Finding a Different Kind of Normal: Misadventures With Asperger Syndrome

Jeanette Purkis spent her early life reacting violently against her feelings of embarrassment, anger and confusion about her 'difference' from other people. She was unaware until well into adulthood that everything she found difficult, including her lack of success in forming relationships, could be a result of having Asperger Syndrome.

Used to being a misfit from a very young age, Jeanette found that being a member of a group in which she had a label - Jeanette the Communist; Jeanette, Enemy of the State; Jeanette the convict; Jeanette the drug addict - gave her a sense of order she could depend on, particularly in prison, where each day had a set routine and the inmates accepted her because of her rebel attitude. Finally diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of 20, the author only began to accept her diagnosis some years later when she felt for the first time that she might learn to cope with being herself.

Jeanette's remarkable life and her journey towards finding a different kind of normal is compelling and inspiring reading for people with autism spectrum disorders, and those living or working with them.

Jeanette Purkis has a Master's degree in Fine Arts from RMIT University and works for the Australian Public Service as a policy adviser. Jeanette recently received an Excellence Award from the CEO of her department for promoting inclusion and advocating for disability. She is a frequent speaker at autism conferences and she facilitates a support group for women on the autism spectrum. She has received the ACT Volunteer of the Year award for her work in Autism advocacy and in particular in facilitating a women's group for Autistic women in Canberra. Jeanette has a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. She lives in Canberra, Australia.

Donna Williams was born in Australia in 1963. She was assessed at age two as psychotic, labelled disturbed and tested for deafness throughout childhood before being diagnosed as autistic in 1990. Today she is an internationally best-selling author with nine published books, an artist, singer-songwriter and emerging screenwriter. One of the most well-known people with autism in the world, Donna is a renowned international public speaker, a qualified teacher and has worked as an autism consultant since 1995.