I Am Me

I have always enjoyed reading books discussing The autistic spectrum disorder also known as ASD. If you or anybody you love is either on the spectrum works with the spectrum or just wants to know more about it this book is for you

This book was raw and honest and really shows what those that care for an adult with autism experience. It is not easy caring for an adult that is on the spectrum, as there is no way to predict what your day is going to be like. Every single decision made in the day is dependent on the autistic adult's ability to go along with the plans or modifications of them. I work with autistic middle school students and cannot imagine what it is like to be a caregiver to someone with autism that is an adult. The author was honest about setbacks and victories and I found this to be a very good look at what it is like for the caregiver. So many of us focus on the person with autism, that we forget about the person that has to care for them for their entire lives.

As the mother of a son going through the diagnostic process, I turned to Marlene Ringler's memoir as something of a last resort when I feared for my own sanity amidst the stress of it all. By page 2 I was in tears and felt seen and very much less alone. I can never thank Marlene enough for writing this. The book has certainly served its intended purpose as "a source of strength and optimism". It is well-written, extensively researched and provides a wealth of additional resources. Highly recommend!

From the outset this book piqued my interest. Having a close relative diagnosed with ASC and with the belief that I myself share some ASC traits (undiagnosed) meant that the subject matter was already something I'm researching.

There are plenty of books around these days about things like Asperger's and ASC with names such as "Your AS Child", and "Helping Children with AS". This is where this book is different. It is written by a parent of a child with ASC, but looking back 40 years or so, ago. Back then Autism, Asperger's etc weren't mainstream concepts. More often than not, a child exhibiting Spectrum related symptoms was institutionalised and badged with other afflictions such as Schizophrenia. They were, unfortunately, given treatment and medications for wrongly diagnosed conditions.

As a child of a now grown up son, the author is able to relate the particular difficulties and hurdles that had to be overcome when raising a child at these times. Yet, an even bigger topic that this book covers is the transition to adulthood and the management of Spectrum related conditions for adults.

I'll be completely honest, I've been to tied up with thinking about ASC in children to not even consider what happens to those children once grown. Marlene Ringler manages that.

At first, I was a little thrown by the terminology - in the UK we use Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), rather than Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to start reading about it as a disorder and with a seemingly negative filter on, was a little tough. However, not getting hung up on terminology, I found this book very thought provoking. The author, sadly, didn't have an easy time of it and struggled with resources to help her son. I would like to think that this would be a whole lot easier for her to be raising a child with ASC now, though initial diagnosis, even in the UK, isn't particularly straightforward.

I found it interesting to see just how knowledge of ASC has permeated our culture since the 70s and 80s, but I wouldn't necessarily state that the general populace are any more tolerant of ASC people, even with this knowledge.

The book was very factual and, obviously, written from personal experience. As such, I think this gives the tone of the book a slight darker hue as there is little in there about anything good related to her son's condition. I have worked with, and know, several diagnosed people with ASC and have seen some astounding capabilities, usually at the expense of social airs and grace, though.

However, all in all, this book raises some really good questions and has given me plenty to think about. There are also a myriad of links at the back for discovering more.

If understanding about ASC is of interest to you, this book shines light on a seldom seen facet of the condition.

Having a child with asperger's myself I was fully able to relate to the author. I'm also a psychologist. Dr. Ringler was very informative about ths history of asperger's syndrome, but she left out some of the more nasty parts about Dr. Asperger and the experiments he conducted of his young parents. I don't know if she knew about his history, and chose instead to gloss it over.

The story does give the reader hope that with time, patience persons with Asperger's are capable of living a normal life. Their lifestyle may differ from what society states is normal, but ask yourself "What is normal?" We know what abnormal is but do we truly know what normal is.

Asperger syndrome is more prevalent in society...we are no longer hiding them in institutions. I believe that this book could give hope to parents with children recently diagnosed with ASD to allow them hope, and to realize that like with any child there will be ups and downs.

I changed my career from being a Store Manager, then going back to college to work in a area I have always wanted to do since I was in my teens. Now I am working with autistic young adults. This book was recommended to me via a friend and I am so glad I had a chance to read and review it. This has now become my reference book.
I am Me by Marlene Ringler, PhD is about a is a courageous Mother's journey with her autistic son, combining research with a warm, candid, and compelling personal narrative. I found it very interesting and very helpful in my new field of work which I love doing, it's so rewarding, with every day is different! This book is written with so much love, empathy and determination, and Marlene describes the struggle they both experienced and coming to terms with an autistic spectrum diagnosis etc. This book give hope for other parents who have an autistic child etc.

I highly recommend this book.









BooksGoSocial

I have met many austistc people in my life and they had different traits and abilities. I love books about peoples' experience with disabilities and am sensitive and empathic towards them sinve I myself have multiple disabilities.

Although I don't have autism, I could relate to the difficulties in being accepted and feelng integrated in society as well as the difficulty making friends. I too am sensitive to loud or sudden noise but my challenges are due to Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephalus.

I understood the feeling of being misunderstood throughout my life and having to find advicates and fight for services.

I believe that each and every one of us who are differently abled has something positive to give the world despite our physical or intellectual challenges.

I, for example, am fluent in Spanish and have a university degree, am married and am fighting to become a publshed author.

Many of us can do, and are, more than people give us credit for.

I was drawn into Marlene Ringler's account of life before her son's diagnosis as well as everything she, her son and her family have been through in life.

I got my diagnoses within the first weeks of lfe but I cannot imagine the frustration of waiting for longer. I identified with contradictions about intelligence and ability and felt included on the journey the book takes me on.

The wealth of research and studies about autism and Asperger's throughout time as well as the mention of The Rosie Project (a book I still have not listened to) was thought-provoking but as I am not a doctor of any kind I did feel a little lost in all the information.

The best book on Asperger's since The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. This has answered the questions on Asperger's I had since one of my favourite TV shows is The Good Doctor.

Marlene Ringler has a way of making hers and her son's story hit home.

Thanks to Marlene Ringler and Books Go Social for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. Book #2 for Quarantineathon 2020.