From Publishers Weekly
When Bashe, a certified special education teacher, and Kirby, founder and moderator of OASIS (a popular Asperger Syndrome Web site with support message boards), published the previous edition of this book in 2001, parents of children with the pervasive development disorder flocked to it. The authors now offer this updated edition of the definitive resource, explaining what is currently known about the nature of Asperger Syndrome from the viewpoint of doctors and families. In understandable language, Bashe and Kirby provide instructions for parents on how to gain access to information, support and treatment for their child, covering the most up-to-date options available as well as advice on new medications and special education. Later, they look at aspects of the "whole child," offering suggestions for parents on helping their son or daughter manage their social and emotional worlds, life at school and general growing-up issues. Bashe and Kirby acknowledge that every AS child is different, but with the help of numerous anecdotes from parents of AS children, they manage to provide a wide-ranging, indispensable guide. (On sale Mar. 29)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
“A godsend to the increasing number of families who have a child recently diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS). They will get sympathetic and sound practical advice for the difficulties they are facing, whether it is in coming to terms with the diagnosis or in choosing the right kind of education and therapy. Two heroic mothers, Kirby and Bashe, have made it their business to find out what AS is really like and what it entails in practice. They show by example that it is possible to meet the challenges of a child with unusual skills as well as problems. Above all, they show the way in which AS can enrich our lives.” —Uta Frith, professor of cognitive development, University of London, and deputy director of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, and author of Autism and Asperger Syndrome

“Well beyond merely identifying and defining AS, the authors provide dozens of field-tested strategies that can be used at home, in the classroom, and in the community. . . . Bashe and Kirby offer reliable counsel on topics related to diagnosis, treatment, assessment, and placement. If you share your home or classroom with a child with Asperger Syndrome, buy this book.” —Richard D. Lavoie, visiting professor, Simmons College, and executive producer of How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop

“The OASIS Web site has been a light of hope for individuals with Asperger Syndrome, their families, and advocates. Kirby pioneered ways of transforming the Internet into an accessible tool to help those who needed reputable information and practical guidelines on social disabilities. Her groundbreaking ways continue in this collaboration with Bashe, now in its second edition. . . . Inspired and informed by their professional background and by their uniquely intimate perspective on parenting children with AS, the two compiled a treasure of essential solutions to anyone who, like them, experiences the joys and challenges of nurturing the talents and addressing the needs of these very special individuals.” —Ami Klin, Ph.D., Harris Associate Professor of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center

From the Inside Flap
Asperger Syndrome has become an increasingly common disorder. One in 300 individuals may have AS—exhibiting characteristics such as average to high intelligence, obsessive behavior, intense special interests, and difficulty dealing with everyday social situations—and it is now more prevalent than childhood cancer and Down’s syndrome.

As the mother of a boy diagnosed with AS in 1994, Barbara Kirby found scant resources and support. She developed the internationally renowned OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) Web site in 1995 to help other parents find the information they need. She teamed up with Patricia Romanowski Bashe, now co-owner of OASIS and herself the mother of a son with AS, to write The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome, which has become the standout authority in the field and a must-have for this growing audience.

Now Bashe and Kirby have crafted a fully revised edition of this comprehensive resource for parents, teachers, therapists, and anyone who knows or works with someone with AS. In addition to discussing what AS looks like and how parents can guide their unique child through the social, emotional, and intellectual challenges of growing up, this edition includes new developments made in AS research over the past four years, new thinking on diagnosis and evaluation, the latest approaches to medication and social skills development, and tips on navigating the maze of interventions, therapies, and special education. The authors know firsthand the joys and frustrations of raising children with AS, and they share their own experiences as well as those of dozens of parents facing the same issues.

Filled with practical information and emotional support, this is the most complete and authoritative guide available. Whether your child has been diagnosed or troubling symptoms are just becoming apparent, this book will point you in the right direction as you face the particular challenges of loving and raising a child with Asperger Syndrome.

About the Author
Patricia Romanowski Bashe, M.S. Ed., co-owner of OASIS, has worked as an author and editor for more than twenty years. She has cowritten more than twenty-three books, including four national bestsellers. She is a certified special education teacher and executive director of the David Center, a Long Island–based not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving children and families facing autism spectrum disorders. She lives on Long Island, New York.

Barbara L. Kirby is the founder and moderator of OASIS, the award-winning online source for AS information and support. She moderates several online support forums and was a founding member of ASC-US, Inc. (Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States) and serves on its advisory board. She is also on the board of Homes for Independence, an organization that helps adults with autism spectrum disorders achieve home ownership. She lives in Delaware. Both Bashe and Kirby are parents of children with Asperger Syndrome.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Whether your child has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome or troubling symptoms are just becoming apparent, this book will guide you in the right direction.

AS manifests itself in an array of characteristics, including average to high intelligence, obsessive behavior, intense special interests, and difficulty dealing with everyday social situations. Children with AS often have trouble processing and expressing emotions appropriately; they may be physically awkward or have unique learning styles. This can lead to isolation, inappropriate educational placement, misdiagnosis, and high risk for anxiety, depression, and even suicide.

As a parent of a boy diagnosed with AS in 1994, Barbara Kirby found scant resources and support. She developed the award-winning OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) Web site in l995 to help other parents find the information they need. She teamed up with Patricia Romanowski Bashe, now co-owner of OASIS and herself the mother of a son with AS, to write The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome, the most complete resource for parents and teachers of children with AS.