Jennifer Lynn Cook O'Toole (born October 24, 1975) is an American author and speaker. She is known for her Asperkids series of books, which have been translated into four languages, and Speaking Geek multimedia series, aimed at educating people from the perspective of someone with Asperger syndrome/autism. O'Toole's memoir, "Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum" will be published in 2018. She was diagnosed with autism (Asperger Syndrome) in 2011, just after her children received similar diagnoses. O'Toole is featured contributor to Dr. Tony Atwood's Top Aspie Mentors: Been There, Done Thatand Autism & Learning Differences,, wrote the foreword to 'Dragonfly: A Daughter's Emergence from Autism: A Practical Guide for Parents and to 'Easy to Love, Hard to Live With. O'Toole sits on the Autism Society of America's Panel of People on the Spectrum, is a columnist/expert panelist for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls at the Party, Autism Asperger's Digest, Zoom Autism Magazine, AuKids Magazine, "Special" Magazine, and the Journal for the North American Montessori Teachers' Association, and is a commentator on National Public Radio's WFAE Charlotte Talks and NBC's Charlotte Today.
Video Jennifer Cook O'Toole
Background
Jennifer Lynn Cook was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in West Caldwell, New Jersey, the only child of Joseph and Jane Cook. Her father was an international commercial litigator (d. 2007). Her mother served as the only woman on their town council for 12 years.
O'Toole began dance at age two, continuing through college. At seven, she became a member of Mensa. O'Toole attended Brown University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She majored in American Civilization, graduating with honors in 1997. She was hired as a counselor in the Domestic Violence Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in Charlotte, NC. In this capacity, she trained officers, led student-focused presentations in colleges and high schools, and served as a victim advocate. In 1999, O'Toole began Master's work at the Graduate School of Social Work at Columbia University in New York City. After Columbia, she enrolled at the Graduate School of Education at Queens University of Charlotte, while teaching language arts at both the middle school and high school levels. In her first term, she garnered a student-initiated nomination for Disney's American Teacher of the Year Award. She and her family live near Charlotte, North Carolina.
Maps Jennifer Cook O'Toole
Bibliography
Asperkids
- Asperkids: An Insider's Guide to Loving, Understanding and Teaching Children with Asperger Syndrome
(2012, Jessica Kingsley Pub) ISBN 978-1849059022 - The Asperkids' (Secret) Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So- Obvious Guidelines for Teens and Tweens
(2012, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) ISBN 978-1849059152 - The Asperkid's Launch Pad: Home Design That Empowers Everyday Superheroes
(2013, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) ISBN 978-1849059312 - The Asperkid's Not-Your-Average-Coloring Book
(2013, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) ISBN 978-1849059589 - The Asperkid's Game Plan: Purposeful Play, Extraordinary Minds.... Ordinary Stuff
(2014, Jessica Kingsley Pub) ISBN 978-1849059596
Additional Books
- Sisterhood of the Spectrum: An Asperger Chick's Guide to Life
(2015, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) ISBN 978-1849057905
Upcoming
"Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum"
(2018, Skyhorse Publishers) ASIN B073X64DSV
Contributions
- Foreword 'Dragonfly: A Daughter's Emergence from Autism: A Practical Guide for Parents' - Lori Ashley Taylor
(2018, Skyhorse Publishers) - Foreword Easy to Love but Hard to Live With: Real People, Invisible Disabilities, True Stories - ed. Lisa Davis
(2014, DRT Press) ISBN 978-1933084046 - Featured 'World's Top Aspie Mentors' contributor, Been There. Done That. Try This!: An Aspie's Guide to Life on Earth - ed. Tony Attwood' '
(2014, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) ISBN 978-1849059640 - Featured contributor, Autism and Learning Differences: An Active Learning, Teaching Toolkit - Michael P. MacMannon (author), Stephen Shore (foreward)
(2015, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) ISBN 978-1849057943
Podcast
- Speaking Geek (Weekly podcast & YouTube series)
Awards and honors
- 24 Amazing Feminist Books of 2018, Book Riot, 2018
- Outstanding Literary Work of the Year, Autism Society of America, 2014
- 50 Most Influential Women in North Carolina, 2014
- 25 Most Amazing Autistic Women, Autistic Spectrum Digest, August 2014
- Temple Grandin Award for Outstanding Global Contributions, Future Horizons
- Women Inspiring Strength & Hope Award, Make-A-Wish
- GRASP Distinguished Spectrumite
- AuKids Speaker of the Year
- Leading Woman, The Kappa Alpha Theta Leading Women Award (2013)
- Disney's Babble: Top 30 Autism Spectrum Blogs 2013
- Disney's Babble: Top 30 Autism Facebook Fan Pages 2013
- Disney's Babble: Top 30 Autism Websites
- Godiva's Woman of the Year, Nominee
References
External links
- Official website
- Asperkids channel on YouTube
- Asperkids on Facebook
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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