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