Resource Category: Early Childhood

Receiving a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome can be a frightening, confusing, and overwhelming experience for both parents and children.

In fact, many people still believe it may be better not to name or ‘label’ the syndrome in the hope that their child will settle down and learn to adapt. However, making sense and meaning of our experiences, similarities, and differences is a core and universal human need. When, despite our best efforts, we still can’t understand why parts of our lives are not working, the resulting confusion, frustration, and distress can be traumatic for any person. Making Sense of Asperger’s: A Story for Children grew out of just such an experience for one seven-year-old boy. This extremely bright child was frequently in serious trouble at school but couldn’t understand why. His mother was struggling with her attempts to explain that he had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, so she asked her son’s psychologist, author Debra Engle, for guidance in explaining this in a positive way. This book is the end result of this mother’s request for help. Elaborating on a previously developed analogy of Asperger’s Syndrome with a computer’s operating system, this workbook, with its simple text and entertaining illustrations, offers an explanation of Asperger’s as one possibility within the range of differences between all people. In a world where most people come equipped with a standard operating system, it explains in a validating and fun way exactly what an Asperger’s syndrome operating system is, how it works, the compatibility issues which can arise, and, most importantly, how to live with one, with system crashes and all.

A note from SWAN: ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ is no longer used as a diagnosis and the term “high-functioning” is harmful, as it minimises the varied support needs of autistic people.  SWAN does not endorse these terms, but recognises that this resource contains other useful information.