Concepts of Normality: The Autistic and Typical Spectrum

Front Cover
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Jul 15, 2008 - Psychology - 160 pages

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'.

 

Selected pages

Contents

2 Developing Concepts of the Autistic and Typical Spectrums
30
3 The Individual Family and Society More on How Ideas of Normality Have Changed
44
4 Difference Normality and the Art of Conversation
56
5 Knowing Our Minds Knowing Our Rights
70
6 Autism Sexuality and Normal
76
7 Whose Normal Is It Anyway?
82
8 Inclusion and Understanding
94
9 The Mismeasure of Autism The Basis for Current Autism Advocacy
104
10 Changing the Status Quo
130
Normal Emotions
140
Hopes and Dreams
142
References
146
Useful Resources
152
Author Index
156
BACK COVER
159
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Concepts of Normality: The Autistic and Typical Spectrum
Wendy Lawson
No preview available - 2008

Common terms and phrases

accept accommodate adult Amanda Baggs Asperger Syndrome Asperger’s disorder Attwood autism epidemic Autism Speaks autism spectrum autistic children autistic individuals autistic person Baggs Baron-Cohen become behaviour believe Björne brain CHAPTER child coffee cognitive communication concepts of normal considered normal continuum conversation Cure Autism developmental psychology difficulties disability emotions environment everyday example expectations experience feel gender girls hope human idea inappropriate inclusion individual’s interaction isn’t Jenny McCarthy Jessica Kingsley Publishers Jim Sinclair language Larry King Live learning styles Level lifespan listen live male mean Michelle Dawson mind Mismeasure monotropic non-autistic norms parents people’s play psychology relationships role Safe Minds seems sense sexual share social skills society someone Syndrome talking tend things thought tism typical development typical individuals understanding usual Wendy Lawson what’s whilst women YouTube

About the author (2008)

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.

Bibliographic information

TitleConcepts of Normality: The Autistic and Typical Spectrum
AuthorWendy Lawson
ContributorsDinah Murray, Estee Wolfond, Lucy Clark
PublisherJessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008
ISBN1846428297, 9781846428296
Length160 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Health & Fitness / Physical Impairments
Psychology / General
Psychology / Psychopathology / Autism Spectrum Disorders
Psychology / Reference
  
Export CitationBiBTeX EndNote RefMan