Table Of Contentwritten by KKirirststi i EEvvaannss aanndd ilJlouhsntr aSwteodg gbeyr John Swogger
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There’s something different about Dad. He gets upset when
we’re even a minute late for dinner, noisy family gatherings
make him angry, and he really likes talking about buses. D AAbboouutt DDaadd
i
He is also always on time to pick us up from school, helps f
f
with our homework for hours on end, and has a detailed e
r
knowledge of car engines that has saved day trips from e
n
breakdown disaster…
t
A
b
It’s okay that o
u
there’s something t
D
different
a
d
about Dad
K
i
r
s
t
i
E
v
a
n
Kirsti Evans is a freelance Autism trainer and s
a
advisor in the north west of England. n
d
J
John Swogger is an archaeologist and illustrator o
h
n
who writes comics. He has produced work for
S
w
museums, and books and magazines aimed at o
g
children and young adults. g
e
r
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
HHooww ttoo LLivivee wwitithh YYoouurr AAmmaazziningg AAssppeerrggeerr PPaarreenntt
www.jkp.com
cover design: John Swogger
Different
How to Live with Your Amazing Asperger Parent
Kirsti Evans and John Swogger
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
This second edition published in 2016
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
First edition published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010
Copyright © Kirsti Evans and John Swogger 2010, 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including
photocopying, storing in any medium by electronic means or transmitting) without the written permission
of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the law or under terms of a licence issued
in the UK by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. www.cla.co.uk or in overseas territories by the relevant
reproduction rights organisation, for details see www.ifrro.org. Applications for the copyright owner’s written
permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim
for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 78592 012 7
eISBN 978 1 78450 259 1
For Rosie and Sonny
Preface
The original edition of this book, which came out in 2011, was intended for children
and young people who knew and/or were living with an adult on the Autism Spectrum,
whether formally diagnosed or not.
Since then, not only have there been even further increases in the number of diagnoses in
adults, there have also been many developments in our general awareness and recognition
of Autism socially and culturally, not least in the increased recognition of women and girls
who have Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
Things have also developed with regards to how we think and talk about Autism: what
we call it, how we see it.
The fifth, most recent, edition of the American publication The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders doesn’t employ the name “Asperger Syndrome” as a
description of a condition separate from “Autistic Spectrum Disorder”. Instead, Asperger
Syndrome is now incorporated into the broader classification of Autism Spectrum
Disorder. This has led to some differences of opinion as to whether people who have
previously been identified as having Asperger Syndrome should now be termed simply
“Autistic”.
We are aware that a great many people in the world firmly see themselves as having
Asperger Syndrome and much prefer to use that term to identify themselves and to
describe their individual life experiences. Much discussion has taken place on this matter,
with some people worrying that their original diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome is no
longer valid and won’t be recognised as such. This is, of course, not the case. The global
Aspergers community is alive and well – lots and lots of people continue to use the term
to describe what is an integral part of who they are.
We have chosen to continue with our use of the term “Asperger Syndrome” in Something
Different About Dad, as we feel this currently reflects the views and experiences of all you
amazing people out there.
Kirsti Evans and John Swogger
April 2016
Contents
Introduction 6
1. This is My family 9
2. So What Is Asperger Syndrome? 23
3. The Parents’ Evening 37
4. The Holiday 66
5. Making Time for Yourself 92
6. What About Me? 113
7. Understanding Aspergers 130
8. Being Different 138
Afterword 147
Online Safety 149
Glossary 150
Introduction
Hello! My
Hi!
name is Kirsti and I work
with children and adults who
have Autism and Asperger
Syndrome. I wrote this
book...
And this
is John, who works
as a book and magazine
illustrator. He helped me tell
the story by drawing all the
pictures.
This book is for anyone who has an adult relative with Asperger Syndrome.
It might be a parent...
...or grandparent...
...an uncle, or
aunt...
...or even an older brother or sister.
6
This book follows the story of Sophie...
...whose Dad, Mark, has
Asperger Syndrome.
Perhaps, like Sophie, you may not
have noticed that your relative was
“different” when you were younger...
...but maybe now you are starting
to see that there is “something
different” about them.
7
Whether or not you know for sure that the person you are thinking
of is the same as Sophie’s dad…
…we hope reading Sophie’s
story will help answer some
of the questions you might
have...
...and make it easier for you understand the
adults with Asperger Syndrome in your life.
8
