AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Tracey Cohen of Farmington Hills has written a book to share her experiences with Asperger’s syndrome, “Six Word Lessons on Female Asperger’s.” Photo By Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios
Growing up, Tracey Cohen says people didn’t understand what was going on with her — but both she and her mother knew something was wrong.
That was before she was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a neurological condition on the autism spectrum. Now 44, Cohen is using writing is an outlet for awareness, sharing what she has learned with others through her book, “Six Word Lessons on Female Asperger’s.”
She hoped to share her experiences so others may understand what’s going on with them or their children.
“There were not really a lot of books or information out there specific to females on the spectrum, so I decided this is something I could write about,” the Farmington Hills woman says. “The book was not something I’d planned, but being diagnosed late in life, once I learned that Asperger’s syndrome existed I tried to educate myself and get more information, because the more I learned, the more I could explain things about it to others.”
Following her diagnosis, she began researching her condition.
Cohen’s book defines Asperger’s as “an autism spectrum disorder largely distinguished by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication.” And she describes why girls with it are more likely to go undiagnosed.
Her time reading about Asperger’s led her to the book and website “Growing Up Autistic.”
After reading their six-lessons series and visiting the website, she reached out to its writers about writing a book specifically for women with Asperger’s.
Her publisher thought it was a great idea.
“I wanted to create something somebody could pick up and sift through to gain information, grasp ideas, concepts to have an understanding,” Cohen says. “The book shares lots of information about Asperger’s, so hopefully they learn something, give me feedback or go back to the book and use it as a reference.”
An avid runner and writer for “Michigan Runner,” Cohen spent a year working on her book, writing a little each day when she wasn’t working her in her full-time position at Runfit.
The process took about a year. She recorded her thoughts and went back to them repeatedly until she felt they were concise.
Though it took time, Cohen says she enjoyed the challenge of breaking down each lesson into six simple words — expanded with a paragraph of detail — filling 10 chapters.
While those directly affected by Asperger’s can benefit a lot from reading her book, it provides knowledge about the disorder that is useful to everyone, particularly parents whose children are just a bit different.
“I think anyone and everyone can benefit from reading my book,” Cohen says.
“Unless we know about things, we can’t understand them,” she says. “If there had been anybody — whether a family member, friend or acquaintance — who saw the situation and could give a little insight, as opposed to wondering what’s happening and why without fixing it — if anybody even had a clue and offered a suggestion, kind words or resources, it would’ve made all the difference in the world in my life and my family’s life.”
SOURCE: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/article/OP/20151109/FEATURES/151109557
Tracey Cohen of Farmington Hills has written a book to share her experiences with Asperger’s syndrome, “Six Word Lessons on Female Asperger’s.” Photo By Carter Sherline / Frog Prince Studios
Growing up, Tracey Cohen says people didn’t understand what was going on with her — but both she and her mother knew something was wrong.
That was before she was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a neurological condition on the autism spectrum. Now 44, Cohen is using writing is an outlet for awareness, sharing what she has learned with others through her book, “Six Word Lessons on Female Asperger’s.”
She hoped to share her experiences so others may understand what’s going on with them or their children.
“There were not really a lot of books or information out there specific to females on the spectrum, so I decided this is something I could write about,” the Farmington Hills woman says. “The book was not something I’d planned, but being diagnosed late in life, once I learned that Asperger’s syndrome existed I tried to educate myself and get more information, because the more I learned, the more I could explain things about it to others.”
Following her diagnosis, she began researching her condition.
Cohen’s book defines Asperger’s as “an autism spectrum disorder largely distinguished by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication.” And she describes why girls with it are more likely to go undiagnosed.
Her time reading about Asperger’s led her to the book and website “Growing Up Autistic.”
After reading their six-lessons series and visiting the website, she reached out to its writers about writing a book specifically for women with Asperger’s.
Her publisher thought it was a great idea.
“I wanted to create something somebody could pick up and sift through to gain information, grasp ideas, concepts to have an understanding,” Cohen says. “The book shares lots of information about Asperger’s, so hopefully they learn something, give me feedback or go back to the book and use it as a reference.”
An avid runner and writer for “Michigan Runner,” Cohen spent a year working on her book, writing a little each day when she wasn’t working her in her full-time position at Runfit.
The process took about a year. She recorded her thoughts and went back to them repeatedly until she felt they were concise.
Though it took time, Cohen says she enjoyed the challenge of breaking down each lesson into six simple words — expanded with a paragraph of detail — filling 10 chapters.
While those directly affected by Asperger’s can benefit a lot from reading her book, it provides knowledge about the disorder that is useful to everyone, particularly parents whose children are just a bit different.
“I think anyone and everyone can benefit from reading my book,” Cohen says.
“Unless we know about things, we can’t understand them,” she says. “If there had been anybody — whether a family member, friend or acquaintance — who saw the situation and could give a little insight, as opposed to wondering what’s happening and why without fixing it — if anybody even had a clue and offered a suggestion, kind words or resources, it would’ve made all the difference in the world in my life and my family’s life.”
SOURCE: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/article/OP/20151109/FEATURES/151109557
