Girls growing up on the autism spectrum : what parents and professionals should know about the pre-teen and teenage years

Title:

Girls growing up on the autism spectrum : what parents and professionals should know about the pre-teen and teenage years

Author:

Nichols, Shana.

ISBN:

9781843108559

Publication Information:

London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2009.

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Suggested Age	Status
Book	Searching... Cabell County Public Library	618.92 N	Adult	Searching... Unknown

Growing up isn't easy, and the trials and tribulations of being a teenager can be particularly confusing for girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This book covers all the concerns commonly faced by girls with ASDs and their parents, from periods and puberty to worries over friendships and "fitting in".
Taking a good look at these adolescent issues, and many more, within the context of specific areas of difficulty for girls with ASDs, the authors provide families with the knowledge and advice they need to help their daughters - and the whole family - through the teenage years. This book addresses core issues such as cognition, communication, behavior, sensory sensitivities, and social difficulties; it gives candid and realistic advice on a wide range of important teenage topics.
Providing professional perspectives alongside personal experiences from mothers, daughters and educators, this is a unique and indispensible guide for families and their daughters with ASDs, as well as the teachers and professionals who work with them.

Author Notes

Shana Nichols, PhD, is Clinical Director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders affiliated with AHRC Nassau, and the North Shore - LIJ Health System on Long Island, New York. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked in the areas of assessment, treatment, and research related to autism spectrum and other developmental disorders for over ten years. Gina Marie Moravcik, MA, CCC-SLP, is Coordinator of Education and Speech Language Services at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders. She is a speech and language pathologist specializing in social communication and autism spectrum disorders. She is Adjunct Professor and Clinical Supervisor in the Speech Pathology program, St. John's University, USA, and also runs a private speech-language therapy practice. Samara Pulver Tetenbaum, MA, is a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has been working in the field of autism and related developmental disabilities for the past five years and is currently employed as an applied behavior specialist at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Verdict: This book addresses the needs of girls on the autistic spectrum and would be a useful tool for the parenting collections of public libraries with autism collections. Background: Three expert authors collaborate in this guide to supporting adolescent girls on the autistic spectrum. Nichols (clinical director, Fay J. Lindner Ctr. for Autism & Developmental Disorders), speech and language pathologist Moravcik, and applied behavioral specialist Tetenbaum address a variety of topics: rates of diagnosis and diagnostic implications of sex differences; approaching adolescence (including a teaching toolkit); puberty, self-perception, and self-confidence; friendships; healthy sexuality; and personal safety. An extensive list of resources follows each chapter.-Elizabeth Safford, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Acknowledgements	p. 11
Foreword	p. 13
Authors' Notes	p. 15
Chapter 1 What Do We Currently Know about Girls and Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders?	p. 17
Asking the question	p. 17
Epidemiology and the puzzle of diagnostic rates	p. 19
Same disorder, different faces? Sex differences in symptom presentation	p. 20
Diagnostic implications of sex differences	p. 25
Interventions and supports	p. 27
What causes sex differences in ASDs?	p. 29
Sex differences in other developmental disorders	p. 32
The importance of understanding typical developmental sex differences	p. 33
Clinical programs: are they out there?	p. 34
A window of knowledge: personal stories by women with ASDs	p. 35
Routes to a diagnosis for females and their families	p. 37
I'm still not sure what her diagnosis is	p. 38
Resources	p. 39
Chapter 2 Approaching Adolescence: Anticipation, Anxiety, Adaptation, and...Acceptance?	p. 41
Adolescence: the wild ride	p. 41
Developmental tasks	p. 42
Adolescence x Autism = A[superscript 2]?	p. 48
Specific challenges of adolescence	p. 49
Sexuality and masturbation	p. 57
Your "Teaching Toolkit": guidelines and techniques	p. 58
Lessons from Nemo	p. 62
Resources	p. 63
Chapter 3 Puberty or "Do My Parents Know You're Here?"	p. 67
Are you ready?	p. 67
ASDs and adjusting to puberty	p. 70
Foundational skills	p. 73
Navigating pubertal change	p. 85
Managing the locker room	p. 91
Hormones and emotions	p. 93
Resources	p. 94
Chapter 4 The Red Spot: Periods, Pads, and Pelvic Exams	p. 97
Goal 1 Finding your positive tone	p. 98
Goal 2 Providing accurate information	p. 101
Goal 3 Practicing skills ahead of time	p. 107
Goal 4 Preparing for the first period	p. 111
Successful management of menstrual hygiene	p. 112
The great debate: Pads, tampons, or both?	p. 120
The gynaecological exam	p. 123
Aiming for independence	p. 126
Resources	p. 126
Chapter 5 Feeling Good Inside and Out: Self-perception and Self-confidence	p. 129
Your daughter's external sense of self	p. 130
Body image and physical appearance	p. 130
Issues with eating: from complications to disorders	p. 132
Weight management	p. 135
Fitness and exercise	p. 136
Building a healthy self-image	p. 140
First bras and beyond: the world of intimate wear	p. 141
Fun with fashion and personal style	p. 145
Your daughter's internal sense of self	p. 152
Creating success experiences	p. 154
Developing independence, self-reliance, and responsibility	p. 155
Promoting self-knowledge and self-awareness ("Who am I?")	p. 157
Developing and expanding your daughter's interests	p. 158
Self-regulation and emotional understanding	p. 159
Fostering mental health	p. 162
"The talk": teaching your daughter about her ASD	p. 168
What having an ASD means to your daughter	p. 170
Parent modeling of self-esteem	p. 173
Resources	p. 174
Chapter 6 The Social Landscape of Adolescence: Friendships and Social Status	p. 177
The age of friendships	p. 177
Understanding friendships and developing friendship skills	p. 182
Stages of friendship	p. 187
Popularity and social status	p. 193
Specific challenges for girls with ASDs	p. 194
Finding your daughter's social compass	p. 201
Resources	p. 202
Chapter 7 Healthy Sexuality for Girls with ASDs	p. 204
Defining sexuality: finding a common meaning	p. 204
Sexual attitudes and values	p. 206
Why is sexuality education important for your daughter?	p. 212
Challenges faced by girls with ASDs	p. 213
What does sexuality look like for typically developing girls?	p. 218
What does healthy sexuality look like for females with ASDs?	p. 220
Your daughter's sexual education plan	p. 222
Sexual arousal and masturbation: what's normal for your daughter?	p. 232
Romantic feelings and being "interested" in someone	p. 236
Your school's sexuality education curriculum: to participate, or not?	p. 248
Gender identity and sexual orientation	p. 250
Providing reading materials for your daughter	p. 253
Resources	p. 254
Chapter 8 Keeping Girls Safe: Promoting Personal Safety in the Real World	p. 257
Abuse and developmental disabilities	p. 258
How to keep your daughter safe: abuse-prevention strategies	p. 262
Sexual harassment and bullying at school	p. 271
What are the signs of abuse?	p. 274
Building a safety circle	p. 276
Reacting to abuse	p. 278
Respecting others' boundaries: keeping your daughter, and others, safe	p. 279
Consent to sexual activity	p. 283
Online safety: protecting your daughter on the internet	p. 284
Resources	p. 291
Chapter 9 Our Journey: A Mother and her Daughter with Asperger's Syndrome	p. 294
Our journey: BD ("before diagnosis")	p. 297
Our journey: AD ("after diagnosis")	p. 307
Bullying: the nightmare that was middle school	p. 311
High school: the highs, the lows, and the in-betweens	p. 320
The "here and now"	p. 326
Thoughts on being a female adolescent with Asperger's Syndrome	p. 327
Thoughts on being a mother of an adolescent daughter with Asperger's Syndrome	p. 328
Conclusion: Embracing Change	p. 330
About the Authors	p. 332
References	p. 333
Subject Index	p. 343
Author Index	p. 350

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