PARENTING AUTISM & ASPERGERS NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 22
AUGUST 2008

Welcome to the twenty-second edition
of “The Parenting Autism & Aspergers Newsletter”…

Inside this edition you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion - Homeschooling a Child With
Asperger Syndrome

2. In the News – Kids With Aspergers Take Up Journalism

3. Parenting Tips - Homework, When is the Best Time for
Homework?

4. Prominent People Linked with ASD - Dan Ackroyd, Actor

Thanks

Dave

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1. Hot Topic of Discussion -

Home Schooling a Child With Aspergers Syndrome

Steph, parent of a five-year-old, states that her daughter was
already reading, had advanced verbal skills, and loved to learn
about science, but wasn’t following simple directions and
routines, putting away her things, or transitioning from one
activity to another at school. She didn’t follow rules or play
with other kids on the playground. This child was later
identified as “gifted” and diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome
and Non-Verbal Learning Disability.

Children with Aspergers are intelligent and have excellent verbal
abilities. They struggle with social, motor, and organizational
skills. “Reading” other people’s emotions, facial expressions,
and body language is extremely hard, as is conversation. They
are often physically uncoordinated. So this child had significant
problems at school.

But, if Aspergers children can focus on their own interests,
they accomplish amazing things. For this reason, the traditional
scope and sequence of public education does not make sense for them.
Since Steph’s daughter’s needs were not being met in a public
school setting, even with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP),
home schooling was a good choice for her. Instead of focusing on
the things teachers wanted her to learn, she could concentrate on
things that make sense in her life. Thus, her mother took on the task
of homeschooling her.

But, what about social skills, you may ask? Social skills can be
developed in the family, community, and among friends. Now, if
she doesn’t feel comfortable with other kids on a playground, she
does not have to stay. She is free to choose friends from among many
people in the community and to build relationships at her own speed.

Now 13, this young lady has a life that focuses on her strengths and
abilities rather than on her weaknesses.

To read the full article please go to:
http://lifewithoutschool.typepad.com/lifewithoutschool/2008/05/home-schooling.html

People mentioned above as having Asperger Syndrome may or may not
have actually have been diagnosed with it.

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2. In the News – Kids With Aspergers Take up Journalism
by Carnez Williams

For a few summer day camp kids with Asperger’s Syndrome, getting
interviews, shooting video, and writing news stories are all in
a day’s work. In Wichita, Kansas, USA, 60 preschool through high
school students with Aspergers Syndrome are attending Camp SSTAR
(Social Skills Technology Asperger Recreation) which focuses on
journalism and is designed to help kids improve socialization and
communication skills. The kids love the computers and doing
research on particular topics. At the end of each week, a newscast
is produced with the children doing the reporting, script writing,
videotaping and anchoring. A DVD of the newscast is mailed to each
camper. Important for many campers is spreading awareness about
Aspergers. Christian, a 17-year-old Camp SSTAR intern with Aspergers,
says he wants people to know having the disorder isn’t necessarily
a bad thing. “We’re really unique, and you won’t find anybody like
us,” Christian states. “I’m kind of glad I have it, and I’m glad I
get to be around kids who do have it.”

To read the article go to: http://www.kansas.com/news/

People mentioned above as having Asperger Syndrome may or may not
have actually have been diagnosed with it.

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3. Parenting Tips - Homework, When is the Best Time for
Homework? by Patricia Robinson, M.A., MFT

When kids should do their homework is a difficult question
for many parents. Finishing homework right after school may
not be realistic because many kids need a break after a long
day at school. Food and exercise helps them prepare to focus.
Have them eat a healthy snack and then go for a short walk or
play outdoors for a few minutes. Set a time to begin with a
warning bell or timer and use the timer to pace your child’s
work. This helps the child learn how fast time passes.
Children in grades K-2 can usually handle 10 to 30 minutes
of homework per night; children in grades 3-6, up to 60
minutes. Remind your child to stay on task. If your child
is taking longer to finish, discuss the issue with his or
her teacher.

To read the full article go to:
http://patriciarobinsonmft.com/download.asp

Please post any tips that you have and I will publish them.

You can post them at:

*http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/parenting-tips-wanted/*

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4. Prominent People Linked with ASD - Dan Aykroyd, Actor

Dan Ackroyd was born in 1952 in Canada. He became a film actor,
comedian, singer, screenwriter, one of the famous Blues
Brothers (along with Jim Belushi), and an original cast member
of the Saturday Night Live TV show. He was made a Member of the
Order of Canada in 2000. In a radio interview on Nov. 22, 2004,
Aykroyd claimed to have been diagnosed as a child with Asperger
and Tourette Syndromes, and he also mentioned schizophrenia. It
is possible that during his childhood, in the early 1960s, his
autism was erroneously thought to be “childhood schizophrenia.”
He was born with syndactyly, webbed toes, and heterochromia, two
differently colored eyes. Of his Tourettes and “special interest,”
Dan has said, “Well, it was mostly physical tics, you know, and
nervousness kind of thing, and that kind of thing, you know,
like grunting and tics and the classic Tourette’s type syndrome,
that type of thing. But by the time I was 14 it was allayed and
I really haven’t had too much occurrence except on the Asperger’s
side, where I have a fascination with police, and I always have
to have a badge with me. … I have a fascination with law
enforcement and the police. My grandfather was a Mountie and that.
If I don’t have a badge on me, I feel naked.”

To see the full text of the article go to:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041113/msgs/419044.html

People mentioned above as having Asperger Syndrome may or may not
have actually have been diagnosed with it.
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I hope you have enjoyed this month’s newsletter.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in September.

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 VIA THE BLOG.

We will publish as many as we can.

Until next month………

Best Wishes

Dave Angel