Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum

by Kassiane Sibley, Stephen M. Shore PhD (Editor), Roger M. Meyer, Phil Schwarz, Liane Holliday Willey

Overview

Advocacy skills must be taught because they are essential to life success. Learn from people with autism on how to teach these skills! Edited by Stephen Shore, Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum helps people with autism effectively self-advocate in their pursuit of independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. Ask and Tell is unique in that it's the first book to speak to the twin issues of self-advocacy and disclosure for people with autism. This book also discusses how advocacy begins in preschool and extends throughout the lifespan, with meaningful examples such as showing how people with autism have great value to society. It is written and illustrated entirely by individuals with autism, including a preface by Dr. Temple Grandin. Overall, successful self-advocacy involves a degree of disclosure about oneself that often carries some degree of risk in an effort to reach the goal of better mutual understanding. Ask and Tell offers countless practical ideas and advice adjusted for different personalities and personal preferences, and always backed by the real life experiences

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781957984490
Publisher:	Future Horizons, Inc.
Publication date:	07/01/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	36 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Shore is an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University. His other books include: College for Students with Disabilities, Understanding Autism for Dummies, and Beyond the Wall. Currently, he serves on the board of Autism Speaks, and is one of the first two autistic board members in its history, looking to improve the potential of those on the autism spectrum.

Read an Excerpt

Even though Jay and I have been married for almost 18 years, I continue to discover better ways to communicate with him. He enjoys talking to me about changes in law. I confess that I am more interested in other topics; nevertheless, because Jay is an attorney, I understand that he likes to talk about law. Since I love him, I listen. Occasionally while he is talking, my mind drifts from the subject of law because I do not comprehend his intent, thoughts, and feelings. I have a difficult time understanding the significance of the words and the emotions behind them. Using some of the skills of reading body language that are explained in this chapter, I look at his entire face and body posture. Listening to his voice, I notice that it is flat, lacking inflection, and that the words are mostly factual. His body language is not communicating effectively how he is feeling about the topic. His intents, thoughts and feelings are not sending a clear message. Therefore, it is a challenge for me to read his signals and understand the content and significance of his communication. I ask, “Can you explain, using words that express how you feel, so that I can understand you better?”

His facial expression changes, his shoulders tense, his forehead is more furled at the center and his eyes look a little narrower when he explains, “I’m somewhat worried about how the new estate law may affect future cases.” Now, I understand the significance of our conversation and can listen better, because his communication and body signals correspond with an emotional state of … “somewhat worried.” Nonverbal communication or “body language” is the process of sending and receiving wordless messages by means of hand and finger gestures, body postures, facial expressions and emotional tones of voice.

Editorial Reviews

As soon as I opened the first pages of this book, I knew that it was going to be a great contribution for people on the autism spectrum. Of course, I was biased since I had read papers by many of its authors. I find admirable the wisdom of the answers provided in the various chapters to Phil Schwarz’s question ‘What mix of change in the society, as well as change in the individual, should we strive for?’ Indeed, society as a whole must become more aware of autism and Asperger Syndrome, but individuals who live with these syndromes must be allowed to acquire the potential to become self-advocates too. I hope that this book will be translated into many languages.” -Paul Trehin Vice President Autism Europe-Cagnes sur Mer, France

“Ask and Tell is a great addition to the literature. This is the first book I have seen that addresses a major issue in persons with brain differences. This book gives a clear presentation of why people on the autistic spectrum need to become their own advocates and offers accounts from a wide variety of persons who have wrestled with this problem. Each chapter offers a new look at the issue of disclosure and provide step-by-step instructions on why and how best to disclose.” -John Ratey, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School Author of A User’s Guide to the Brain: Perception, Attention, and the Four Theaters of the Brain Co-author, Driven to Distraction, Answers to Distractions, and Shadow Syndromes

“Self-disclosure is inherently personal – and so is this book. Written by six people on the autism spectrum, it reveals the complex perceptions and behaviors that often limit access to educational opportunities, social groups, and employment for individuals with these disorders. This remarkable text enlightens theory and gives clear instruction on the necessity for self-knowledge in achieving a better life in matters of everyday living.” -Gerald S. Fain, Ph.D., Professor School of Education Boston University

“Finally, a book with concrete ‘how-to’ and ‘what-to-say’ advice. Here are the answers to ‘what to say to other people,’ written by mentors with personal experience. I like the way the authors stress how people with autism have abilities that make them different (and encourage them to be able to identify and explain their differences) from the vast majority of people they interact with. That is so much more positive than saying, ‘I have autism or I have Asperger Syndrome’.” - Angela Collins, President, Autism Society of America-Greater Georgia

From the Publisher