Synopses & Reviews
This book is a 'must-read' for any parents of children with Aspergers syndrome and also older aspies themselves. They will be able to relate to the slightly quirky writing style and profit from Chris's hard won experience. These children are so individualistic and often isolated from like minds, so the book will provide some solace that there are other people like them' - Judith Stansfield, Chair North Richmondshire Community Partnership SEN ICT Consultant NASEN ICT Group BDACC Reviews and Literature Editor
This book shows how one individual with very severe handicaps due to Asperger's Syndrome won through in the end and achieved despite such a poor beginning. This is a book which should be read by anyone who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or feels he or she might have this condition' - Dr L F Lowenstein, National Association Gifted Children Newsletter
'This is an unusual book in that it is written by a man where most autobiographical books about autism are written by women. It is both very readable and well-written, with a detached an honest account of his childhood, family life and life prior to diagnosis. He gets on well with his family, and they are happy that he has written this book, and happy with the book, despite some implied criticism of how they brought him up. Indeed, it comes across as less aggressive than some accounts, so it is particularly insightful for parents and other empathotypicals who might find more black-and-white descriptions of their mistakes hurtful.
As with every book written by someone on the spectrum that I have seen, it is a short book, giving a snapshot of his difficulties and joys before and also after hisdiagnosis, giving highlights of specific problems and pleasures. Overall I think it would be a good book for someone who recognises himself in the author, or as a starting point for deepening your understanding of your brother, son or friend, or, if you are already interested in this condition, to broaden your understanding of the ways that it present itself' - Asperger United
This gripping and at times astonishing story will be inspirational to all adults either facing Asperger's Syndrome personally or interacting with someone who has been diagnosed.
In his own imitable style, Chris Mitchell describes his life before and after diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome. We follow Chris through primary and secondary school, where his lack of social interaction and anger continually land him in trouble, and where he is bullied for being different. Only his excellent memory and specialist interests enable him to continue, and pass his GCSEs and a GNVQ in Media Studies.
At university he is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Suddenly his life makes more sense, and his self-awareness means his self-confidence returns, resulting in world travel, a Masters qualification in Information and Library Management and finally, acceptance.
Chris Mitchell is a Records Assistant at Durham County Record Office, and also does public speaking on the subject of Asperger's Syndrome.
Synopsis
This gripping and at times astonishing story will be inspirational to all adults either facing Asperger s syndrome personally or interacting with someone who has been diagnosed.
In his own imitable style, Chris Mitchell describes his life before and after diagnosis with Asperger s syndrome. We follow Chris through primary and secondary school, where his lack of social interaction and anger continually landed him in trouble, and where he was bullied for being different. Only his excellent memory and specialist interests enable him to continue, and pass his GCSEs and a GNVQ in Media Studies.
At university, studying Journalism, he was diagnosed with Asperger s syndrome. Suddenly his life made more sense, and his self-awareness meant his self-confidence returned, resulting in world travel, a Masters qualification and finally, acceptance.
Chris Mitchell was diagnosed with Asperger s syndrome in 1998 when he was 20 years old. He has since achieved an MA (Hons) in Information and Library Management. Based in Sunderland, he is an advocate for Asperger s syndrome and speaks at many public events about the condition.