PARENTING ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER April 2012

Welcome to the April 2012 edition of “The Parenting Asperger’s Newsletter”.

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Facebook – FREE Stuff!

2. Hot Topic of Discussion – Asperger’s Syndrome and Infancy

3. In the News – Growing up with Asperger’s Syndrome

4. Prominent People Linked with ASD – American Author, Roger Meyer

1. Facebook – FREE Stuff!

You probably saw my email yesterday telling you that I’m pretty regular on Facebook now.

And I’m going to give out some free articles (from the paid membership site www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com) on there today and every day next week (Monday to Friday).

So just go to http://www.facebook.com/Aspergerschildren “Like” the page and look out for my updates on new articles this coming week.

————————————————————-

2. Hot Topic of Discussion – Asperger’s Syndrome and Infancy.

 For many years, Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome have been considered late-blooming developmental conditions.

As the numbers of cases rise at astonishing rates, some research shows that Autism Spectrum Disorders are often noticeable as early as the newborn period.

Some research shows that the timing of birth may even have an effect. Learn more about Asperger’s Syndrome and infancy by clicking the following link:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/04/04/pre-or-post-term-birth-hikes-autism-symptoms/36893.html

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————-

3. In the News – Growing up with Asperger’s Syndrome

Growing up with Asperger’s Syndrome can be difficult.

Without the proper support, not only during early childhood, but also during the middle school and high school years, life can be a constant struggle.

Finding the right support for each individual can make a huge difference. Special programs, therapies, and career counseling are just a few examples of support for the transition into adulthood.

Read more here:

 http://nctechnews.com/2012/04/04/general-news/unique-therapeutic-wilderness-program-launches-for-autism-awareness-month/7110/

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————

4. Prominent People Linked with ASD- American Author, Roger Meyer

Roger Meyer was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 55.

Roger writes to spread awareness of Asperger’s, and to help other adults find answers to questions and situations that plague the Asperger’s mind.

Roger Meyer is the ‘how-to’ guru for living with Asperger’s Syndrome.

You will find direct links about the author and his writings (and his website) below.

http://www.aapcpublishing.net/author/431/roger-n-meyer

http://rogernmeyer.com/index.htm

http://rogernmeyer.com/articles_and_writings.htm

 *The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome.

 ————————————————————-

I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in May 2012.

And as always … please send in any inspirational stories, 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

LATEST PARENTING ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the March 2012 edition of “The Parenting Asperger’s Newsletter”.

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Spring Time Changes

2. In the News – Asperger’s Syndrome and Depression

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Arsonist William Cottrell

4. Parenting Plus Update

————————————————————

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – How Seasonal Changes Affect People with Asperger’s Spring is nearly upon us, which means change is in the air. The days are longer and warmer. This could be a good thing for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome. Seasonal Affective Disorder is common during the long gray days of winter. However, any change can be difficult, whether it is good or bad. Read more about Seasonal Affective Disorder and Asperger’s, as well as how transition and change can be a problem, by clicking the following link:

http://archive.suite101.com/article.cfm/aspergers_syndrome/75616

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————-

2. In the News – Asperger’s Syndrome and Depression Many people with Asperger’s Syndrome suffer with depression. While some may find relief during the warmer seasons, others suffer a deeper ongoing depression. Learning to control depression is important for any family affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. You can read more about depression and Asperger’s here:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/03/12/depression-common-in-young-adults-with-aspergers/35865.html

 http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/2007/11/aspergers-and-depression.html

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD- American convicted arsonist, William Cottrell William Cottrell, an American, has a lengthy history of trouble and a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. His defense tried to use his Asperger’s diagnosis as his defense; however, the judge disallowed it. His history is well-documented in these articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cottrell

http://aspires-relationships.com/articles_billy_cottrell_innocent_guilty_or_duped.htm

 *The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome.

————————————————————-

4. Parenting Plus Update – Just to let you know that the latest edition of Parenting Plus features in depth written research into  ”Understanding Asperger’s and Challenging Behaviors” plus a great audio interview with Caroline Mcgraw on challenging behaviors from the siblings view (Caroline aslo featured earlier this week on the blog  http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/aspergers-behavior/aspergers-behavioral-support-plans/)

An here’s a short extract from:

 ”Understanding Asperger’s and Challenging Behaviors”

Reason for behavior…

One thing that parents can forget is that we are the person that our child thinks of as an example of what life is to be like. Therefore if we tend to be stressed out a lot, it can have a negative effect on our child. Another idea how we (the parents) affect our children is by our overall attitude, if we are generally unhappy and angry people; that can lead our child to thinking that is how all people behave. This is why it is important as a parent for us to make a conscience choice to be positive role models for our children. This stands true for neurotypical children as well as children with Asperger’s.

The next step would be finding the keys to work with this challenging behavior. But before we can really work with it, we have to know what is causing the behavior first. Although there is no one particular cause for challenging behavior, it could be a combination of different ones depending on the child. The following list is just the first possible explanations that come to mind:

1. Sensory issues

2. Misunderstanding

3. Physical Illness

4. Communication challenges

5. Bullying

6. The Syndrome Mix

We are going to call these the “Top 6 Reasons” for challenging behavior…

To read this edition of Parenting Plus (plus listen to the interview) and have access to 2 other FULL editions of Parenting Plus (Social Skills and Independent Living Skills) for just $1 go to:

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/public/1247.cfm

————————————————————-

I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information.

Best Wishes,

Dave Angel

This article was kindly supplied by a reader of this blog Shellique Carby (a woman on the autism spectrum from South Africa):

I was a loner growing up, the one no one wanted around. I struggled to relate to other people my age. I was always considered by my peers to be weird. I knew I was different but I never knew why. All I knew was that most the times I had the opportunity to connect with people and develop friendships, I’d mess it up. Then I’d hate myself for it.

School was pure hell for me. I was teased and harassed no matter what I did. Even the smallest expression on my face would get questioned and criticised. I couldn’t be myself. I’d walk around school trying to be invisible, trying to cover up my true feelings. And that itself was a strain on me. My class mates would throw balls of paper at me, the girl behind me would pull my hair or hit my head, a guy would hold out his foot in front of me to trip me as I walked past. In the passage on my way to the next class I’d be confronted with taunts like “retard” or “stupid”. Rumours about me spread like fire around the school. I noticed that no one else I knew at school was scorned as much as I was. So I began to see that there must be something wrong with me.

I desperately searched for ways I could earn respect from everyone. I behaved well in class and worked hard, which made me the teacher’s pet most my school years. I thought that if I couldn’t get respect from my peers I could at least earn the teacher’s favour, which would hopefully get me some protection from my enemies. I tried displaying my talents to give the other pupils a reason to like me. I sang in all the school talent shows, tried getting my Drama plays shown in assembly, and tried getting the best marks in class. With some people it worked. One guy even fell in love with my voice. But for most of my peers it made no difference. I’d still have to face the same public humiliation day after day.

I tried my best to make friends. I would put all my time and effort into a friendship, only to watch it go to waste. I tried to please everyone with the hope that someone would take a liking to me. Once or twice I even resorted to buying people things or giving them home made crunchies. There were two popular girls whose personalities I liked, and they seemed to get along with me. One day they agreed to let me hang with them at break. The trouble was that I had no clue how to socialise or what to talk about. I tagged along as they walked over to a big group of guys sitting on the grass. As soon as the guys saw me coming, they got up and walked away. I felt like a dagger had just stabbed whatever confidence I had left in me. When I was in grade 9, my group of friends I’d been sitting with each day at break suddenly decided to abandon me. They dispersed in two’s. When I tried to follow them they told me I wasn’t welcome around them anymore. There were many times I had to sit alone at break.

When I had just finished grade 11, I was hit with a huge knock to my system. My psychologist and a psychiatrist diagnosed me with Aspergers Syndrome. I felt shocked, like I had been run over by a bus. But it was a defining moment for me which turned my life around. I was also relieved. I finally knew why I had been a social outcast all my life, and why I struggled more than others to make friends. Aspergers is a mild form of autism. It’s a neurological, developmental disorder in the brain which changes a person’s whole perception of life. The main symptom is difficulty in socialising, and understanding what behaviour is appropriate for different situations. Usually people with the syndrome are intellectually superior to people their age, but they lag behind emotionally and physically.

My new found knowledge made it easier for me to endure the humiliation I experienced at school. I now understood that my problems in society were not caused by a lack of character, and I stopped judging myself all the time. Once I understood myself, I learnt to accept myself and not care about what other people thought of me. I stopped my endless efforts to please people. Instead of living my life in fear with my head hung low, I began to hold my head high and make myself heard.

I plucked up the courage to confront my bully. I made up my mind that I would show him I wasn’t going to accept his abuse. So when the usual “retard!” came my way the next day, I rebuked him. “Take a hike!” I said. Later I decided to tell him about the syndrome, with the hope that he would leave me alone. One day I saw him in the library alone and I took the chance. “Listen, I’ve been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. So if you think I’m weird, that’s the reason. Please just leave me alone.” He was amazed. He didn’t only leave me alone, but he actually defended me after that. He told me later that he felt privileged that I had trusted him with confidential information, and he would even die for me. I was shocked at how he had a total change of heart towards me.

After I left school I realised that I was better off not being one of the popular ones at school. Most of them gave in to peer pressure to please the crowd, and did things that would cause them harm later on. Many of them in school simply lived for their friends and their ego, without thinking of their future. But I lived for my future: a life where I could live the way I wanted and find belonging in my fields of interest. I decided that I would rather have two or three close friends, who totally accept me and understand me, rather than having loads of people around me, who will abandon me at a moment’s notice. If people do not like me for who I am, I would be wasting my time with them.

If I try to be what I am not, I will stumble for the rest of my life. I’ve learnt to embrace the things that make me different, instead of obsessing over them. Even if everyone else sees me as an outcast, I will choose to be different from the rest. I have come to understand how important it is to appreciate the things that make people different, whether it is a disability, race, gender, class etc. I try my best not to discriminate against people for any reason, because I know how it could scar them for life. Don’t be afraid to express your individuality, no matter what anyone else says. If you always follow the crowd, you will end up hiding who you really are inside.

Huge thanks to Shellique for sharing this article,

Dave Angel

PARENTING ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER
February 2012

Welcome to the February 2012 edition of “The Parenting Autism & Asperger’s Newsletter”.

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Is Asperger’s Syndrome Over-Diagnosed?

2. In the News – Current Asperger’s Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Liane Holliday-Willey

4. Independent Living

————————————————————

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Is Asperger’s Syndrome Over-Diagnosed?

As the number of children and adults diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome continues to increase, many people are questioning whether a large number of these cases are simply mis-diagnosed. There is concern that social quirkiness is guiding the over-diagnoses, and that the DSM guidelines are not being upheld. Families are worried about the changes coming regarding the DSM and the elimination of Asperger’s Syndrome. What do you think? Read more about these troubling findings here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/07/asperger-s-over-diagnosed-ill-defined-may-not-be-a-syndrome-much-longer.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/health/research/new-autism-definition-would-exclude-many-study-suggests.html?_r=1

————————————————————-
2. In the News – Current Asperger’s Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria

In light of the coming changes, here is a refresher of the current characteristics that make up an Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis. There are several basic characteristics involved in an official diagnosis. These characteristics include social ability, speech/language/effective communication, and sensory struggles, just to name a few. Read more about what it means to qualify for an Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis at the links below.

http://school.familyeducation.com/learning-disabilities/behavior/56316.html

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/tc/aspergers-syndrome-topic-overview

————————————————————

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD- Liane Holliday-Willey, Author

American author Liane Holliday was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome during her thirties. She has written several popular books on the subject of Asperger’s. A popular keynote speaker, Ms. Holliday coined the term ‘Aspie’ in reference to those with Asperger’s Syndrome. Read more about her here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liane_Holliday_Willey

http://www.aspie.com/about

————————————————————-

4. Independent Living – I have recently finished writing Volume 2 of Parenting Plus which covers the topic of Independent Living. It breaks the topic down into 15 different skill sets and how best to prepare your children to develop these various independent living skills. One theme that comes across clearly is that “it’s never too early”. To help your child maximize their future independence you need to be working on a variety of independent living skills as soon as possible. That way they can begin to develop the skills they need in plenty of time. (You can learn more about this in the latest Parenting Plus Newsletter and Interview – http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/public/1247.cfm).
And on next week’s blog I am going to be revealing more tips on Independent Living Skills from parent/advocate Amalia Starr.

————————————————————-

I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in March 2012.

And as always … please send in any inspirational stories, 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

A new article from Matthew Readman…

This month’s article is on depression.  At age of 13.  I really don’t know what depression is?  I know what I’ve read about depression; especially in the teenage years is where your mood swings up and down.  The funniest problem is other people think you’re depressed when you’re not.  Since having Asperger’s and in my teenage years, I am watched constantly to see which kind of mood I’m in.  The funniest thing that happened to me recently, was when I had to submit a narrative for English.  My narrative was based on World War III.  And just because I didn’t have a happy ending.  Everybody thought that I was going into a depression.  Yes I’ll agree I’ve been having a couple of down days, but my narrative was based on not everything always has a happy ending.

What I find about my writing is I don’t like writing just to make people happy.  I write more from feelings, intuition, and most of all just how I think.  I know in some of the kids in my class had read my narrative, they thought it was weird because I didn’t want to have a happily ever after story.  Maybe it’s just because my life has never been “happily ever after”.  I’ve always struggled with everything I had to do and I’ve always had to prove that I can accomplish anything.  I deal with bullies on a regular basis, kids tease me about the topics I speak about, and the most frustrating part of all, I can’t seem to click with anyone.  Is this depression?  Again, I can’t really say.

What I would like to do in this article is give my readers and chance to read my narrative.  So if your kids write any stories like this.  It does not mean that they are depressed.  Who knows, maybe we see the world as it really is.  Maybe having Asperger’s gives us more of an insight to see things without the sugar coating.  So why do we see the world like this, let’s be honest, most aspergers kids are treated like crap in school from the other students.  So in a way we have to grow up faster.  Think about it?

You can read Matthew’s narrative at http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/daisy.pdf

… and you can read more about who Matthew is at http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/public/department59.cfm)

Thanks,

Dave Angel

PARENTING ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER December 2011

Welcome to the December 2011 edition of “The Parenting Asperger’s Newsletter”.

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – During and After the Holidays

2. In the News – Epilepsy and Autism

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – James Farrell, son of actor, Colin Farrell

4. Do You Still Want This Newsletter?

————————————————————

 1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Living with Autism During and After the Holidays Living with Autism during and after a busy holiday can be especially difficult.

The break in normal routines, the sensory overload, and even the dietary changes can cause a person with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome to struggle.

Below you will find links to articles that suggest holiday gift ideas, how to handle special holiday times, and finally, great suggestions to help your family get back on track when the celebrations are over.

http://theautismnews.com/2011/12/06/autism-spectrum-therapies%e2%80%99-suggestions-for-holiday-children%e2%80%99s-gifts/

http://theautismnews.com/2011/12/07/life-on-the-spectrum-holdays-on-the-spectrum/

http://autism.about.com/od/familyeventsandautism/p/familiesautismholidays.htm http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Ways-to-Get-Back-on-Track-After-the-Holiday-Madness&id=401062

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

 ————————————————————-

2. In the News – Epilepsy and Autism–Hand in Hand?

The American Epilepsy Society recently announced that children with a diagnosis of Epilepsy should also be routinely screened for developmental delays and Autism.

It has long been known that a considerable percentage of children on the Autism spectrum have abnormal EEG results, often with significant seizure activity.

You can read more about the American Epilepsy Society’s recommendation here:

http://theautismnews.com/2011/12/08/screening-may-catch-autism-in-kids-with-epilepsy/

 http://www.news-medical.net/news/20111206/DD-and-autism-screening-should-be-routine-for-all-children-seen-in-epilepsy-clinics.aspx

 *People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD-

James Farrell, son of movie actor, Colin Farrell James Farrell, the young son of movie actor, Colin Farrell has been diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome.

While this syndrome is not technically part of the Autism spectrum, the characteristics are very similar. Children with Angelman Syndrome sometimes carry a dual diagnosis of Autism.

The following links will give you more insight on this condition and how it relates to Autism, as well as some personal revelations from Colin Farrell.

http://theautismnews.com/2011/12/09/colin-farrell-regrets-hiding-sons-rare-illness/

 http://www.independent.ie/national-news/colin-farrell-superstar-colin-tells-of-blessed-life-with-special-needs-child-1188872.html

http://autismrelateddisorders.blogspot.com/2007/05/angelman-syndrome.html

 *The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome. ————————————————————-

4. Do You Still Want This Newsletter? As you may know I publish an article on Aspergers every week here on the blog.

And as well as this I also publish a short online newsletter each month (like this) which has links to relevant stories etc.

Several times this year I have completely forgotten the monthly newsletter and not had many emails about it!

So I am wondering if the monthly newsletter is something that people have little interest – if so I can stop doing it.

And concentrate on the weekly tips.

Please have your say whether you want to keep the newsletter or not by adding a quick comment in the comments box below… 

————————————————————

I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in January 2012.

And as always … please send in any inspirational stories, 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

Question:

How can I help my son with Aspergers to gain advocacy skills?

Answer:

It is important that parents teach their children with Asperger’s advocacy skills.  In order to become independent adult, your son must be able to speak for himself.  Because you recognize this vital need, your son has a true advantage for a bright future.  The first step to teaching your son about self-advocacy is explaining exactly what it means to be an advocate.

Learning about Asperger’s advocacy is not complicated.  A self-advocate will be able to stand up for himself, will make his own decisions, and will understand how to find relevant information, where to find support, and what his personal rights are.  A self-advocate will be able to take all of this information and ability and use it for the appropriate purposes, to advance his position in the world.

There are several resources you can use to teach your son with Asperger’s advocacy skills.  One example is the program, “The Integrated Self-Advocacy ISA™ Curriculum: A Program for Emerging Self-Advocates with Autism Spectrum and Other Conditions,” by Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.; foreword by Stephen Shore, Ed.D.  (Separate student workbook is also available.)  This program is a complete curriculum that guides the individual to make a self-advocacy portfolio.  It can be used in the school setting or in the home.

When teaching your son with Asperger’s advocacy skills, you must first begin with self-awareness.  Your son must know his diagnosis of Asperger’s, what it means for him personally, and how it affects him in every way.  Once he owns his diagnosis, he will be on his way to making his own decisions.  However, there is still a lot of work for him to do before he becomes a self-advocate.  Here are the next steps.

• He needs to witness an advocate in action.  This can mean watching you during his IEP meeting, for example.  It could also be a specific advocacy aide that is chosen to work with your son.  He will watch this person plan the motion, but only as an observer.

• He needs an advocacy aide to act as his guide.  This aide will plan the activity or motion along with your son, sharing the advocacy opportunity.  This step can take quite a while, with the guide’s participation slowly weaning downward.  Eventually, the participation will become equal and then move on towards independent self-advocacy.  Given the variable of self-advocacy opportunities, this step could take months or it could take years.

• He needs the support of his aide as he begins to take on more responsibility.  This step will evolve slowly over time, as discussed above.

• He needs to take control as his aide witnesses his self-advocacy.  You will notice that the roles have completely reversed.  Your son is now gaining control.

PARENTING ASPERGERS NEWSLETTER VOLUME October 2011

Welcome to the October 2011 edition of “The Parenting Aspergers Newsletter”.

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – School

2. In the News – Schooling Options for Children with ASD

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Educator Daniel Tammet

————————————————————

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – School. The children have now been back to school for a month or two in many areas, which means families affected by Autism and Asperger’s are coping with new teachers, transitions, and a multitude of stressors that come with a new school year. Below you will find links to articles that can help you with the school year:

http://www.autismkey.com/back-to-school-preparation-for-children-with-autism/

http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2011/08/08/back-to-school-the-conversation-continues/

 http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/articleItem.aspx?id=55

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————-

2. In the News – Choosing Schooling Options for Children with Autism Education is your child’s key to success. It opens doors that remain tightly closed without the knowledge gained through learning. It is important for all parents, but especially parents of children with Autism, to find the best possible schooling option for their children. Children with Autism can be successful in public school. However, special educational methods and allowances will be needed. Sometimes a school devoted to Autism may be a better fit. Other times, a parent may opt to homeschool. Here are several links that discuss schooling options for children with Autism:

http://autism.about.com/od/schoolandsummer/a/edoptionshub_4.htm

http://isybeeautism.com/autism-schools/autism-schools-special-schools/

http://www.autismkey.com/homeschooling-options-for-children-with-autism/

The following links are websites or stories about specialty schools devoted to Autism:

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=167366

http://www.summitviewschool.org/

http://www.questkids.org/qka_overview.htm

http://www.mayinstitute.org/services/autism/day_schools.html

http://www.aptschool.org/aboutus.htm

(These few schools are just a representative set of the many schools devoted to Autism.)

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD- British Author/Educator/Savant Daniel Tammet Daniel Tammet was officially diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 25. A well-known savant, he is the author of the 2006 best seller, “Born on a Blue Day”, his memoir. Learn more about Daniel Tammet and his savant abilities by clicking the links below.

http://www.optimnem.co.uk/about.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Tammet

*The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome.

————————————————————-

I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information. The next edition of the newsletter is due in November 2011. And as always … please send in any inspirational stories, 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

Here’s a great new article courtesy of Matthew Readman:

Well the summer is over and it’s time to get back to reality.    I love the summer because it’s my time.  I don’t have to follow all the social rules that are demand of me.   Well it’s the night before school and of course I can’t sleep.  Everything is rushing through my head.   It’s funny for an asberger kid it’s not the excitement of meeting new kids or teachers.  It’s actually the opposite.   You get this horrible feeling in your stomach almost like you’re going to be sick.  You don’t want to meet the new kids because you think automatically that they’re not going to like you.  You worry about the bullies you had last year and the new ones you’re going to face.   You’re stuck back in a classroom where you keep trying to get heard but instead just ignored.    I must say it doesn’t matter how much your parents talk with you and the usual talk is “it’s a new start” you always remember the bad of the last year.

Well its now the first day of school.  I’m up early and very tired.  Did I sleep? NOPE!   I’m dressed and my lunch was made.  My heart is beating a mile per minute. Am I having an anxiety attack? YES!  My mom walks me to the bus stop as she does every first day of school.  She bugs me like usual “Try to be nice, talk to other kids, and listen to your teacher and so on.”  I know she’s just doing the mother thing but I’m going into grade 8 and I’ve heard this a thousand times before.   The bus arrives and my mother leaves.  I get on the bus and my eyes goes directly to the bully that every year harass me on the bus.  I take a deep breath and find a seat as far away from him as possible.   I sit by the window so I don’t have to have eye contact with anyone.    I put on my head phones to drown out people talking.

When I got to school all I dreamt of was going home. I have a new teacher THANK GOD! I hated my old one.  My first impression, she was nice but who knows how she will turn out. Sadly all teachers begin this way. I grab a seat with the girls I knew from last year.   I looked around and prayed it would be a good year. The day went well. The best part of my day was when I ran into to my principal who told me how happy he was to see me and then said “don’t worry I got your back this year”.

The first few weeks of school had the usual ups and downs. The teacher so far is still nice. So far so good. Actually an amazing thing has happened to me! I applied for the leadership council at my school. 120 kids applied and only 20 students were chosen and I was one of them. The leadership council is responsible for all social events and communication throughout the school.  Do they see something in me I don’t see? I really hope I can keep to their standards and to prove, not to them, but myself that I can do this job as well as someone without social problems.  As a grade 8 teen with asbergers I’m doing my best to learn and be accepted.

Thanks for another great article Matt!

P.S. Don’t forget that Matt is writing a book this year. And if there are topics you want him to cover in he book (i.e. from his perspective of a young person with Aspergers) please leave you comment at the end of this blog post.

PARENTING ASPERGERS NEWSLETTER – August 2011

Welcome to the August 2011 edition of “The Parenting Autism & Asperger’s Newsletter”.

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Recognizing Early Signs of Asperger’s Syndrome

2. In the News – Environmental Causes a Factor in Autism

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Actor Chasen Schneider
————————————————————
1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Identifying Asperger’s Syndrome Early

Even though many people with Asperger’s Syndrome are not diagnosed until late childhood, the teen years, or even adulthood, the signs of Asperger’s can be evident during infancy. The sensory problems and focus are usually the most obvious. However, parents must know what to look for during infancy and early childhood. The following links will shed some light on the mysteries of Asperger’s Syndrome in babies.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/229888.php

http://www.thehelpgroup.org/pdf/Stephens.pdf

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————-
2. In the News – Is Autism Caused by the Environment?

It has been a long-standing debate whether Autism spectrum disorders are caused by genetics or environment. Two recent studies add more credibility to the environmental causes. One study reveals a connection between the use of SSRIs, a type of antidepressant medication, and Autism in unborn children of users. Another study on twins shows a strong environmental component to Autism. Learn more about both of these studies here:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/230464.php

*People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with an ASD.

————————————————————

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD- Actor Chasen Schneider

The son of American television star John Schneider, Chasen Schneider was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as a child. Thanks to therapies and family support, Chasen was able to work through many of the characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome and grow up to be a successful actor in his own right. You can learn more about Chasen Schneider and the Schneider family by visiting the following links.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-04-15-schneider_x.htm

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/eqoiUilZ-uu/The+Tonys+Go+Hollywood/Qzn2Y2MTPyA/Chasen+Schneider

http://www.life.com/image/80516447

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Schneider_%28television_actor%29

*The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome.
————————————————————-

I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in September 2011.

And as always … please send in any inspirational stories, 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