title: Pieces That Fit: A Mother's Journey Through Her Son's Puzzling Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome
author:  Karen MacNeill 
description: Karen has been a primary school teacher for the past twenty-four years and considers herself a champion for children. Having raised an autistic child for the past eighteen years, she has developed the patience and understanding to nurture children. She is a strong advocate for all children, both special needs and neurotypical, and continues to strive to foster a positive, caring, and fun environment for all children to succeed in. Her father was in education, and she followed in his footsteps. He often joked that "this is evidence insanity runs in families" but it seemed natural for her to take that path, and she did so happily. Her dedication to her family, her school, and, most important, her students has provided for a very rewarding life, both professionally and personally. She knows there will always be challenges along the way in education, in her classroom, and with Chandler, but her experience has allowed her to overcome anxiety, fear, and trepidation and to move forward positively. Karen was born and raised in southern Maine and continues to live there, near the coast. She remains active in her community as she feels that all families need a helping hand at one point or another. She values her family, her friends, her job, and her two dogs.
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00151.jpeg)
  
  > Graeme Simsion
  
  > THE ROSIE PROJECT
  
  ![](Images/image00147.jpeg)
  
  Contents
  
  > Chapter 1
  
  > Chapter 2
  
  > Chapter 3
  
  > Chapter 4
  
  > Chapter 5
  
  > Chapter 6
  
  > Chapter 7
  
  > Chapter 8
  
  > Chapter 9
  
  > Chapter 10
  
  > Chapter 11
  
  > Chapter 12
  
  > Chapter 13
  
  > Chapter 14
  
  > Chapter 15
  
  > Chapter 16
  
  > Chapter 17
  
  > Chapter 18
  
  > Chapter 19
  
  > Chapter 20
  
  > Chapter 21
  
  > Chapter 22
  
  > Chapter 23
  
  > Chapter 24
  
  > Chapter 25
  
  > Chapter 26
  
  > Chapter 27
  
  > Chapter 28
  
  > Chapter 29
  
  > Chapter 30
  
  > Chapter 31
  
  > Chapter 32
  
  > Chapter 33
  
  > Chapter 34
  
  > Chapter 35
  
  > Chapter 36
  
  > Acknowledgments
  
  To Rod and Lynette
  
  ![](Images/image00150.jpeg)
  
  > 1
  
  I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem. As with so many scientific
  breakthroughs, the answer was obvious in retrospect. But had it not been for a
  series of unscheduled events, it is unlikely I would have discovered it.
  
  The sequence was initiated by Gene insisting I give a lecture on Asperger’s
  syndrome that he had