Hello again here’s this week latest blog post coming up…….

But just before that a big thank you and well done to last week’s competition winner who is Laura - a free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” is on it’s way shortly to you Laura ………..as long as you can come back to the blog and give me your email address (as I don’t have your surname)!

…….If you wish to read about her inspirational moment it is Number 27 in the comments section on the following blog page:

http://www.parentingaspergers.com/blog/2008/01/23/the-future-for-children-with-aspergers/#comments

I was only planning to reveal 4 free articles from the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” this month…………..

……..But luckily for you my maths stinks……… and I forgot that there are 5 weeks in January……….!

So here’s a special bonus article to see out January….before the release of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” which is next week…….

….Yep it’s finally here and so watch out in your in-box next week for an email all about it………….as I am offering it at a very low cost as a “thank you” you to all of you faithful blog and email subscribers next week only………….

So keep your eyes peeled……..!

Anyway this week is your last chance to win by adding some advice or a comment on the topic of the children with Aspergers and pets …..so make sure you add your comments to be in with a chance……

So here we go for week 5’s special bonus sample from the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” (which is to be released next week); it is based on the following question I was asked about children with Aspergers and pets:

Question

My 7 year old son with Asperger’s has a pet rabbit at school that he really loves. He is always talking about it and seems happy to be involved in taking his turn to care for it at school. He is begging me for a rabbit at home. I am worried that it might be different at home and that he may not be able to cope with or look after it if we get him one. Do you think it’s a good idea to get him a rabbit?

Pets can help children with disabilities, including Asperger’s Syndrome. Pets have both time and patience to interact with children. This helps parents by making it easier to keep the child occupied with an acceptable activity. It helps children by promoting an enjoyable, acceptable activity that helps them learn to love another being. Pets also encourage the child to be responsible and take care of another living thing. In simple ways, pets help children learn to socialize. Because pets love unconditionally, the child doesn’t have to worry about whether he or she will be accepted, act correctly, or make mistakes. The pet will love the child regardless. Unconditional acceptance is a wonderful and rare experience for an Asperger’s child. Service animals can even assist disabled children in various ways. So, it’s a good idea for your child to have a pet at home.

Introduce the Asperger’s child to a pet in a controlled environment. Pets’ behaviour can be unpredictable and include actions such as licking, mouthing, making noises, smelling unusual, going to the bathroom in the house, jumping, etc. The parent can hold the pet and the child can approach it slowly. The parent can describe acceptable ways to hold and pet the animal and explain how the pet might behave.

You should explain that this is a living being which is dependent on humans for protection and care. The best way to understand the pet is to read books about it. The parent should carefully teach the child how to care for the pet and always supervise its care. At times, the parent may need to take responsibility for the animal’s care.

Having a pet makes it easier for children to play and communicate with other children. If the animal is with the child when others are present, the interaction with other people is easier for the Aspie and the Aspie’s behaviour is more acceptable to other children. The pet gives the children a mutual interest to discuss.

Pets teach empathy for others. The child can see that the animal needs care and help and learns to provide it. The child learns to empathize with what the animal feels and copies those feelings, including love, joy, and so forth.

Pets teach responsibility, but don’t expect the child to perform most of the daily care. Most kids don’t do it, so Asperger’s kids won’t usually be any different. But, do encourage and help the child care for the pet. Children can learn to groom, feed, provide water, and play with the pet. Be careful that the child doesn’t abuse the pet. Make sure the pet you choose can’t be easily harmed by young children. Small dogs and other fragile pets are not appropriate.

Well that’s all for the article – but don’t forget to add your “pets” tip or comment to the blog for a chance to win a Brand New free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2”……..

…..and watch out for that Exclusive Subscriber Discount Email for the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” next week…. but until then…………

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

Hello again here’s this week latest blog post coming up…….

But just before that a big thank you and well done to last week’s competition winner who is Sharon Clewell - a free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” is on it’s way shortly to you Sharon ………..

…….If you wish to read her great teenager tip it is Number 3 in the comments section on the following blog page:

http://www.parentingaspergers.com/blog/2008/01/15/what-to-expect-from-teenagers-with-aspergers/#comments

This week it could be your chance to win by adding some advice or a comment on the topic of the future for children with Aspergers…..so make sure you add your comments to be in with a chance……

So here we go for week 4’s exclusive sample from the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” (which is to be released in early February); it is based on the following question I was asked about the future for children with Aspergers…..

Question

What will the future be for children with Asperger’s? How will they fit in with the ever-escalating tempo of today’s and the future world?

Asperger’s Syndrome sufferers have an autism spectrum disorder that creates social problems characterized by a lack of empathy, inability to form friendships, intense absorption in special interests, and a strong need for repetitive rituals. In addition, they may be intensely affected or not affected at all by sensory input. Will these children be able to access effective treatments for, or be cured of, Asperger’s Syndrome as they get older? If not, will they be able to fit into the world of the future? How difficult will the future be for them?

As of 2007, no studies of long-term outcomes of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome or follow-up studies of children with AS are available. Individuals with AS appear to have normal life expectancies, but have more conditions such as depression and anxiety. Although social impairment seems to be lifelong, generally, positive improvements can be made with support and training. ASD symptoms seem to diminish over time. AS has not prevented many adults from major accomplishments in various endeavours in the past and won’t in the future either.

Some children with AS will still require special educational classes because of social and behavioral problems, but many will attend regular education classes, too. Adolescents with AS may have difficulty with self-care, organization, and handling social and romantic relationships. Some will remain at home, but many will attend college, marry, and work, which is no real difference to the general population. Depression is often due to repeated failure in social interaction and mood disorders may develop, but treatments are being developed that are quite effective. Education of families in effective AS strategies will be crucial in improving outcomes in AS children. Prognosis may be improved by diagnosis at younger ages and early intervention.

Future research in AS will create a detailed model of the dysfunction and integrate various treatments into a cohesive and effective plan. Carefully designed and rigorous scientific studies, which are valid and reliable, will define the differences between Asperger’s Syndrome and autism, as well as determine which of many treatments and medications available are most effective. Cormorbid disorders (those that often appear with AS) and genetics will also be researched. Advances in MRI technology will allow neuroimaging that creates a “picture” of an individual’s brain and how it functions, fails to function, or improves in function after treatment. This will affect diagnosis and determine which treatments are most effective.

Social networks are the future of the Internet. They will be organized around interests and challenges, including Asperger’s, and become the means of communication. Internet communities will show who we are, what we believe in, give us information and advice, and provide a social network. People with Asperger’s will be able to find friends online – others with Asperger’s and others who don’t have it. Check out www.WrongPlanet.Net as an example. Through the internet, children with any disability will be able to talk to people from all over the world. Communication will be instantaneous. Since Aspies have great language skills, social networks should make social interaction much easier for Aspies, both young and old.

Technology will be developed to meet people’s needs, including the needs of the disabled, and provide access to the world for everyone. Problems dealing with physical and social environments in the real world will be eliminated through the use of technology.

On the internet, those with Asperger’s will be able to create a private space, exclusively to people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. They will create their own customized environment, that is, a virtual world just for them. In the virtual world, disabilities will be reduced or even become strengths.

Assistive technology will come into its own. Technology, such as the Korowai 3000, will really make a difference in learning disabilities and reading problems. This program will help children with Asperger’s, autism, cerebral palsy, blindness, opposition-defiance, Tourette’s, neurological and processing problems, and dyslexia. The individualized program is networked and lessons can be saved and accessed from anywhere. On the Kurzweil website, www.kurzweiledu.com, you can see a demo of it. Books can be scanned into the program and it reads material on the internet, enabling students who have difficulty doing research to be successful. Children sit at the computer using headphones, and no one can tell if they need to go over material a dozen times until they understand it. It teaches math, English, social studies and more.

As we look at the possible future of the world, it seems to me that the “ever escalating tempo” you mention, actually is an increase in technology and improvement in our abilities to solve problems, address disabilities, and ease disorders. For people with Asperger’s the future looks bright, with many new treatments and technologies that will be available to help ameliorate the difficulties of Asperger’s, provide opportunities to create virtual worlds in which challenges are surmountable, and explore the real world using assistive technology.

Well that’s all for the article – but don’t forget to add your “future” tip or comment to the blog for a chance to win a Brand New free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2”……

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

PARENTING AUTISM & ASPERGERS NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 15
JANUARY 2008

This is Dave Angel and Welcome to the fifteenth edition
of “The Parenting Autism & Aspergers Newsletter”

I cannot believe that it is already over half way through
January 2008 already….

So I’d like to wish all of you a slightly belated Happy
New Year!

Inside this edition you will find:

1. Blog and New Book Latest News

2. Hot Topic of Discussion - Who Pays for Autism?

3. In the News – Autism: The Musical

4. Parenting Tips - BIG EMPTY SPACE….!!

5. Famous Autistic Person - Alonzo Clemons

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

————————————————————-

1. Blog and New Book Update Latest News

The blog is working well so far with a lot of people adding
comments on it which is great……..so keep them coming.

Although for the past couple of days there has been a fault
and we may have a lost a few posts so apologies for that.

But rest assured it’s all working again now.

For those of you who have not been there yet the blog is at
http://www.parentingaspergers.com/blog/

Also The All New Parenting Aspergers Resource Guide Volume 2
is nearly done and definitely on course to be ready for
early February.

I am revealing tips from the book on a weekly basis on the
blog to give you a taste of what it is about (so far I have
covered siblings information and information on an
alternative treatment approach called Glyconutrients)….

And don’t forget that each week throughout this month there
is a competition to win free copies of the book on the blog
…..so make sure you add your comments to the blog to be
in with a chance………..

————————————————————

2. Hot Topic of Discussion - Who Pays for Autism?

A recent article in The Denver Post described how the family
of a 4 year old child with autism successfully took their
insurance company to court and were awarded the $110,000 that
they had invested in a treatment approach for their daughter
Abby.

The standard US insurance company coverage towards autism works
out to be on average about a maximum of 20 hours each of
occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy in a
lifetime.

Well whoopy doo - that sure seems a good deal for paying those
big monthly premiums!

At a rate of about 3 hours of therapy for every year from say
4 to 24 years old that should certainly iron out any issues
(written with a high degree of sarcasm)!

Whilst the insurance company do not feel any precedent has been
set - I certainly thing that this could prove to be a
landmark case for families with autistic children in the USA.

The base of the insurance comapnies argument seems to be
around the therapy being classed as “not medically
necessary”.

Which I guess in a “life or death” way is kind of true - but
it ignores the issues of quality of life and the right to
fair chances for all involved in a big way.

And like many insurance practices quite frankly - IT STINKS!

The therapeutic approach that Abby used seems to have been
LEAP which is a version of ABA therapy.

There is apparently a little federal funding now available for
families in Colarado but only a tiny amount - compared to the
numbers of families needing help.

But this case certainly gives hope for other families to
consider challenging the “fat cat” insurance companies in
order to get the best help possible for their child.

So good luck to anyone going down that route….

To read the full story go to:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7838774

———————————————————–

3. In the News – Autism: The Musical

I just couldn’t resist reading about this news article when I
saw the headline “Autism - the Musical”….

What next I thought to myself - “Autism On Ice” or “Autism -
Dancing with The Stars”!

Actually though it is more serious and less frivoluous than
the headline suggests….it refers to a new documentary film
covering the lives of 5 young people on the autistic spectrum
from the LA area over a 6 month period.

During this period they are supported to express their creativity
by putting on a musical with a professional acting coach.

It is due to air on HBO in April in the USA and I imagine must
be very professionally done as there is mention of it getting a
possible Oscar nomination.

One of the directors Sasha Alpert said that “this is the first
theatrical-length film about autism that is not depressing. It’s
intimate and joyful,and it shows in a very honest way how
difficult it is to raise a child with autism.”

It sounds really fascinating to me and another great opportunity
to help further widen the understanding of autism across the
general public by exposure on HBO.

This is particularly welcome when it sounds like the film will
be true to the reality for families - and star real children
with autism (and not actors “pretending” which can often end up
looking very cheap and quite frankly offensive).

My only hope is that perhaps the BBC will pick it up here in the
Uk and likewise on the major networks in other countries like
Australia, South Africa, Ireland etc.

So keep an eye out for this in the near future.

To read more about the film go to:

http://www.reuters.com/article/reviewsNews/idUSN1326447320080113

and you can view a free clip on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DR1w4LdOB8

————————————————————-

4. Parenting Tips - BIG EMPTY SPACE….!!

As I mentioned last month I currently have no more parenting
tips passed on to me by parents and readers of the newsletter.

So unless people can help out in this section (and obviously
help others too in the process) then it will have to stop.

I have set up a special email address tips@parentingaspergers.com
for you to send them too.

There are obviously lots of great tips being posted on the blog
lately but I don’t want to repeat the same material again here
in the newsletter.

However if you do want to check out recent siblings tips go to:

http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/2008/01/01/how-to-help-sibling-relationships/

————————————————————-

5. Famous Autistic Person - Alonzo Clemons
————————————————————-

Alonzo is an American sculptor of animals who is also diagnosed
as an autistic savant.

An autistic savant is defined as “….. a person with both autism
and savant syndrome.

Savant syndrome describes a person having a severe developmental
or mental handicap with extraordinary mental abilities not found
in most people.

This means a lower than average general intelligence (IQ) but
very high narrow intelligence in one or more fields.

Savant syndrome skills involve striking feats of memory and
arithmetic calculation and sometimes include unusual abilities
in art or music.” (source: Wikipedia)

According to Alonzo’s entry also on Wikipedia (the online
encyclopedia extraordinaire!) he is able to create amazing
sculptures of animals even if he has only glanced at them once.

In fact on another website it is said that “Alonzo can see a
fleeting image on a television screen of any animal, and in
less than 20 minutes sculpt a perfect replica of that animal
in three-dimensional accuracy. The wax animal is correct in each
and every detail — every fiber and muscle (web source
http://autisticsavant.blogspot.com/2007/09/alonzo-clemons-genius-among-us.html)

This is something that he has been able to do since a young
child in really quite amazing detail.

His work took the art world by storm when it premiered in
1986 in a gallery in Boulder, Colorado.

Maybe his best work is a life size sculpture entitled
“Three Frolicking Foals” which he completed in just 3 weeks!

Whilst achievement in the art world is really awesome -
almost just as great (in fact maybe even better in my humble
opinion) is that Alonzo is making great steps towards his own
independence as an adult.

He lives in his own apartment, has a part time job and is
a highly valued member of the community in Boulder.

So hats off to Alonzo as an excellent example of a
living breathing fmaous autistic person who can be a great
inspiration to many.

You can find out more about Alonzo as the following website:

http://artsales.com/ARTists/Alonzo_Clemons/Prodigious_Savant_Syndrome.htm
————————————————————-

Well that’s all for this edition and I hope you
enjoyed it.

And the next edition of the newsletter should be due in
mid-February.

And don’t forget that the Brand New Parenting Aspergers
Resource Guide Volume 2 will be available for you in early
February……so watch your emails for more on that.

And as ever………please send in any inspirational stories
that you know of, any questions that you would like our team
of experts to answer, any topics that you wish to be discussed
and news stories that you want to share (send them to:
tips@parentingaspergers.com).

We will publish as many as we can.

Until next month………

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

http://www.parentingaspergers.com
P.S. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your
friends.

Parenting Aspergers
Information Online,
PO Box 789, Portsmouth
PO1 9DY United Kingdom

————————————————————-

The write of the material present in the “The Parenting
Autism & Aspergers Newsletter” believes that a
multi-disciplinary approach to parenting aspergers
children is of extreme importance. This means combining
the approaches of a wide variety of disciplines involved
with aspergers children and their parents such as social
workers, nurses, teachers, doctors, psychologists,
psychiatrists, counsellors, speech therapists. Also it
involves using the knowledge and information of
parents them selves. The author recognizes that within
scientific, educational, social and medical fields there are
widely divergent viewpoints and opinions. This material
is written for the express purpose of sharing educational
information gathered from the experiences of the author
and other people in the areas mentioned above. None of
the information contained in this email is intended to
diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure aspergers, nor is it
intended to prescribe any of the techniques, materials or
concepts presented as a form of treatment for aspergers.
Before beginning any practice relating to aspergers it is
highly recommended that you first obtain the consent
and advice of a qualified health, education or social care
professional. Should you choose to make use of the
information contained herein without first consulting a
health, education or social care professional, you are
prescribing for yourself, which is your inalienable right.
However, the author assumes no responsibility for the
choices you make after your review of the information
contained herein and your consultation with a qualified
health, education or social care professional. None of the
statements in this article or in the book have been
evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA),
or the American Medical Association (AMA). This
material is not warranted for any particular or general
purpose whatsoever. Viewers of this material assume
any and all risks for any use of this material. This
material may not be reproduced in any way.

————————————————————-

Hello again here’s this week latest blog post coming up…….

But just before that a big thank you and well done to last week’s competition winner who is Therese Dornonville - a free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” is on it’s way shortly to you Therese………..

…….If you wish to read her great treatment tip it is Number 4 in the comments section on the following blog page:

http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/2008/01/08/glyconutrients-and-aspergers-syndrome/

This week it could be your chance to win by adding some advice or a comment on the topic of teenagers with Aspergers…..so make sure you add your comments to be in with a chance……

So here we go for week 3’s exclusive sample from the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” (which is to be released in early February); it is based on the following question I was asked about teenagers with Aspergers…..

Question

My son has Asperger’s; he is 14 years old. What can I expect from him in the next years as a teenager?

Teenagers with Asperger’s Syndrome often have a difficult time between the ages of 12 and 18. They become isolated socially and face rejection and bullying due to the fact that they act differently from others. School is more demanding and they long for friends.

There are some teenagers, however, who do well during these years, usually because they are indifferent to peer pressure and are focused on a special interest of their own, such as music or computers. From this, we learn that encouraging teenagers to develop a special interest may help them get through the teen years more easily. Having a special interest may encourage friendships with other teens that have the same interest.

One of the biggest issues for most Asperger’s teens is that they don’t care about fads, teen clothing, celebrities, and teen rituals and expectations (phone messaging or MySpace, for instance). Sometimes their interests are more appropriate for younger children. Boys may be rejected if they are not interested in sports. With help, some of these issues can be resolved.

Teach your child to become aware of teen fads and rituals. Encourage your teen to initiate contact with peers, leave phone messages, and arrange the details of social engagements. Encourage him or her to join clubs, especially those that focus on a special interest of your teen. Your teen does not have to tell everyone that he or she has Asperger’s Syndrome. Some teens enjoy talking with other Asperger’s teens in internet chat rooms, forums, and on message boards.

Your child may neglect personal hygiene and wear clothing or hairstyles that are out of date or too young.

Find a same sex friend who will help your teen choose different, appropriate clothes to wear each day. Monitor your teen’s hygiene. Reward him or her for good hygiene, if that’s what it takes to get it!

“Aspie” teens are sometimes not very knowledgeable about sex and dating. They may be very naïve. Boys may be too forward with girls. Girls may not understand how to flirt or take flirtation too seriously. Girls may be subject to harassment or even date rape. Hormonal changes lead to rampant emotions, which Aspie teens can’t handle. They may physically attack others or “melt down” upon arriving home.

You must teach your teen about sex. Be specific and detailed about safe sex. Teach your child to confide in you by never being judgmental or punitive. Don’t skip the little things, such as explaining to girls that they shouldn’t sit on laps or give hugs and kisses to strangers. Boys may need to be told that masturbating should take place in private.

Some Aspies develop problems with drugs and alcohol because they are so lonely and anxious to fit in. They are not able to discern a “good” crowd from a “bad” crowd. Other teens may take advantage of the Aspies naiveté to get him or her to buy alcohol or acquire drugs. If stopped by a police officer, an Aspie might appear to be a smart-aleck due to bluntly honest responses to questions.

Emphasize that drugs and underaged alcohol are illegal. Since Aspies are rule-oriented, this may help them avoid problems.

Though smart, an Asperger’s teen may have school problems because of the difficulty in dealing with more than one teacher. Some teachers may be hostile. Each classroom is a different environment for the teen to get used to, which leads to distractibility and problems with organization. Large projects, such as a term paper, may be overwhelming.

Some Aspies need special education in high school, even though they didn’t need it before. Make sure your teen has a “safe place” at school where he or she can share emotions with a trusted advisor. This person could be a teacher, nurse, guidance counsellor, or psychologist.

Suicide may become a possibility for some teens with Asperger’s. If you have any worries about this, get help immediately from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

At this time of life, parents need to use reasoning and negotiation with Asperger’s teens, instead of orders. Your teen will be more hostile and less likely to listen (like all teens!). The teen may hate school and resist everything he’s been taught to do up to this point. Depression is common.

If your child is experiencing tremendous pressure, harassment, and/or rejection at school and the staff does not try to help, it may be time to find another school. A special education placement or a therapeutic boarding school can give professionals a chance to guide your teen academically and socially. They won’t allow your teen to isolate himself. They can help with college placement.

If your child remains in public school, be sure he or she has an IEP (Individual Education Plan), even if you have to get an advocacy group or attorney to obtain the services your child needs.

Most Aspies learn to drive well because they obey the rules! Have your child carry a cell phone and a card that explains Asperger’s. Teach your child to call you in a crisis and to give the card to any police officer who stops him or her.

Some Aspies do well in summer jobs in an area of their special interest or in jobs with little interaction with the public.

Above all, ask for help from professionals when your teen needs it.

Well that’s all for the article – but don’t forget to add your teenage tip or comment to the blog for a chance to win a Brand New free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2”……

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

Well first up congratulations to last week’s competition winner who is Jeanette Smith - a free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” is on it’s way shortly to you Jeanette………..

…….If you wish to read Jeanette’s great sibling tip it is Number 9 in the comments section on the following blog page:

http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/2008/01/01/how-to-help-sibling-relationships/#comment-106

This week it could be your chance to win by adding some advice or a comment on the topic of therapeutic approaches, in particular focusing on glyconutrients (but you can talk about any therapeutic approaches it doesn’t have to be about glyconutrients……)

So without further ado week 2’s exclusive sample from the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” (which is due to be released in early February) is based on the following question I was asked about treating ASD with Glyconutrients…….

Question

I have been hearing a lot lately about glyconutrients and how they are a wonderful, new scientific discovery. Are they helpful for children with Asperger’s and what might they do for my son?

Glyconutrients are important nutrients required by the body for good health and to fight disease. Glyconutrients are not minerals, vitamins, enzymes or amino acids.

They are nutritional supplements that come from plants.

Glyconutrients help cells work together to create immunity to disease, heal and repair the body by promoting stem cell production, regulate hormones, remove toxins, and promote other biological functions. Technically, they are monosaccharide sugars.

Are glyconutrients helpful for people with Asperger’s Syndrome?

Many researchers believe the cause of autism is genetic, but there is evidence that viruses can cause brain dysfunction and damage the protective coating, the myelin, around nerves. When nerves are exposed, they are susceptible to damage.

Autistic children often have digestive problems and, since the nervous system is connected to the digestive tract, those digestive problems may damage nerves. Or nerve damage may occur due to autoimmune disorders.

Nerve damage may lead to disturbance of mental functions such as learning, memory, communication, social interaction, and so forth.

To avoid this, it is important that Aspies have good nutrition and digestive support. That’s where glyconutrients may help.

For children who have autism or AS, glyconutrients help supply the body and brain with chemicals for effective cell communication, to correct chemical imbalances, and prevent nervous system damage.

Autism is one of several autoimmune diseases in which a lack of dietary sugars or the inability to absorb them causes problems.

For people with autism, glyconutrient supplementation has been found to be beneficial.

It’s possible that supplementation with glyconutrients will also provide a preventative measure for autoimmune diseases.

Consequently, there is potential for restoring brain function in autistic children with the use of glyconutrients.

At this time, glyconutrients are not scientifically proven and you should get more information form you doctor, before going ahead with their use.

To find more information about glyconutrients, go to the following websites: www.Glycostory.com and www.Micronutra.com

For information from parents, try some of the online forums, like Braintalk Communities at: www.hastypasty.net/forums/archives/index.php.

Well that’s all for the article – but don’t forget to add your treatment tip or comment to the blog for a chance to win a Brand New free copy of the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2”……

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

Throughout January I am going to be posting exclusive free samples from the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” which is to be released in early February……

I am also running weekly competitions throughout January to give away free copies of the new resource guide…………so read on below for more about that…..

This weeks exclusive sample is based on the following question I was asked about sibling relationships…….

Question

Why does my 4 1/2 year old always push his brother and will they ever have a ‘good’ relationship? Mostly, my question is how to discipline my son when this happens. Are timeouts appropriate?

A child with Asperger’s Syndrome exhibits many characteristics that have positive and negative effects on behavior. Children with Asperger’s have difficulty with social interactions and communication skills, which is why you see some problems in teaching your son how to interact with others, specifically his brother. It will take time and specific interventions before their relationship gets better, but, keep in mind that children without Asperger’s often have the same kinds of problems with siblings.

Regardless of whether or not your son has Asperger’s he can learn social skills to help him get along with his brother and others as well. Young children are very self-centered and often do not empathize with other children, so your son may not realize that pushing makes his brother uncomfortable. And, while your son is intelligent and may have language skills, chances are, at his age, he doesn’t know how to voice his wants and needs to his brother, so he pushes him instead.

Be realistic about your son’s level of maturity, but remember that he needs discipline and supervision. Watch him when he’s playing with his brother. Try to notice if he can pick up on verbal or physical clues his brother sends. Tell your son using a calm, quiet voice how you want him to behave. “Your brother wants to see how the truck works. Can you show him?” It helps to encourage a different activity immediately. Asperger’s children need to hear specific reasons why they should or shouldn’t do things, such as pushing. Just saying, “Mama doesn’t want you to do that” isn’t good enough. He needs to hear that if he hurts his brother, he will lose some play time. Use praise when he behaves well.

Be specific and set limits on inappropriate behavior, for both boys! Be consistent. If your son doesn’t stop an unacceptable behavior when asked to, remove him from the room for a few minutes. Make it clear that hurting someone, in any way, requires an apology and a kind deed to make up for the hurt. For example, he would have to apologize for pushing his brother and let his brother play with one of his toys for five minutes. Gradually, your son will stop pushing and learn to voice his wants and needs. In the meantime, if he cannot speak, using a picture communication system like PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) might work. With this system, he chooses a picture of something he wants or needs. Log on to www.pecs.com to find out more.

Explain to your other son what Asperger’s is and how it affects his brother. Use words that are appropriate to his age and ability to understand. Teach him to be patient. Praise him when he demonstrates patience and kindness. Teach him how to help his brother; he will model himself on you.

Also, be sure to have your son’s doctor check him over to make sure his medications are appropriate. He may be ready for Sensory Integration Training to help him become less sensitive to noise, light, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes.

It helps Asperger’s children if you can say “Yes” as often as possible and “No” or “Don’t do that” as little as possible. For example, if your son refuses to go to bed, ask him if he’d rather walk or be carried to bed. If he can’t or won’t make a decision, make it for him.

Progress may be slow, but it will occur. Be patient.

This is just one of the many advanced tips and techniques that feature in the Brand New “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” that will be released in February.

You will be able to invest in your own copy of this great new resource at a heavily discounted price as a subscriber to the Parenting Asperger’s and Autism Newsletter (watch out for further details on this real soon…..!)

If you are not yet a free subscriber then sign up at the bottom of this page to qualify for this great discount and to get free weekly tips and helpful hints.

But right now it’s………..

Competition Time…………..

I am going to be sending out a different exclusive sample from the new “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” on the blog every week during January.

I am also going to run a competition each week for someone to win a FREE copy of the guide.

To qualify all you need to do is submit your own Asperger’s tip on to the blog and I will pick the best one each week as a winner and that person will get a free copy. When the “Parenting Asperger’s Resource Guide Volume 2” is released in February.

Ideally your tip should relate to the topic at hand (i.e. this week it is siblings) but I will accept any helpful tips for parents into the competition.

I look forward to receiving your tips and good luck for the competition…….

Dave Angel