Cynthia Norall
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In Quirky, Yes—Hopeless, No, Dr. Cynthia La Brie Norall and Beth Brust present short lessons, structured around specific topics from A-Z that address the social challenges faced by Asperger’s children and teens. Since everyday “people skills” do not come naturally to children with Asperger’s, they need training in such simple activities as:

• How to greet others and make eye contact
• How to let go and move on to new tasks
• How to cooperate and ask for help
• How to pay compliments
• How to discern someone’s true intentions
• How to handle teasing and bullying
• How not to be rude.

Based on Dr. Norall’s twenty years of experience treating thousands with Asperger’s, this book will share her insights gained from helping so many friendless Asperger’s children become more approachable, less stuck, and finally able to make, and keep, a friend or two.

Review by Temple Grandin, author of Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships and Thinking in Pictures
"This is a fantastic book for helping people on the autism spectrum learn social skills. Great for individuals on the spectrum, teachers, and social skills training specialists. Many short chapters cover specific social problems. Readers can quickly find 'how to' social solutions in the easy to use 'Table of Contents'."

Publishers Weekly review on 5/18/09 said about Quirky, Yes—Hopeless, No
"Each useful, carefully worded entry addresses kids' behaviors and their parents' concerns, gives examples from real situations and offers suggestions for change or, as is often the case, acceptance. Although a dozen or more experts are cited, the book is conversational in tone, full of insights and will help and encourage parents and their Aspie or high-functioning autistic kids alike."

Feature Article Titled "Special Books for Special Needs" by Katherine E. Livingston Publishers Weekly 6/1/09
"At St. Martin's Press, Quirky Yes, Hopeless No: Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted by Cynthia La Brie Norall, with Beth Wagner Brust, explores the challenges of kids with Asperger's in an A to Z format. Associate editor Alyse Diamond says: 'Cynthia La Brie started a fantastic organization for Asperger kids called Friends' Club, which brings these kids together to practice social skills.” Quirky Yes, Hopeless No offers 'tons of tips, games and information'." Read More

Article Titled "Today's Quirky Kids -- Tomorrow's Heroes" by Cynthia Jenson-Elliott San Diego Family Magazine November 2009
Everyone grew up with a quirky kid. They were the kids who didn't quite fit in socially, but who were really smart in other ways. They had big ideas -- astronomically big sometimes--but didn't quite grasp the nitty-gritty of life on the playground. They were different somehow, though it was often hard to put a finger on what exactly made them different. Somtimes they were teased by bullies who didn't like differences, and sometimes, we remember, we were big enough and brave enough to stand up for them. Read More on-line in November edition, page 86

Interview by Paula Davis titled "How To Help Your Child With Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted" CommitmentNow.com December 2009 Author Cynthia La Brie Norall, Ph.D., author of "Quirky, Yes--Hopeless No: Practical Tips To Help Your Child With Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted" talks about the social challenges children with Asperger's face, and she offers suggestions on how to help an Aspie child learn to groom better, start and keep a conversation going, and stop annoying behaviors that set them up for rejection.

Interview with Alex Ota "Autism vs. Aspergers Syndrome: Signs Your Child Might Have Either and Why Jenny McCarthy Upsets the Autistic Community" on BreezyMama.com December 7, 2009

Article titled "Making quirky cool: Club for kids with Asperger's inspires new parenting book", Story Discussion By Patricia Morris Buckley, For the North County Times, March 17, 2010
Beth Wagner Brust knows there are few things more difficult than watching your child struggle to make friends. Her youngest son, Ben, was diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten, but by third grade he still didn't have any friends. "My pediatrician said he had Asperger's," explained Brust, a Carmel Valley resident. Asperger's is considered a higher form of autism that makes social interaction, among other things, difficult. "Like any parent, I was thrown for a loop. Then I heard about the Friends Club in Carlsbad."...read more

Winner
2010
San Diego
Book Awards
Education category
 
 

Available at
 
 
 
 

About the Authors

    

CYNTHIA LA BRIE NORALL, PH.D., is a licensed educational psychologist who has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of children and teens with Asperger’s syndrome for more than twenty years. As founder and clinical director of Comprehensive Autism Services and Education (CASE), Inc., Dr. Norall is an educational and behavioral consultant who oversees a team of therapists, social coaches, and group leaders. As founder of the Friends' Club launched in 2000, she has created a safe, special place where children and teens with Asperger’s can come together in small groups on a weekly basis to learn social awareness and "people" skills. Based in Carlsbad, California, satellite Friends' Clubs are now in northern California and Hawaii. Dr. Norall lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.

 

BETH WAGNER BRUST is an award-winning author of 13 children’s books and articles published in the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union, and The Horn Book. A graduate of Stanford University, she has a son who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in third grade. Now a teenager, his social skills have noticeably improved by attending the Friends' Club. This is the book that she wishes she could have had all this time. She lives in San Diego, California, with her two sons and their noble but unpredictable dog.

  
  
Cynthia Norall