Right Address ... Wrong Planet: Children with Asperger Syndrome Becoming Adults

Rating:
Summary: A useful glimpse of future possibilities for AS families
Review: Dr. Gena Barnhill has truly made her mark on the world of Aspergers through her book, Right Address...Wrong Planet. Having the opportunity to know her and her family first hand and be a part of the struggle to understand Aspergers, I found her book to be an honest and true to life account of their own attempt to understand and support someone with Aspergers. It was truly remarkable the way she was able to put her own feelings and experiences on the page, interwoven with the theoretical and diagnostic perspective, along with Brent and Press' own experiences, providing a complete look at a family living with Aspergers. I thank her for the opportunity to understand more than just the diagnosis of A.S.

Rating:
Summary: True to Life
Review: Dr. Gena Barnhill has truly made her mark on the world of Aspergers through her book, Right Address...Wrong Planet. Having the opportunity to know her and her family first hand and be a part of the struggle to understand Aspergers, I found her book to be an honest and true to life account of their own attempt to understand and support someone with Aspergers. It was truly remarkable the way she was able to put her own feelings and experiences on the page, interwoven with the theoretical and diagnostic perspective, along with Brent and Press' own experiences, providing a complete look at a family living with Aspergers. I thank her for the opportunity to understand more than just the diagnosis of A.S.

Rating:
Summary: She Tells it Like it is!
Review: Gena Barnhill tells it like it is for those of us who are parents of adults with Asperger's. It is clear that this is a person who has been there. Brent's chapter and the comments from his father and grandmother all give insights into the challenges faced by families who have a member with an autism spectrum disorder.

Rating:
Summary: She Tells it Like it is!
Review: Gena Barnhill tells it like it is for those of us who are parents of adults with Asperger's. It is clear that this is a person who has been there. Brent's chapter and the comments from his father and grandmother all give insights into the challenges faced by families who have a member with an autism spectrum disorder.

Rating:
Summary: A nice, holistic picture of one family's experience
Review: Gina Barnhill writes both as a psychologist and mother, having gained the hindsight of raising a son from childhood through adolescence and young adulthood. She vividly demonstrates problems as they come up over the years. Clinicians can describe common symptoms in abstract terms, but Dr. Barnhill chronicles just how certain behaviors and thinking patterns come together to create a syndrome in one young man--often in seemingly unpredictable ways. Through generous disclosure, the writer illustrates lessons learned the hard way and the difficult choices that a family has had to make. Relating first the long path toward a correct diagnosis, Dr. Barnhill goes on to portray how ostensibly contradictory characteristics, such as the unrestrained expression of very hurtful words and genuine concern about others, can coexist. The examples of Brent's enduring struggle to pick up on "obvious" social cues and understandings provide valuable foresight for families charged with preparing a son or daughter for life. I have learned from my own experience that a key to dealing effectively with Asperger's Syndrome is to know when and how to compensate for our individual deficits, and the book provides tremendous insight here!

Rating:
Summary: A nice, holistic picture of one family's experience
Review: Gina Barnhill writes both as a psychologist and mother, having gained the hindsight of raising a son from childhood through adolescence and young adulthood. She vividly demonstrates problems as they come up over the years. Clinicians can describe common symptoms in abstract terms, but Dr. Barnhill chronicles just how certain behaviors and thinking patterns come together to create a syndrome in one young man--often in seemingly unpredictable ways. Through generous disclosure, the writer illustrates lessons learned the hard way and the difficult choices that a family has had to make. Relating first the long path toward a correct diagnosis, Dr. Barnhill goes on to portray how ostensibly contradictory characteristics, such as the unrestrained expression of very hurtful words and genuine concern about others, can coexist. The examples of Brent's enduring struggle to pick up on "obvious" social cues and understandings provide valuable foresight for families charged with preparing a son or daughter for life. I have learned from my own experience that a key to dealing effectively with Asperger's Syndrome is to know when and how to compensate for our individual deficits, and the book provides tremendous insight here!

Rating:
Summary: Thank You Gena, Press and Brent
Review: I have purchased 7 books so far, and will be buying more. I have given this book to teachers, friends, family and even the therapists....My son Richie is 8. I have already been through an emotional roller coaster....and I am thankful to have a book to support what I try to explain.... My son is struggling day to day but it's nice to know that we are not alone. I only wish I could meet you all. You are all an inspiration to us, my sons, my husband, my mom.....I just want to thank you.....Linda (a mom)

Rating:
Summary: Thank You Gena, Press and Brent
Review: I have purchased 7 books so far, and will be buying more. I have given this book to teachers, friends, family and even the therapists....My son Richie is 8. I have already been through an emotional roller coaster....and I am thankful to have a book to support what I try to explain.... My son is struggling day to day but it's nice to know that we are not alone. I only wish I could meet you all. You are all an inspiration to us, my sons, my husband, my mom.....I just want to thank you.....Linda (a mom)

Rating:
Summary: Julie's mom
Review: Thank you so much for this book. For 10 years, I struggled with special education experts who pretty much decided that my daughter's problem was me. Finally, at the age of 17, Julie was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. When I heard the diagnosis, part of me wanted to find those experts and say, "I told you something was wrong." The other part of me selfishly mourned and still mourns the loss of my dreams for my daughter. Julie fits right into the descriptions given in the book. She may be 19, but emotionally and socially she is 12. Thank you for helping me understand a little better what lies ahead for Julie and for the rest of our family.

Rating:
Summary: A useful glimpse of future possibilities for AS families
Review: This book provides a "case study" of a 25-year-old man and his family, and their struggles with Asperger Syndrome. Many of their experiences are common ones, and many are unique to their own situation - just like Aspies themselves! Their experience includes quite a lot of Christian emphasis, which is not relevant to my family. My own son is 12, and I hope that having a glimpse of some of the Barnhill family's problem areas will help us avoid or compensate for those challenges in our family.
A very interesting hypothesis presented is that a person with AS has a maturity level about 2/3 of their chronological age. This seems to be true for my son (age 12), who - though very bright - behaves much like an 8-year-old.
After reading Right Address.. Wrong Planet, I feel that I have a more sober but probably more realistic picture of the future with my son. I am also still very hopeful that his future will be bright and satisfying, and this book supports that hope.