Understanding teens and tweens on the autism spectrum

JENNIFER O’TOOLE is well placed to give a talk on social skills for teens and tweens on the autism spectrum.

She is mum to a tween — 10-year-old Maura, who has Asperger’s syndrome. As do her other two children, Sean, seven, and Gavin, four. She and husband John also have Asperger’s. All five were diagnosed about three years ago.

Based in North Carolina, she will give the talk in Cork on Oct 10. She says she purposely chooses “to see the positive side of life” and has spoken in Ireland before (about 48,000 people here are estimated to have a diagnosis of autism and Asperger syndrome).