take a bus. He manages to make the whole reading highly enjoyable, and provides everyone with new insight on life. Even if you have no interest in autism, this is a must read!

Common sense for living

Jerry's book fills in a badly needed gap in the Autism and Asperger literature. His down-home common sense descriptions and recommendations for living a fulfilling life and navigating the world hits a home run as a great resource to both our peers on the autism spectrum as well as others that are part of our community. The "glass is never full or but it's never empty" chapter is the most poignant and touching part of the book. (...)