Abstract

One of the increasing number of people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in adulthood, New Zealand-born Jen Birch relates her story with humour and honesty, taking us through the years of frustration and confusion that led to her diagnosis in 1999. Now that she can put her life experiences into context, she candidly describes her continual search for 'normality', including her experiences at work, her difficulties with relationships, her time spent in a psychiatric hospital and her struggle for correct diagnosis in a country where the syndrome is relatively unknown. Talking positively about how her life has changed since the 'revelation', Jen aims to use this new-found knowledge to inform others about the syndrome and how, once its pros and cons are understood, life can be lived to the full.
`Talking positively about how her life has changed since the `revelation', she aims to use this new-found knowledge to inform others about the syndrome and how, once its pros and cons are understood, life can be lived to the full.'
Autism Us
Jen Birch was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at the age of 43 and is now a regular speaker at conferences on autism and Asperger syndrome. After having been employed on a voluntary basis for Autism NZ for 18 months, she now works part-time as a note-taker for disabled students at the University of Auckland, but is still heavily involved in the Asperger and Autism community, running workshops for Autism NZ and contributing to their newsletter.
This is a very valuable book for any parent of a child with suspected Asperger Syndrome or dyslexia because it gives not only a marvellous insight into the functioning mind of someone with these disabilities, but also goes to show why there are hidden gifts of imagination and honesty.
Alexis Hunter