Parenting Girls on the Autism Spectrum: Overcoming the Challenges and Celebrating the Gifts Paperback – March 15, 2012

I can't believe it took me this long to get around to reading this book. My daughter's dx was nearly two years ago, and I have read a TON of books since then- some have been helpful, but others just intensified the frenzied tailspin our lives seemed to be in. I wish, wish, wish that I had read this one FIRST.The author's whole approach is calm, hopeful, balanced, thoughtful. She provides a lot of information on everything from testing and diagnosis, education, friends, treatments and therapies; to the internet, autism myths, gifts and talents, and getting through the tough times. Having two daughters on the spectrum, she focuses on the particular traits and needs of girls- which are quite different, in many cases, than those of boys.Above all, she urges us to love, accept, and enjoy our daughters for who they are, without losing them behind the label or diagnosis, and to focus our concern on THEIR needs, not on the thoughts and opinions of others.This is an absolute must-read if you are the parent, grandparent, or caregiver of a girl on the autism spectrum.

Oh how I loved this book! Since my daughter was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome two years ago, I have met and talked to several other parents with "Aspy" kids. But every one of them has a son. Not a single daughter. So this book was so welcome to me. I bought it for myself for Mother's Day. As soon as I began reading it, I started to feel less alone in the world.One of the agencies we have tried to work with, which is considered the premier agency on autism in our community, seemed to us to have very little understanding of girls on the spectrum. But Eileen Riley-Hall has solid information about the differences between boys and girls on the spectrum. My daughter, it turns out, is much like Ms. Hall's older daughter, who is also an "Aspy" (quiet, shy, very bright, very creative, funny, musically and artistically talented).I laughed and cried many times reading the book. It has a wonderful blend of optimism and authenticity. I was so inspired by the accomplishments of Ms. Hall's daughters that came as a result of her advocacy and positivity. At the same time, I was deeply moved by her honesty regarding the losses involved with parenting kids with autism. I was disarmed by her forthrightness and humility and I was inspired by her hope and tenacity.

It is a must for parents of girls on the autism spectrum. I have been following them on Facebook, in addition to other organizations, including the Ausm Society of MN. I believe that parents of special needs children need to have as many resources as possible. I ordered two copies, giving one to Ausm.

What can one say about a book that seems to be written just for you. I am the father of a 13 year old daughter that was just recently diagnosed with Aspergers. reading through this text there were so many instances that I could immediately relate to. It was truly remarkable. Currently my daughter is away at a therapeutic boarding school. It was there that she was diagnosed. She is set to return home to live with me in just a few weeks.So much of what I just read in this book is about raising young children, but I am certain that the methods and theories remain the same through adolescence. I am excited for my daughter to return home, but I am also scared of what that re-entry will look like. We have a great deal of support services in place and she seems to be adjusting to the knowledge she is gaining regarding her diagnosis. Maybe that's the best part...she gets that she is different, and if we can celebrate that difference and show her it's an acceptable way to go through life, then I have no doubt that she will succeed.

What a terrific combination of maternal anecdotes about raising children on the Autism Spectrum and intelligent, yet understandable research. Eileen Riley-Hall has written a loving account of her personal journey and interposed it with solid and timely research into educational protocols that should be explored by all parents of children who need special attention from teachers and their families. Her stories about her two beautiful daughters and their triumphs are especially compelling and situated within realistic advice for parents who are adrift within the maze of confusion about "diagnosis" and what it might mean for them and their children. Finally, someone has written something inspirational about living with Autism and how a parent's love for their children transcends any clinical "label." Bravo!!Parenting Girls on the Autism Spectrum: Overcoming the Challenges and Celebrating the Gifts

I read this book after it was suggested by a psychiatry evaluation for anxiety and depression that my daughter (14) may have Asberger's Syndrom. I have known my daughter to be intelligent, shy , sensitive and quirky for her whole life, but I have never thought of her as disabled. Other autism books I have just read present ASD as more of a difference, like being left-handed, or different wiring in the brain, like dyslexia, as if its very helpful to know and understand they a-typical brain in order to get through life easier and explain your differences to people. But in this book the author is constantly referencing how she cried at different life events, how the diagnosis was the worst day of her life, her fears for her daughter's always being atypical, how to make them appear to fit in.... I found this very depressing and I feel sorry for her that se sees her children as disabled. That is not my experience and how I want to move forward with my thinking. Perhaps if you have a toddler who was just diagnosed and you are having a really hard time coping, this may validate all your negative feelings and then give you hope and a path forward. But for me it was too negative and not helpful.She does give many good sources of information, like websites, but I found other books to be more helpful for my oder child.