The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration

"The OASIS Guide to AS" was our first book on Asperger Syndrome and it's the best overall. We came across the first edition accidently and miraculously about 3.5 years ago, just after our daughter's pediatrician referred her to a specialist. It helped us to quickly transform ourselves from confused parents in denial to advocates for therapy and educational support. It is very comprehensive and thoughtfully put together in modular form to make it easy to skip things you might not be interested in. (For us, it was medication.) The OASIS Guide often refers to the results of informal parent polls, which give you an idea of just how common a particular presentation is. And the chapter devoted to parents with new DXs is especially comforting and motivating. This is where both authors' first hand experiences of raising children with AS is most evident. I read both the first edition and this new edition. While both are great, the new edition is updated to include more recent developments in research. One section in particular benefits from this -- the one that describes ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis. One of the authors (Patty) recently became certified as a special education teacher. Her first-hand expertise with ABA comes through well. There were certainly other, more specialized books (on sensory integration, for example) that also helped us along the way. But without The Guide, it would've have taken several precious months to learn about them. I'm grateful to Ms. Kirby and Ms. Romanowski Bashe for taking so much time to share their knowledge and experiences with us.

This isn't a book, it is a "good deed" (no, make that GREAT deed). And even that isn't high enough praise. Page by page, we have found answers to dozens of questions that we have been asking, but previously finding no answers. We went to therapists, psychiatrists & psychologists, but until Barbara & Patricia came along with this book, our family was sinking fast. We are buying additional copies to give to family members and for the staff where our kid goes to school.

Upon receiving the diagnosis Autism for our son, our world collapsed. But when this book arrived in the mail, the tears I cried were not sorrow, but relief. Here were Mothers who understood. The facts and information are presented in an easy to read format, and it has given us new hope for our son. Life will not be easy, but it has not ended either. If anyone is thinking of purchasing any book on Aspergers, this would be the one and only book I would recommend.

If you are a parent with a young child who has been newly diagnosed with Asperger's, this is the FIRST book you should get. When you are first dealing with diagnosis, you have a temptation to read everything. There are other terrific books out there, but not as practical, personal and useful. I wish we had it when our now almost six year old daughter was diagnosed two years ago. Loads of information, but not written in overly clinical language, which makes it easy to read. Very helpful for relatives, teachers, etc. as well.

This is "THE" Book!!! The book We, as parents and caregivers of children with AS have been waiting for!This is by far, the most comprehensive Guide on Asperger Syndrome available!It is packed full of practical and technical information, insight, support and encouragement. A true Treasure of a Resource, keeping in mind the "whole child" and family on every page.I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. A real MUST HAVE!Thank you Barb and Patty!