TPP 205: Jennifer Cook on Asperkids, Girls on the Spectrum, and More

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Debbie Reber

Education, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 20 April 2020

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, my guest is autism advocate, speaker, and prolific author Jennifer Cook. Since being identified as autistic in 2011, in conjunction with all three of her children, Jennifer has become a powerful voice in the world of autism advocacy, with a special focus on girls on the spectrum. If Jennifer’s name sounds familiar to you, you most likely have one or more of her Asperkids books, which are highly empowering books which Jennifer wrote just for kids on the spectrum. She’s also the author of Sisterhood of the Spectrum, and the memoir Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum. Jennifer’s work has led to collaboration with the National Institutes of Health Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, the President’s Council on Disabilities, the Autism Society of America, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, and multiple media outlets. We cover so much ground during our conversation…everything from labels and diagnosis, to the limits of language and the power of reframes, to the unique challenges and reality for girls on the spectrum, and so much more. From this conversation, you will truly get a feel for Jennifer’s passion and her relentlessly positive approach to the world. THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: Glimpses into Jennifer’s story as a woman on the spectrum and as a mother of three differently wired children The importance of reframing, while also recognizing the difficulty that comes with downplaying challenges The unique challenges associated with misidentifying girls on the spectrum and why they are often misdiagnosed RESOURCES MENTIONED: Jennifer Cook’s website The Asperkid’s (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teens With Asperger Syndrome by Jennifer Cook Asperkids: An Insider’s Guide to Loving, Understanding, and Teaching Children with Asperger’s Syndrome by Jennifer Cook Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum by Jennifer Cook Support the show Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If you're listening to this podcast, it's probably because a child you love and care for is differently wired.
0:07.0	Are they also struggling in their current educational setting, seen only for what they're doing wrong, while longing for positive relationships with peers and others?
0:15.6	Envision a world where your child's unique abilities are not just recognized but celebrated.
0:21.0	A world where they can connect with others and their true potential is seen and
0:24.9	appreciated. The Strength-based Assessment Lab's mission is to build a world for your child just
0:30.7	like that. Through its innovative approach that aims to empower students, families, educators, and professionals
0:36.3	to create positive, effective, and collaborative learning experiences.
0:40.2	Be a part of shaping a brighter future for your child.
0:43.0	Visit W.
0:45.0	BGS.ed. E.d. you to learn more about what a strength-based assessment could mean for your family.
0:51.0	That's BGS.
0:52.0	E. D.e. family. That's BGS. Edu. A basic concept of what is your picture profile of someone who's on the spectrum was largely assembled by Hans Asperger in pre-World War II Vienna with school-age boys and
1:08.4	me sitting in a minivan in a
1:15.0	minivan in a bra with a you know a love of glitter like what do I have in common with them?
1:22.0	Welcome to Tilt Parenting a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents
1:25.3	raising differently wire kids.
1:27.8	My guest today is autism advocate, speaker, and prolific author Jennifer Cook, formerly Jennifer Cook O'Toole.
1:35.0	Since being identified as being on the autism spectrum in 2011,
1:40.0	in conjunction with all three of her children,
1:42.0	Jennifer has become a powerful voice in the world
1:45.2	of autism advocacy with a special focus on girls on the spectrum.
1:50.2	If Jennifer's name sounds familiar to you, you most likely have one or more of her Asper Kids books,
	...

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