Jennifer Cook

{{Short description|American writer (born 1975)}} {{distinguish|Jennifer Cooke}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox writer  | name = Jennifer Cook | image = Jennifer Cook at Ed Asner Center.webp | alt = A woman with long, red hair stands in a black cocktail dress facing the camera. Behind her is a red-carpet background for the Ed Asner Family Center. | caption = Cook at a Ed Asner Family Center event, 2018 | honorific_prefix = | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Jennifer Lynn Cook | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|10|24}} | birth_place = Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | spouse = {{marriage|John O'Toole|2001|2018|reason=divorced}} {{marriage|Brett Banks|2019}} | children = 3 | occupation = {{hlist|Author|speaker}} | language = English | nationality = American | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = {{hlist|Brown University|Columbia University}} | period = | genre =  | subject = Autism | movement = | notableworks = {{hlist|''Asperkids'' book series|''Autism in Heels''}} | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | years_active = | module = | website = | portaldisp =  }}

'''Jennifer Lynn Cook''' (formerly '''Cook O'Toole'''; born October 24, 1975) is an American author and speaker.<ref name = "WFAE/NPR"/> She is known for her six ''Asperkids'' books, which have been translated into six languages and include the winner of the Autism Society of America's ''Book of the Year'' Award. Her memoir, ''Autism in Heels'',<ref name="Brown Alumni Monthly"/> is a ''Wall Street Journal'' Bestseller, and a "Best Book" title winner by ''Publishers Weekly''. She is the on-camera autism expert in Netflix's series ''Love on the Spectrum''.

Cook was diagnosed with the now-defunct<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asperger syndrome (Asperger’s) |url=https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/the-history-of-autism/asperger-syndrome |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=www.autism.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> autism subtype Asperger syndrome in 2011; all three of her children were also diagnosed with the condition.<ref name= "Guardian 2012"/> In 2019, she became the inaugural senior directorial consultant for the Jefferson Health Center for Autism and Neurodiversity in Philadelphia,<ref name= "WHYY/NPR"/> and was selected to address the United States' National Institutes of Health Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee regarding the unique issues surrounding women, girls, and autism.<ref name= "NIH/IACC"/> Cook advised the President's Council on Disabilities and President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition at the White House in 2015, and, as an advisor to the Sesame Workshop, has a voice in the development of Julia, the first autistic character on ''Sesame Street''<ref name="Autism, Sesame Style"/> and their "See the Amazing in Every Child" initiative.

She is a featured contributor in Tony Attwood's ''Top Aspie Mentors: Been There, Done That'' and ''Autism & Learning Differences'',<ref name = "Autism & Learning Differences"/> and wrote the forewords to ''Dragonfly: A Daughter's Emergence from Autism: A Practical Guide for Parents'' and ''Easy to Love, Hard to Live With''.<ref name="Easy to Love radioMD" /> Cook sits on the Autism Society of America's Council of Autistic Advisors, is a columnist/expert panelist for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls,<ref name="Smart Girls" /><ref name="Aspergers and Autism in Pink" /> Autism Asperger's Digest,<ref name="Autism Asperger's Digest" /> ''Zoom Autism'' magazine,<ref name="Zoom Spring 2015" /> ''AuKids'' magazine,<ref name="Aukids Our Experts" /> ''Special'' magazine and the Journal for the North American Montessori Teachers' Association NAMTA, and is a commentator on NPR's ''WHYY''<ref name="WHYY/NPR" /> and ''WFAE'',<ref name="WFAE/NPR" /> as well as Fox's WTXF-TV<ref name = "FOX/WTXF"/> and NBC's ''Charlotte Today''.<ref name = "Charlotte Today"/>

==Background== {{BLP sources section|date=December 2024}} Cook was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in West Caldwell. She is the only child of Joseph (d. 2007) and Jane Cook. Her father was an international commercial litigator. Her mother served as the only woman on their town council for 12 years.

Cook began dancing at age two, continuing through college. Cook attended Brown University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She majored in American Civilization, graduating with high honors in 1997.<ref name="The Children's Book Review"/> She was hired as a counselor in the Domestic Violence Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this capacity, she trained officers, led student-focused presentations in colleges and high schools, and served as a victim advocate. In 1999, Cook 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.<ref name = "Library Journal"/> In her first term, she garnered a student-initiated nomination for Disney's American Teacher of the Year Award.<ref name="Speaking of Difference"/>

== Personal life == Cook was married to John O'Toole from 2001 to 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newjerseyhills.com/jennifer-lynn-cook-weds-john-christopher-otoole/article_92d75de6-39f8-5adb-aa73-5c404248c290.html|title=Jennifer Lynn Cook weds John Christopher O'Toole|website=newjerseyhills.com|date=December 13, 2001|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/JenniferCook_Adulting_transcript.pdf|title=Adulting on the Spectrum: Love on the Spectrum|website=autismspeaks.org|date=August 21, 2022|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> with whom she has three children.<ref name= "Guardian 2012"/> She married her second husband, Brett Banks, in 2019. Cook and her family live near Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to being autistic, she has synesthesia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Toole |first=Jennifer Cook |title=Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum |last2=Paskowitz-Asner |first2=Navah |date=2018 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-5107-3284-1 |location=La Vergne}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=August 2025}}

==Bibliography== ===Asperkids series=== * ''Asperkids: An Insider's Guide to Loving, Understanding and Teaching Children with Asperger Syndrome'' (2012, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849059022}}<ref name = "Library Journal"/> * ''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}}<ref name = "Asperkids Publishers Weekly"/> * ''The Asperkid's Launch Pad: Home Design That Empowers Everyday Superheroes'' (2013, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849059312}}<ref name ="Reference and Research Book News"/><ref name="Library Journal The Asperkid's Launch Pad"/> * ''The Asperkid's Not-Your-Average-Coloring Book'' (2013, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849059589}}<ref name="The Children's Book Review" /> * ''The Asperkid's Game Plan: Purposeful Play, Extraordinary Minds.... Ordinary Stuff'' (2014, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849059596}}<ref name="The Children's Book Review" />

===Other books=== * ''Sisterhood of the Spectrum: An Asperger Chick's Guide to Life'' (2015, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849057905}}<ref name="Autism Daily Newscast" /> * ''Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum'' (2018, Skyhorse Publishers) {{ASIN|B073X64DSV}} * ''My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street Book about Autism'' (2023, Lerner Publishers) {{ASIN|B0BP7S1FS9}}

===Contributions=== * Foreword for ''Dragonfly: A Daughter's Emergence from Autism: A Practical Guide for Parents'' by Lori Ashley Taylor (2018, Skyhorse Publishers) * Foreword for ''Easy to Love but Hard to Live With: Real People, Invisible Disabilities, True Stories'' edited by Lisa Davis (2014, DRT Press) {{ISBN|978-1933084046}} * Featured 'World's Top Aspie Mentors' contributor for ''Been There. Done That. Try This!: An Aspie's Guide to Life on Earth'' edited by Tony Attwood (2014, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849059640}} * Featured contributor for ''Autism and Learning Differences: An Active Learning, Teaching Toolkit'' by Michael P. MacMannon, with a foreword by Stephen Shore (2015, Jessica Kingsley Publishers) {{ISBN|978-1849057943}}

===Podcast=== * ''Speaking Geek: Translating Typical for the Human Spectrum''<ref name="Speaking Geek Asperkids">{{Cite web|title = Speaking Geek: Translating Typical for the Human Spectrum|url = http://asperkids.com/speaking-geek/|website = Asperkids|access-date = October 24, 2015|language = en|archive-date = October 23, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151023011113/http://asperkids.com/speaking-geek/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Awards and honors== *Publishers Weekly: Best Books List<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-5107-3284-1|title=Best Books List|website=Publishers Weekly|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> * Booklist Book of Distinction Starred Review by the American Library Association<ref>{{cite book|url=https://catalog.santafelibrary.org/GroupedWork/f240a7c4-95ea-4b7e-43eb-54bea822a8a4/Home|title=Autism in heels: the untold story of a female life on the spectrum, Reviews|last=Smith|first=Candace|date=July 1, 2018|via=Santa Fe Library|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref> *24 Amazing Feminist Books of 2018, Book Riot, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bookriot.com/2017/12/19/feminist-books-2018/|title=24 Amazing New Feminist Books Coming in 2018|last=Scott|first=Kate|date=December 19, 2017|website=BOOK RIOT|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * Outstanding Literary Work of the Year, Autism Society of America, 2014<ref name = "Autism Society of America"/> * 50 Most Influential Women in North Carolina, 2014<ref name="Charlotte Weekly"/> * 25 Most Amazing Autistic Women, ''Autistic Spectrum Digest'', August 2014<ref name="Amazing Autistic Women"/> *Temple Grandin Award for Outstanding Global Contributions, Future Horizons<ref name="ADN May 2014" /> * Women Inspiring Strength & Hope Award, Make-A-Wish<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectrumwomen.com/wellbeing/salads-spreadsheets-the-spectrum-the-fight-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-food-jennifer-otoole/|title=Salads, Spreadsheets & the Spectrum: The Fight that Has Nothing to Do with Food – Jennifer O'Toole|date=May 7, 2017|website=Spectrum Women|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> * GRASP Excellence in Parenting/Distinguished Spectrumite<ref name="ADN May 2014"/> * AuKids Speaker of the Year<ref name="ADN May 2014"/> * Leading Woman, The Kappa Alpha Theta Leading Women Award (2013)<ref name="The Kappa Alpha Theta Award">{{cite magazine |last=Snell |first=Greta |url=https://issuu.com/theta/docs/winter_2014_magazine |title=Leading Woman |magazine=The Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine |date=January 15, 2014 |volume= 128 |issue= 2 (Winter 2013–2014) |page=27 |access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> * 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<ref name="ADN May 2014"/>

== References == {{Reflist| refs =

<ref name="ADN May 2014">{{cite news|last1=Joss|url=http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/inspiring-women-with-autism-jennifer-cook-otoole/11291/laurel-joss/|first1=Laurel|title=Inspiring Women with Autism: Jennifer Cook O'Toole|access-date=October 24, 2015|publisher=Autism Daily Newscast|date=May 26, 2014|archive-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417060237/http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/inspiring-women-with-autism-jennifer-cook-otoole/11291/laurel-joss/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name = "WFAE/NPR">{{cite web|title=Asperger Syndrome And 'Asperkids'|url=http://wfae.org/post/asperger-syndrome-and-asperkids|publisher=WFAE-NPR radio|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="Brown Alumni Monthly">{{Cite web|title = Different Normal Autism in Heels is a new memoir about life on the spectrum|url =https://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2019-01-10/different-normal|website = Brown Alumni Magazine|access-date = January 10, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name= "Guardian 2012">{{cite news|last1=Rhodes|first1=Giulia|title=Asperger's: 'This is our normal'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/nov/03/aspergers-syndrome-family-social-rules|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name= "WHYY/NPR">{{Cite web|title = Jefferson's autism-friendly initiative aims to make health care better for everyone|url = https://whyy.org/articles/jeffersons-autism-friendly-initiative-aims-to-make-health-care-better-for-everyone|website = WHYY|access-date = May 6, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name= "NIH/IACC">{{Cite web|title = NIMH Special Event for Autism Awareness Month A Woman's Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs|url= https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/autism-events/2019/april23/spectrum-women.shtml|website = Department of Health & Human Services: NIH/NIMH:IACC|access-date = April 23, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name= "Autism, Sesame Style">{{cite web|title = Autism, Sesame Style: How One Muppet Girl is Changing the World|url= https://amysmartgirls.com/autism-sesame-style-how-one-muppet-girl-is-changing-the-world-a4fa82eba8ad|website = Amy Poehler's Smart Girls|date= April 6, 2017|access-date= November 4, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name = "Autism & Learning Differences">{{cite web|title = Differences in Learning|url=https://contexteducation.org/books/autism-learning-differences/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104185031/https://contexteducation.org/books/autism-learning-differences/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2019|website=Context Education|access-date = December 1, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name = "Easy to Love radioMD">{{Cite web|title = Easy to Love, Hard to Live With: Understanding the Challenges of Invisible Disabilities|url = http://radiomd.com/show/naturally-savvy/item/27291-easy-to-love-hard-to-live-with|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151204065336/http://radiomd.com/show/naturally-savvy/item/27291-easy-to-love-hard-to-live-with|url-status = dead|archive-date = December 4, 2015|website = RadioMD|access-date = October 24, 2015|language = en}}</ref>

<ref name="Autism Asperger's Digest">{{Cite web|title = Jennifer Cook O'Toole Archives – Autism Asperger's Digest|url = http://autismdigest.com/tag/jennifer-cook-otoole/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130702234549/http://autismdigest.com/tag/jennifer-cook-otoole/|url-status = dead|archive-date = July 2, 2013|website = Autism Asperger's Digest|access-date = October 24, 2015|language = en}}</ref>

<ref name ="Aspergers and Autism in Pink">{{Cite web|title = Aspergers and Autism in Pink {{!}} Amy Poehler's Smart Girls|url = http://amysmartgirls.com/aspergers-and-autism-in-girls-dont-be-afraid-of-your-awesomeness/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925003605/http://amysmartgirls.com/aspergers-and-autism-in-girls-dont-be-afraid-of-your-awesomeness/|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 25, 2015|website = Amy Poehler's Smart Girls|access-date = October 24, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="The Children's Book Review">{{cite web|last1=Hallmark|first1=Gi|title=A Chat with Asperkids™ Author Jennifer Cook O'Toole|url=http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2014/04/a-chat-with-asperkids-author-jennifer-cook-otoole.html|publisher=The Children's Book Review|access-date=October 24, 2015|date=April 10, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="Speaking of Difference">{{cite web|title=JENNIFER O'TOOLE|url=http://speakingofdifference.com/speakerspotlight/jennifer-otoole/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021123510/http://speakingofdifference.com/speakerspotlight/jennifer-otoole/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2014|publisher=Speaking of Difference|access-date=October 24, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = "Library Journal">{{cite magazine|title=Parenting and Teaching Children with Autism|url=http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/08/books/nonfic/soc-sci/parenting-and-teaching-children-with-autism/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911015333/http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/08/books/nonfic/soc-sci/parenting-and-teaching-children-with-autism/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2015|magazine=Library Journal|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = "Asperkids Publishers Weekly">{{cite magazine|title=The Asperkid's Secret Book of Social Rules: The Handbook of Not-So-Obvious Social Guidelines for Tweens and Teen with Asperger Syndrome (review)|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-84905-915-2|magazine=Publishers Weekly|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name ="Reference and Research Book News">{{cite journal|title=The Asperkid's launch pad; home design to empower everyday superheroes. (review)|journal=Reference and Research Book News|date=2013|volume=28|issue=4|id={{ProQuest|1416243452}}}}</ref>

<ref name="Library Journal The Asperkid's Launch Pad">{{cite magazine|title=The Asperkid's Launch Pad: Homes That Empower Everyday Superheroes (review)|url=http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?uri=Product2013-06-15-8128311.xml|magazine=Library Journal|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = "Autism Daily Newscast">{{cite web|last1=Rankowski|first1=Brigid|title=Let's hear it for the girls: Asperkids' new book|url=http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/lets-hear-girls-asperkids-new-book/22412/brigidrankowski/|publisher=Autism Daily Newscast|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025200531/http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/lets-hear-girls-asperkids-new-book/22412/brigidrankowski/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name ="Autism Society of America">{{Cite web|title =Autism Society of America|url=http://www.autism-society.org/about-the-autism-society/boardadvisors/panel-of-people-on-the-spectrum-of-autism/#jotoole/|publisher=Autism Society of America|access-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="Charlotte Weekly">{{Cite web|title = South Charlotte resident releases sixth book on Asperger's syndrome|url = http://thecharlotteweekly.com/news/2015/04/south-charlotte-resident-releases-sixth-book-on-aspergers-syndrome/|website = South Charlotte Weekly|access-date = October 24, 2015|language = en|archive-date = August 7, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150807064140/http://thecharlotteweekly.com/news/2015/04/south-charlotte-resident-releases-sixth-book-on-aspergers-syndrome/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Amazing Autistic Women">{{cite web|title=Amazing Autistic Women – Special Edition of ASDigest|url=http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/amazing-autistic-women-special-edition-of-asdigest-now-available/14966/pressrelease/|publisher=Autism Daily Newscast|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811063630/http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/amazing-autistic-women-special-edition-of-asdigest-now-available/14966/pressrelease/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name ="Smart Girls">{{cite web|last1=Cook O'Toole|first1=Jennifer|title=Aspergers and Autism in Girls: Don't Be Afraid of Your Awesomeness|url=http://amysmartgirls.com/aspergers-and-autism-in-girls-dont-be-afraid-of-your-awesomeness/|publisher=Amy Poehler's Smart Girls|access-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031003141/http://amysmartgirls.com/aspergers-and-autism-in-girls-dont-be-afraid-of-your-awesomeness/|archive-date=October 31, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name= "Zoom Spring 2015">{{cite journal|author1=|title=Cover Story: Congratulations You Have Autism|journal=Zoom|date=2015|issue=Spring|page=33|url=https://www.joomag.com/magazine/zoom-autism-magazine-issue-3-spring-2015/0212842001427167663|access-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031004112/https://www.joomag.com/magazine/zoom-autism-magazine-issue-3-spring-2015/0212842001427167663|archive-date=October 31, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name ="Aukids Our Experts">{{cite web|title=Our Experts|url=http://www.aukids.co.uk/our-experts/our-experts|magazine=Aukids magazine|access-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031005004/http://www.aukids.co.uk/our-experts/our-experts|archive-date=October 31, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name = "FOX/WTXF">{{cite web|title=Talking #AutismInHeels and Adult Diagnoses on Fox29, Philadelphia|url=https://www.jenniferotooleauthor.com/media?wix-vod-video-id=aaf6293b2b064735b85aa4516f583245&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-jhfewo5s#|publisher=WTXF-TV|access-date=April 12, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024}}</ref>

<ref name = "Charlotte Today">{{cite web|title=How Asperkids helps kids with aspergers|url=http://www.wcnc.com/videos/entertainment/television/charlotte-today/2014/07/04/11116472/|publisher=WCNC NBC Charlotte|access-date=October 31, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024}}</ref>

}}

== External links == *[https://www.jennifercookauthor.com/ Author website] * {{YouTube|user=AsperkidsVideos|title=Asperkids|suffix=}} *[https://www.instagram.com/jennifercook_author/ Instagram]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Jennifer}} Category:1975 births Category:Writers from Essex County, New Jersey Category:Living people Category:Brown University alumni Category:Mensans Category:People from Glen Ridge, New Jersey Category:People from West Caldwell, New Jersey Category:American autistic people Category:Autistic writers Category:American writers with disabilities Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:American non-fiction children's writers