Concepts of Normality
The Autistic and Typical Spectrum
Published on 15. July 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-84310-604-3 (ISBN)
Description
For those with autism, understanding 'normal' can be a difficult task. For those without autism, the perception of 'normal' can lead to unrealistic expectations of self and others. This book explores how individuals and society understand 'normal', in order to help demystify and make accessible a full range of human experience.
Wendy Lawson outlines the theory behind the current thinking and beliefs of Western society that have led to the building of a culture that fails to be inclusive. She describes what a wider concept of 'normal' means and how to access it, whether it's in social interaction, friendships, feelings, thoughts and desires or various other aspects of 'normality'. Practical advice is offered on a range of situations, including how to find your role within the family, how to integrate `difference' into everyday society, and how to converse and connect with others.
Accessible and relevant to people both on and off the autism spectrum, this book offers a fresh look at what it means to be `normal'.
Wendy Lawson outlines the theory behind the current thinking and beliefs of Western society that have led to the building of a culture that fails to be inclusive. She describes what a wider concept of 'normal' means and how to access it, whether it's in social interaction, friendships, feelings, thoughts and desires or various other aspects of 'normality'. Practical advice is offered on a range of situations, including how to find your role within the family, how to integrate `difference' into everyday society, and how to converse and connect with others.
Accessible and relevant to people both on and off the autism spectrum, this book offers a fresh look at what it means to be `normal'.
Reviews / Votes
Irrespective of whether the child has autism, spectrum disorder, high functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome, I would definitely recommend this book to professionals and parents. -- GAP Good Autism PracticeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
260 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84310-604-3 (9781843106043)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2008
1st Edition
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
€20.29
Available for download
Persons
Wendy Lawson is a mother of four, who was originally diagnosed as being intellectually disabled, then in her teens as being schizophrenic, and finally in 1994, as having an autism spectrum disorder. She has been married, separated and divorced, has experienced the death of one of her teenage sons, gone through moving from one country to another, losing friends and status due to being openly gay, faced ill health and recently come to terms with the fact that she is aging! Her youngest son was diagnosed at the age of 12 as having Asperger's Syndrome. As a qualified counsellor, social worker and psychologist Wendy has operated her own private practice for many years.
Content
Acknowledgements. Foreword. Lucy Clark, Homes Caring for Autism Ltd, UK. Preface. Petra Bjorn, Lund University, Sweden and Magnus Bjorn, Nimbus Resurscenter, Lund, Sweden. Introduction. 1. Developing Images of Normal and Influence Upon Concepts of Normality. 2. Developing Concepts of the Autistic and Typical Spectrums. 3. The Individual, Family and Society: More on How Ideas of Normality have Changed. 4. A Typical Day and a Typical Conversation (Implications and Know-how for Conversing with Others). 5. Whose Mind Do We Have? Knowing One Another. 6. Autism, Sexuality and Normal. 7. Whose Normal is it Anyway? Dr Dinah Murray, The University of Birmingham, UK . 8. Inclusive and Accepting or Exclusive and Rejecting? Understanding Self and Other. 9. The Mismeasure of Autism: The Basis for Current Autism `Advocacy'. Estee Klar-Wolfond, The Autism Acceptance Project, Canada. 10. Changing the Status Quo So That it Does Not Change Me but Allows Me to Develop My Fullest Potential. References. Resources. Index.