Made for Good Purpose: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Help Their Adolescent with Asperger's, High Functioning Autism or a Learning Difference Become an Independent Adult

by Michael McManmon, Stephen Shore (Foreword by)

Overview

Many teenagers with Asperger's Syndrome leave school feeling unsure of how to take the next steps in their lives. Leaving the comforts of home and facing the unknown can be daunting, but with the right support and advice these young adults can adapt and enjoy their newly-acquired independence.

Filled with useful advice, easy-to-apply techniques, and insights from both the author's own experiences of Asperger's Syndrome and those of his students, this book is a practical guide for helping young adults on the spectrum achieve independence and learn life-long skills of self-knowledge, self-sufficiency, and self-advocacy. With chapters on social skills, handling finances, keeping healthy, and succeeding in higher education or first employment, Dr. McManmon provides the encouragement that any young Aspie needs to make the transition from an adolescent into a happy, confident and engaged adult.

This book will be essential reading for parents, young adults with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism or learning differences, and any professionals who work with them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849058636
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	02/15/2012
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Dr. Michael P. McManmon is the founder of the College Internship Program (CIP) that serves college-aged students with learning differences and Asperger's Syndrome in six centers across the US. CIP's goal is to prepare young men and young women with skills for life, for college, for work and for independent living. Dr. McManmon was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at fifty-one years of age. His personal struggles and ensuing victories and those of his students and staff have inspired this book. He resides in Lee, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Stephen M. Shore, Ed.D. 9

Opening Statement 12

Introduction 13

Chapter 1 Understanding Your Diagnosis: The Power of Knowing 17

Chapter 2 Learning the Art of Letting Go: The Steel Umbilical 29

Chapter 3 Keeping it Real: The Donkey Rule 51

Chapter 4 Pulling it all Together: Executive Functioning 76

Chapter 5 Being in the Groove: Social Competency 96

Chapter 6 Having a Shoulder to Lean On: Social Mentoring 127

Chapter 7 Get a Job, Son: Internships and Community Service 149

Chapter 8 Handling Finances: Money Makes the World Go Round 169

Chapter 9 Feeling Fit, Groomed, and Fueled: Health and Wellness 177

Chapter 10 Learning the "Hidden Curriculum": Friendship then Love 196

Chapter 11 Learning Openness, Tolerance, and Diversity: Be Yourself Everyone Else is Taken 207

Chapter 12 Moving Forward: The Genuine Evokes the Genuine 221

Epilogue 234

References 236

Index 237

Editorial Reviews

Made for Good Purpose has a powerful set of tools based on Dr. Michael McManmon's personal experiences and insights as a self-advocate of Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. McManmon defines 'The Donkey Rule', which will be embraced by every reader, as he guides everyone on a path towards achieving their fullest potential.

Lawrence P. Kaplan

For all the young people who come through our high schools, we must be their guides toward self-knowledge, self-advocacy, and self-determination. In order to do that well, we need the very best guides ourselves. Dr. McManmon is one of those guides, and this book gives us many tools and stories to inform our work.

Michael G. McDonald

Michael McManmon's book makes an outstanding contribution to the support, development and happiness of people on the autism spectrum. It is written with the parents of people with Asperger Syndrome in mind to help them understand how they can best help their children into adulthood. This book should certainly be studied by professionals employed in the field. The ideas are above all, practical and based upon experience. They do not depend upon expensive technology but on common-sense based upon observations and sympathetic understanding of the problem. It is written with that detail, insight and honesty which is only gifted to those with at least one foot in the spectrum.

Paul Shattock

Finally, fellow spectrumite Michael McManmon has put his personal and professional success on paper. Having known Michael for almost a decade, it was a prior shame not to have the founder of the trailblazing College Internship Program share his 'recipes' with others. A must-read for the parents of emerging young adults on the spectrum.

Michael John Carley

I found this book truly inspirational (do remember I am British and do not say such things with ease). I thought that the context was exciting and hopeful whilst grounded in reality. It is a must have for parents who are fearful about, or at a loss about, how to help their aspie child move on and gain more independence... The book would be a useful addition to anyone supporting young people in further education and also for the more pro-active person with aspergers. The book is divided into 12 chapters and is extremely well written with a depth of information rarely seen in most self-help books and the material is enlivened and illustrated with relevant examples... this book... covers a lot of ground and gives many useful resources in the forms of photocopiable charts etc. I highly recommend this book but warn that is will leave many UK parents frustrated and wondering why we do not appear to have the equivalent provision over here.

Asteens