Asperger Syndrome & Alcohol...Drinking to Cope? Autism Life Skills.

Yesterday I went to the library to pick up some books for Maizie and instead was surprised to find a couple of interesting books discussing Autism.

On the 'new books' shelf there were two books that caught my attention. The first, 'Autism Life Skills' From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More 10 Essential Abilities Every Child Needs and Deserves to Learn by Chantal Sicile-Kira. I was taken by the title immediately, thinking the words 'Deserves to Learn' were an interesting choice. I most certainly do believe Autistic children have every right to learn. I found the words shocking because I would like to think people don't need to be told that children who are Autistic deserve to learn. Hopefully, that is just a given. And yet, considering what we have been through with the school systems inability to teach my daughter who is in every way teachable...well, it is naive of me to think that everyone believes that Autistic children and adults deserve to learn. The truth is some parents and professionals out there believe that Autistic children don't have the same rights to an education that "normal" children do.

Possibly, I am misreading that title but these were the thoughts that initially struck me. The foreword is written by Temple Grandin, Ph.D. and I love her writing. I am most interested in the chapter on independence because Maizie has shown an increased interest in being more independent despite her safety and communication skills not being ready for it. As parents we are talking over some ideas to help her gain the independence she is requesting.

The second book I checked out surprised me. It is titled Asperger Syndrome and Alcohol...Drinking to Cope? by Matthew Tinsley and Sarah Hendrckx. This book's foreword is also by Temple Grandin. The writers are hoping to explain the link between alcohol abuse and Aspergers. Matthew Tinsley the author was an alcoholic and writes about how his diagnosis of Aspergers helped him recover. Sarah Hendrickx's partner Keith is self diagnosed Aspergers.

I like that the book is written by two people who have first hand experience being Aspergers or living with someone who is. Alcohol being used as a way to cope with Aspergers is something I have naively never considered. Looking back to my high school days I can see a few friends who may have fit the diagnosis of Aspergers who were routinely turning to alcohol to make it through high school and all of the social challenges that go with it. Of course I have no idea if Aspergers would account for the alochol use I witnessed but it would answer a few questions. I do believe that without a proper diagnosis most individuals will turn to something to cope. That seems to be true for many other challenges such as major depression or eating disorders.

Hopefully reading the book will shed some light on this topic which is very new to my thinking about Aspergers.