Question:

How can I help him child with Aspergers realize his giftedness when he doesn’t want to study and has problems with reading and writing?

Answer:

Their giftedness is just one of the many special things that children with Aspergers have to offer the world.  It is very important that he realizes his special gift and embraces it as much as possible.  His giftedness can play a vital role in his future career, and it can bring him a great deal of happiness throughout his life.

You can help your son discover his giftedness and help him with his needs in reading and writing as well.

• Find a tutor that specializes in working with children with special needs.  A tutor can help your son improve his reading and writing skills.  He needs these important skills now and in the future.  It is best that you target this area as soon as possible.  You should make sure that the tutor has extensive experience working with children with Aspergers so that he or she understands how to approach his educational needs.

• Try out different special interest groups that you think your son will enjoy.  The best way to get your son to realize his giftedness is to expose him to different special interest groups.  He can make the decision to become a part of a certain group if he desires.  You can also help him to discover his giftedness by selecting certain groups that you think will help him discover his talents. This great way to help him narrow down his choices so that he can find something interests him sooner.

• Create opportunities for him to socialize with other children with Aspergers. Allowing him to be around other children with Aspergers will help him understand how gifted he is.  He can see how other children have discovered their special interest and use it in their daily lives.  Consider joining an Aspergers groups in your area so that your son has opportunities to mingle with other children with Aspergers so that they can show off their talents to each other.

• Consider using books on tape that relate to his area of giftedness.  A solution to his reading deficits is books on tape.  Allow him to listen to various stories that may interest him.  Topics in his area of giftedness are probably the best for your son.

In time, your son will discover how wonderful his giftedness is and how it can add to his experiences in life.  Expose him to different things so that he can understand the special gift that he has been given.

Additional Resources

Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every Teacher Can Use to meet the Academic Needs of the Gifted and Talented by Susan Winebrenner

Question:

How do you work with the children with Aspergers in the classroom?

Answer:

When one of your students has Asperger’s, classroom strategies will be necessary to keep everyone in harmony.  Children with Asperger’s Syndrome have very distinctive needs.  Usually very intelligent, the student with Asperger’s may struggle to make the grade due to the characteristics of this condition.  Sensory issues, difficulty with change and transitioning, and language pragmatics weakness are just a few of the many symptoms caused by Asperger’s Syndrome that can interfere with a child’s education.

As a classroom instructor, you must find a way to support your student with Asperger’s.  Classroom distractions, social situations, and the student’s tendency towards obsessive thinking and behavior can make this a difficult task.  Your first move should be towards purchasing a published resource.  You can find classroom guides for all types of special needs situations.

Your school’s special education department should have helpful information about the challenges of Asperger’s.  Classroom strategies should be available to you through this department.  As you begin to research classroom strategies for Asperger’s, here are some examples of what you may find.  You can eliminate those suggestions that do not apply to your classroom situation.

* Structure is one of the most common solutions since most students with Asperger’s Syndrome thrive in structured environments.  Keep your students engaged throughout the day for the best possible performance.

* Rules are important for all children, but kids with Asperger’s tend to be especially mindful of the rules.  Even in times when he desires to go a different direction, the rules will keep your student with Asperger’s on track, albeit, begrudgingly.

* Routine is another necessity.  Children with Asperger’s Syndrome need to know what is happening next or they can become anxious and unproductive.

* Advanced notice of any changes in routine will help reduce the drama caused by unexpected transitions.

* Verbal and visual aids like verbal time warnings, visual timers, and daily picture schedules can help ease the student’s mind about changes and transition times.

* A safe place is an area in or outside of the classroom that can be used during a meltdown, or to prevent a meltdown.

These are just a few of the many strategies you can use to assist your student with Asperger’s.  Classroom guidelines against bullying and negative social interactions should also be considered.  With these solutions in place, your classroom should remain a positive learning environment.

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

P.S. Don’t forget there are lots more great education articles at my Aspergers Education Blog

Question:

How can I help my son with Aspergers to thrive at high school?

Answer:

The teenage years can be complicated for kids with Asperger’s.  High school can be a challenge. Juggling social relationships and the increased academic workload can be overwhelming. The teen with Asperger’s Syndrome must have the proper type of support at home and at school in order to be successful.  Resources are available to help families and school personnel develop a plan for the student with Asperger’s. “Success Strategies for Students with Asperger Syndrome & Autism,” by The Geneva Centre for Autism, is an example of one such resource.  This book gives examples of some common success strategies for students with Asperger’s.

You should work with your son’s school to develop a special plan for his Asperger’s.  High school special education programs are available for students who need extra assistance.  This educational plan, called an IEP (individual education plan) is developed by a team that consists of you, your son’s teachers, and any special education staff who know and work with him.  This IEP consists of educational goals, functional behavioral objectives, and special considerations and allowances.  Here are a few ideas on some special considerations you might find on a high school student’s IEP. These are in addition to the goals that are specific, time-limited statements that are determined by the student’s weaknesses.

• Time extension for all assignments

• Abbreviated assignments

• Oral testing with extra time allotment

• Modified grading (for example, chance to correct mistakes for additional grade)

• Anxiety management in the classroom

Once the IEP is developed and in place, you should offer additional help to your child with Asperger’s.  High school can be a positive experience with a little planning.  Here are a few things you can do at home that will enhance your son’s high school years.

* Be involved in his social life

* Arrange social activities to build his social skills.  Clubs geared towards his special interests are a great way to find people with similar interests.  This is great social skills practice.
 
* Pay attention to school happenings.  Bullying is a major problem for kids with Asperger’s.  Bullying can lead to anxiety, avoidance, isolation, and depression.

* Teach your son about daily living skills and organizational skills

* Personal hygiene often lacks importance in people with Asperger’s.  Help him stay on a regular bathing and dental hygiene schedule.

* Make sure he understands the importance of household chores.

* Help him work on time management and organization with written lists and daily schedules.

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

Question:

Can you give me information on working with the school IEP for my child with Aspergers?
Answer:

When you have a child with Asperger’s, IEP negotiations are extremely important.  As the parents, you hold a vital position on the IEP team and unfortunately, many parents often feel undermined and in some cases, bullied into accepting the opinions and terms decided by the educational staff.  Your input is not only important, but also necessary in the development of a well-rounded IEP for your child.
In the days and weeks before your child with Aspergers’ IEP meeting, there are several things you can do to make the experience more pleasant and the outcome more positive.  This IEP is imperative to your child’s future.  Here is a list of suggestions for IEP preparation.

• Schedule private evaluations, if you desire.  Medical evaluations, including medically referred psychological testing, will present a complete diagnostic picture.  Educational evaluations are primarily geared towards diagnostics that affect only the specifics of the education process.  These two diagnoses can be different. Without a medical evaluation and official medical diagnosis, your child may miss vital services.
• Request access to all updated evaluation reports before the IEP meeting in order to prepare for the meeting.  You should not have to settle on glancing over the reports or hearing the results second-hand during the meeting.
• Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses so there are no big surprises during the IEP meeting.  If you know your child’s abilities and weaknesses, you will be better prepared to request additional services when needed and not offered.
• Represent yourself as an equal member of the IEP team.  Dress respectably, speak intelligently, and do not feel inferior.  Yes, the other members are education professionals, but you are an expert in your child.
• Make notes, ask questions, and request clarification before and during the IEP meeting.  When goals are set, be sure you understand the wording and that your thoughts are taken into consideration.
• Request time to review the IEP before signing.  There is no reason to rush through this process.  Take the IEP home, read over it, and make changes if necessary.  Do not sign until you are sure your child has the best IEP possible.

When you have a child with Asperger’s, the IEP should be treated as the important document and process that it is.  The IEP is the backbone to your child’s educational assistance.  If you have any questions about appropriate goals or specific questions about the IEP process, there are many great resources available.  This one, “How Well Does Your IEP Measure Up?” by Diane Twachtman-Cullen and Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly, is just one example.

Thanks,

Dave Angel

Question

What is your opinion on how much influence and hounding a parent should do to their child with Aspergers when it comes to homework?

Answer

School can be a complex situation for children with Asperger’s.  Homework can be a real struggle, especially after spending an entire day forced to sit in the classroom.  Truthfully, parents of typically developing children also struggle with how to handle the homework dilemma.  Should you push, hover, beg, and plead?  Or, should you gently remind your child about his assignments and then let him face the consequences?  The answer lies somewhere in the middle.

There are several reasons why homework can be such an issue for children with Asperger’s.  Homework interferes with free time, which is better spent on that special interest.  Homework is hard because of the distractions of home.   What you need are real strategies to help your child prepare to do his best work.  “Strategies for Organization: Preparing for Homework and the Real World”, by Michelle Garcia Winner can help.  This DVD hits on one of the biggest issues that affect children with Asperger’s-organizational skills.  Focused specifically on homework issues, the skills talked about on this DVD can be applied to many other areas of a child’s life.

The main problems that interfere with a child with Aspergers’ homework are:

*    Lack of organizational skills.  Use written list, daily schedules, and a visual timer to help your child gain organizational skills.  Time management is often an area of concern and should be developed, as well.

*    Anxiety caused by frustration.  Teach your child relaxation techniques he can use during class (deep breathing, for example) and homework times to reduce frustration.  Anti-anxiety medications can help in moderate to severe cases.

*   Communication difficulties (pragmatics or comprehension).  Speech/language therapy can help your child with communication skills.  These therapies can be performed in the home with the help of published resources.

*    Cognitive reasoning.  Cognitive therapy is very helpful in this area.

Here are some final thoughts that may help you deal with the issues caused by Asperger’s homework.

*    What is his best time of day?  Does he work better right after school or after a play break and snack?

*    Is he easily distracted by noise or activity?  Set up a homework zone that suits his sensory needs.

*    What frustrates or upsets him?  Avoid these triggers before and during homework time.

*    Have you established a homework routine?  Children with Asperger’s work much better with a set routine.

You can have success with your child with Asperger’s.  Homework does not have to be a problem.  Remember, work with your child’s strengths and be consistent.

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

PS If you’re worried about how your child is going to cope this Christmas, look out for some important information from me next week…

This week’s blog article is an excellent article by Matthew Readman. Many of you know Matthew’s writing, but if you don’t…

Matthew is a young man from Canada who writes for both the blog and The Parenting Aspergers Community, from his unique viewpoint as a teen who has Aspergers.

Here’s Matthew’s article about school…

This article is how I feel about school and what aspergers kids go through.  As I stated in an earlier article I just started grade 7.  I thought I was prepared, but boy was I wrong.  I am in a spilt grade 7/8 enrichment class with a new teacher.   The kids I knew from the previous year seemed to have changed and the new kids I find just don’t want to get to know you.    I have talked this over with my parents, but they don’t understand.  I think anyone who does not have apbergers can’t really understand.

At the beginning of the year my teacher talked to my parents about me having a chip on my shoulder, because I answer questions so thorough (in other words like a know it all). If I am asked a question about a topic, I will give you a full answer.  Maybe I do have some kind of chip on my shoulder from all the torment I have been put through from prior years being teased, bullied etc.  Maybe I do come across hard or domineering, I don’t mean too but after years of putting up a front I find it better than crying.  If you cry then you’re teased more.   I can’t seem to find any common ground with the other kids.   If you’re a boy who does not like sports kids call you either gay or just plain weird.  Since I am in an enrichment class the other kids in the school make fun of me for being smart.  You just can’t win.

The kids in the school are all in their little groups and if one kid in the group does not like you, the whole group ignores you.  Even in class, you’re always picked last or when you have to pick a partner, the people who are friends go straight for each other so you have no choice but to be on your own.  How do we even get a chance to try to make new friends if you don’t even get a chance?

It’s hard being a kid with aspergers.  It doesn’t matter what’s in your heart or how hard you try to do the right thing, this lack of social skills that we need are killing us.  I have heard my parents talk through the years try to be nice, find a common ground, ignore the jerks, think before you speak ( I even had a class mate tell me he hates the way my voice sounds it’s too high!!)   How socially do you deal with that?

I have been taught all my life how to try to read people.  I find this hard because when I am happy, I am happy I will sing, smile, laugh and when I get angry, it’s really hard for me to control.  But when you try to read other kids emotions, they can be happy but don’t even smile.  How do you read kids emotions when half the time they have a blank stare on their face?

I try to find some way in my articles to help people cope through aspergers, but I think this article is more for the kids who are going through the same problems at school, that they are not alone.   Yes it’s hard to be a kid in school with asbergers.  Normal children do not know how much we struggle, cry and get frustrated.    The most important thing to get across is there is no easy answer.  God I wish there was, I wish someone could just wave a magical wand and give all the kids with asbergers the social skills we need to get through this.

The only consolation I can give is talk to your parents and let your emotions out because I know if I kept them in I would now be a basket case or completely withdrawn and would not want to talk with anyone.   The only good things I find having aspergers is I do not give up.  I will keep trying even if there are more tears than happiness I will keep trying.

If anyone has any new techniques on how to make friends or how they have coped could you please add comments here on the blog for Matthew to read.

—-> If you enjoyed Matthew’s article and would like to read some more of his work then he has 10 other articles published at present at The Parenting Aspergers Community. You can take a 14 day trial of The Parenting Aspergers Community for just $1 at http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/public/639.cfm <—-

When you have a child with Asperger’s, IEP negotiations are extremely important.  As the parents, you hold a vital position on the IEP team and unfortunately, many parents often feel undermined and in some cases, bullied into accepting the opinions and terms decided by the educational staff.  Your input is not only important, but also necessary in the development of a well-rounded IEP for your child.

In the days and weeks before your child with Aspergers’ IEP meeting, there are several things you can do to make the experience more pleasant and the outcome more positive.  This IEP is imperative to your child’s future.  Here is a list of suggestions for IEP preparation.

*    Schedule private evaluations, if you desire.  Medical evaluations, including medically referred psychological testing, will present a complete diagnostic picture.  Educational evaluations are primarily geared towards diagnostics that affect only the specifics of the education process.  These two diagnoses can be different. Without a medical evaluation and official medical diagnosis, your child may miss vital services.

*    Request access to all updated evaluation reports before the IEP meeting in order to prepare for the meeting.  You should not have to settle on glancing over the reports or hearing the results second-hand during the meeting.

*    Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses so there are no big surprises during the IEP meeting.  If you know your child’s abilities and weaknesses, you will be better prepared to request additional services when needed and not offered.

*    Represent yourself as an equal member of the IEP team.  Dress respectably, speak intelligently, and do not feel inferior.  Yes, the other members are education professionals, but you are an expert in your child.

*    Make notes, ask questions, and request clarification before and during the IEP meeting.  When goals are set, be sure you understand the wording and that your thoughts are taken into consideration.

*    Request time to review the IEP before signing.  There is no reason to rush through this process.  Take the IEP home, read over it, and make changes if necessary.  Do not sign until you are sure your child has the best IEP possible.

When you have a child with Asperger’s, the IEP should be treated as the important document and process that it is.  The IEP is the backbone to your child’s educational assistance.  If you have any questions about appropriate goals or specific questions about the IEP process, there are many great resources available.  This one, “How Well Does Your IEP Measure Up?” by Diane Twachtman-Cullen and Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly, is just one example.

That’s all for this week and thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

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Question

Can you help explain more about Aspergers and sensory issues in the school setting?

Answer

Sensory integration disorder affects most children with Asperger’s.  Sensory systems control every move we make and a faulty sensory system leads to problems that affect many areas of education.  It is important to understand the sensory systems and how they work.  The three main sensory systems are the tactile, vestibular, and the proprioceptive systems.

In the school setting, children with Asperger’s sensory issues can really suffer.  Children may be over sensitive to sensory input, or they may be under sensitive to input.   Most children are a mixture of sensitivity within the sensory systems.  Here are some of the commonly affected areas within each of the three sensory systems.

*    Lights

*    Sounds

*    Smells

*    Touch

*    Stimming-spinning, rocking, hand flapping, or humming

*    Loss of balance

*    Sensory seeking crashing, falling, or bumping into things or people

*    Fine motor/tactile grasp-(poor grasp affects handwriting)

Disruptions caused by the Asperger’s sensory connection interfere with all aspects of the child’s life.  It is imperative that these sensory problems are addressed.  Occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy, both performed by occupational therapists, are the most common treatments for sensory issues.  A good sensory profile plan will look like play and will be fun for the child.  It will include a variety of activities like joint compressions, deep pressure massage, skin or body brushing, swinging, and jumping.  Remember, each child’s sensory profile is unique, so these activities will vary.

In the school setting, a child with Asperger’s sensory issues will need this sensory profile and corresponding activities in order to remain calm and focused.  For example, a sensory-seeking child may jump on a trampoline for a few minutes before tackling his math lesson.  Teachers must be aware of the sensory needs to keep order in the classroom.  This book, “Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About Sensory Integration”, by Stacey Szklut and others, can be a very useful resource for teachers.  Even though this book is geared towards teachers, parents can also benefit from the knowledge on sensory integration found within its pages.
Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

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For children with Asperger’s, transition between schools will evoke a wide range of negative emotions.  Change is difficult for children with Asperger’s and when a new school year rolls around, everything changes.  New classmates, new teachers, and new schedules can cause major anxiety, which can spiral to depression.

Dealing with the Asperger’s transition problems can also affect your child’s home life.  Anxiety brought about at school will carry over at home causing disruption.  Anger and frustration can escalate, triggering meltdowns.  While the transition at school cannot be avoided, there are things a parent can do to lessen the effects of all the change that comes with moving to a new school.   Here are some tips to help you deal with this unstable period in your child’s life.

Plan ahead

Begin planning for the Asperger’s transition phase well in advance.  Make a checklist of people to speak with and places to visit.  Your list may look like this:

*    Visit current teachers and therapists and request their help.

*    Create a visual calendar that shows when the change will occur.

*    Talk to my child about the changes that are coming.

*    Visit the new school for a tour and then plan a visit with my child.

*    Meet with the special education coordinator at the new school to discuss my child and ways this person can help with the transition.

*    Schedule doctor’s appointments and therapy appointments to discuss counseling, medication, and any other available forms of help for my child’s transition.

Prepare your child

Parents must prepare their child for the Asperger’s transition period.  Talk with your child about the change that is coming long before it actually happens.  For example, near the end of this school year you can mention during your drives to school how your morning drive will be different next year.  This will most likely bring protests, and this will give you a chance to talk positively about the new school.  Keep it light and without pressure.

Prime the school staff

The teachers and therapists at your child’s new school should know all about your child with Asperger’s.  Transition will be less difficult if the new school staff has a plan in place specifically for your child.

Put together a support program

A complete and dedicated team should be in place for your child with Asperger’s.  Transition team members may include the pediatrician, neurologist, psychologist, school counselor, teacher, and most importantly, the parents.  While the medical community may rely on medical tests, medications, and therapies, the parents can offer support at home.  Parents can find resources like books and videos to help them encourage their child.  “Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success”, by Brenda Smith Myles & Diane Adreon, is one such example.

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

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Hi and welcome to this week’s blog post which is a great article about The Education System by Matthew Readman (a talented young writer who has Aspergers).

Before you read it just a reminder that from now until the end of March I am running a “Mad March Hare” Special offer for people to join The Parenting Aspergers Community (you can access the site and all it’s benefits for just $1 for  a 10 day Trial) …

To learn more go to http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/public/432.cfm

Now here’s the article by Matthew Readman -

This article is on our education system.   I do not understand how our school system works.   I have been told that every child has the right to an education.   I believe in this fully.  What I do not understand is why some children are treated differently than others.   This year I started in a new school for enrichment studies.   Almost everyone in my class has an Individual Evaluation Plan (IEP).  This is a piece of paper you sit down with your parents and teachers to explain the problems you have and how your needs and difficulties are suppose to handled in the classroom.  i.e.   I need a safe place to go so I can calm down when I am angry.    What gets me real mad is we have a student in our class who yells and disrespects the teacher.  This student is thrown out of class almost every day.  Does this upset me YES!!!!   I guess you can say one of my “needs” is to follow orders, and it gets me mad when this child disrupts the class all the time.  

As you would have guessed this kid and I are arch enemies.  We believe in total opposite things.  I believe you listen to the teacher, do your work and be quiet, as for him, the complete opposite.  This kid also has a violence problem.  When he gets mad he hits people.  He has hit me quite a few times, and after the 5th time I finally hit him back.   But who gets in trouble me!!!!  Why, because I should have known better not to hit, because the kid who hit me has a “violent problem”.

This is what I don’t understand when does one child’s disability more important than someone else’s?

Why do teachers and principals allow so such misconduct in the school over one child?  What about the rights of all the other children with IEP’s.  Basically it comes down to in my mind is a school will attend to the needs of children who are violent (bullies), before a child who actually needs coaching.   My mom always says “a squeaky wheel always gets heard” Does this mean you have to be a total jerk in class so you can get the teachers full attention?

I know for a fact that my IEP and other students in our class are not being met.  We are put in the back burner to this child.   So what options do we have?   If we complain I think our teacher will have nervous breakdown.    She is getting close because she cannot control this child.  Write a letter to the principal?  We did this and explained that this child is ruining our learning environment.  Again, the principal states very clearly every child has a right to an education.  What I am hoping is if my readers can maybe give us some other suggestions how kids can fight the school system on their own without getting parents involved.  We want to fight this on our own. Please add any comments or ideas on the blog.

Another great article by Matthew …

If you want to read more by him then I would strongly suggest that you take advantage of the “Mad March hare Special Offer” to join The Parenting Aspergers Community as Matthew regularly writes for the site.

To Join Now for just $1 (which gives you 10 days Trial Access) go to http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/public/432.cfm

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel