Jane Asher and Autism?

I read this book entitled "Gentle Giant" by Wendy Robinson. It is a biography of her son who had a severe form of autism. On the back of the book is a short laudatory statement from Jane Asher, Actress, Author & President of the National Autistic Society. Robinson lives in England and this book was published by Element Books Ltd. in the UK.

Is this the same Jane Asher about whom "Things We Said Today" was about? Just wondering.

I would say that your answer is "Yes"....

http://www.communitychannel.org/stra...how.php?id=199

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip...aarticle3.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3835847.stm

http://careerfocus.bmjjournals.com/c.../326/7403/s209

Wow. *claps for Jane* I never knew that. My brother and my little cousin have Autism.

Autism is something I am personally involved with. Naturally seeing this caught my attention. I know many people who have it, ranging from being nonverbal and having the more severe or "Kanner's " autism to those with Asperger's, many of whom others might not even know had a form of autism!

In this book, "Overcoming Autism," there is a part about a boy named Andrew who has Asperger's Syndrome (on the autism spectrum) who absolutely loved the Beatles and created some cool Beatle themed activities. Another boy who had Asperger's (not included in this book) said when asked why people compared him to Mr. Spock, "He has a Beatle haircut and so do I...I read the guy who made up Mr. Spock liked the Beatles."

I would like to propose a toast to Jane. Let's all raise our glasses to Jane!

Rell, thank you for those links. I think we should be raising our glasses to you as well. On the Crackerbox Palace forum, I said that I knew a girl with Asperger's Syndrome who was an avid George fan. A late talker, she let George "talk" for her. A more fond fan would be hard to find. Her idea of fun was repeating long passages of Beatle dialog from the movies and interviews; when meeting someone for the first time, she invariably asked, "Who's your favorite Beatle? Mine's George," and then segue into a long stream of information about George. This was some years ago. It was moving that the Beatles and George, solo reached and moved her to the extent that they did.

One thing that drives me absolutely bananas is the 1988 movie "Rain Man" because that has become a stereotype about autism. Most people autism do not display savant skills; that only applies to under 10% of the autistic population. I've said many times that saying one knows about autism because they say "Rain Man" is like saying they've been to Paris when they've only been to Charles De Gaulle Airport. One fictitious character does not represent the population at large and "Rain Man" has become a slur in many autism/Asperger (a/A) circles.

How wonderful that Jane is banging on the drum for a/A causes.

Originally Posted by beatlebangs1964

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Rell, thank you for those links.
.

You're quite welcome, BB. I had no idea until you mentioned it that Jane was so involved with this cause either, so I learned something myself. Good for her.

I read that June 18 is Autism Awareness Day.

Another reason to celebrate June 18!

Although I didn't like Gentle Giant, I am interested in Jane Asher's involvement with autism. I am copying her quote which appears on the back of this book.

This book is so moving and extraordinary...it puts across just what everyday life is like for the mother of a child with autism...The love for Grant that shines out of these pages make sit particularly special. -- Jane Asher, Actress, Author & President of the National Autistic Society

An aside - Leo Kanner coined the word "autism" in 1943, the year George Harrison was born.

Autism Pride/Awareness Day is June 18, which just happens to be Paul McCartney Day.

How did Jane become involved with autism awareness?

Originally Posted by Georgie Girl

How did Jane become involved with autism awareness?

I think her father was some kind of doctor and very professionalist in medicine. No wonder that daughter is clever too.

When Linda died, I thought Paul should get back together with Jane (not Heather). A. They were engaged once, and B. She looks great!!


http://www.simr.org.uk/images/celebrity/j-asher.jpg

Yes, Paul has a knack for hot women.

Have any of your read Jane's novels? They are so beautifully written. She is such a good writer. I've read three of them ("Losing It", "The Longing" and "The Question"). I'm not sure if she has written any others....I should google it and have a look really!

Jane Asher has an amazing bakery in London as well, if ever visiting there. She is a hugely innovative cake decorator or regard there, and has done several books on the topic. http://www.jane-asher.co.uk/couture.asp-
classy lady and a very fine actress.

She is a bright woman with a myriad of talents and interests. She started out as a child actress and I saw her in "Mandy," a really good movie about a child who is deaf.

I still want to know more about her involvement with autism.

The word "autism" was coined by Leo Kanner in 1943, the year Beatle George Harrison was born.

Hans Asperger, an Austrian psychiatrist studied the behavior of a group of boys who exhibited similar autistic behaviors, yet who functioned at a much higher level than the nonverbal children Kanner labeled the previous year. Asperger's IS a form of autism; there are similar behaviors and the autism/Asperger's (a/A) continuum will show some overlap. In a book entitled "Overcoming Autism," there is a section about a boy named Andrew who was a Beatle fan with Asperger's Syndrome! There are a lot of Beatle fans with autism, I've discovered in recent years.

Originally Posted by beatlebangs1964

There are a lot of Beatle fans with autism, I've discovered in recent years.

Yeah, one of my friends happens to be both.

Paul recently made a donation of an autographed work of his art to a school for students with autism.

Good on Paul!

In 2005, I learned that Jane Asher is directly and actively involved with autism, something that is near and dear and close to my heart. She endorsed a book entitled Gentle Giant, which was a mother's account of her son Grant's severe autism. I admit that I did not like the book, but I was surprised to see her name on the back and her credentials in re autism. While I didn't like Gentle Giant, I have no doubt that the young man featured in the book was well loved. I felt that some of the treatments he endured were, to say the least upsetting.

Add to it that June 18 is National Autism Pride & Awareness Day as well as Paul McCartney Day!

I would be interested in learning more about Jane's work with Autism.