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?

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 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.

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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.

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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… 

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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
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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.

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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.

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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.
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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

Welcome to today’s blog post with 5 great Aspergers tips:

1. The Rules Of The Game - I am just working my way through a series of great information resources entitled “The Rules Of The Game”. Which cover a whole raft of issues that children with Aspergers, come up against on a daily basis. Including emotions/feelings, body language, eye contact, mistakes, expectations, choices, bullies, disappointment and lots more too. They were written by Kerri Stocks; who is an Austalian mom to a child with ASD. And Kerri takes these key problem areas for children with Aspergers (in total there are over 40) and breaks them down into easy to understand stories for children. I hope to finish reading them in the next few days, and give you a more complete review later this week. But if you can’t wait then you can always check out Kerri’s website by Clicking Here

2. Morgan’s Story – Several months ago I received an email from Marilyn Rothschild who is the proud mom of her daughter Morgan, who has Aspergers. Aspergers has written a very insightful piece about her life which you can read by Clicking This Link She also has her very cool own website featuring her artwork which I highly recommend you view at http://www.morgansartwork.com/ So thank so much to Morgan and Marilyn for sharing…

3. Famous People with ASD – Following my article a few weeks ago about famous peole with Aspergers I got an email from Chantal Duport about an excellent book on this subject called “Different Like Me – My Book of Autism Heroes”. You can find out more on this book by Clicking This Link

4. Roller Coasters – Also on an artistic theme is a poem emailed to me by Denise McFarland. It was written by her 12 year old son with ASD who is home schooled. Enjoy…

Oh How Fun are Roller Coasters

There are many days that I seek the thrill;

That can only be met by a roller coaster hill!

The churn in my stomach, the wind in my face,

Amusement Parks are my favorite place.

It allows me to forget what’s wrong with me,

a peculiar disorder that others might see.

No bedroom to clean, no garbage to take out,

here comes the next hill get ready to shout!

Now that is what it is all about.

Sometimes it is troublesome just being me,

But the roller coasters will always set me free.

5. Video Taping Therapy Sessions – This next tip was emailed to me by Kris S. Johnson from Alaska:

“I thought I would give you an idea I participated in with my child with all his therapies that he has had….I with his therapist video-taped all the sessions. She learned to talk during them as if instructing me to do or why she was doing that part of the therapy, such as the goal or outcome of the need for different things…then I could use the session at home, in the school for the special ed teacher or aide to view and adapt his program using the same techniques…it helped expand what we did in that one hour session over his complete life areas and skills. And made use of what I was learning and sharing with others so we could be all on the same page…

I have told this to other folks in the same situation, they seemed surprised at the idea, but it is an idea that is so helpful for the complete picture and for documentation on growth and will help show over time the benefits of those therapies. And many times I come out of an hour session and cannot remember what happened in the beginning, this is one way to help my memory and his growth.

Thought I would let you know..do not know but it might help another family get a grip on all the things that are happening in a furious pace….for remembering… Many times I go back and look at the beginning of the taping in his early years and remind myself how far he has come with all the work he has had to do to get there…it is really humbling…”

Thanks for reading,

Dave Angel

This article is on my experience in England.  When my mother and I arrived in England we were both very excited for two reasons. One, to meet my employer Dave Angel and two, to experience a culture we have not seen before. The only downside was that our hotel room was very small and not what I was used to in the Americas.  Another problem was there was security everywhere because President Obama was in town to meet with Her Majesty.

What can I say, England’s historical background is as magical today as it must have been 600 years ago.   One of my favorite places was to see the Tower of London.  Just imagine this castle was constructed during the reign of Richard the Lionheart in 1189.  To stand on the grounds where battles were fought, Queens were beheaded and princes murdered, all for the crown of England.  Actually when you went through different rooms, you could feel a cold chill in the air. I swear when you close your eyes, you could imagine soldiers marching or arrows shooting (maybe in just my imagination).  One of the most intriguing facts that people do not know, is that there are 6 ravens that roam the tower grounds.  These ravens have had their wings clipped so they cannot fly.  It is stated that the ravens are The Guardians of the Tower.  Legend says that the kingdom will fall if the six ravens ever leave the fortress. It’s funny there are seven ravens on the grounds.  Just not to mess with the legends (very superstitious) they have a spare if one disappears.

Another interesting site was where Anne Boleyn was beheaded.  It’s funny how in the movies they portrayed a huge crowd surrounding her on her day of execution.  But actually only 5 people were there.  To show the queen some respect, Henry the VIII had her buried in the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula inside the Tower of London.

The Crown Jewels were nice but the crowd inside this room made it hard to see them.  Too much pushing.

The British and Natural museums were very interesting.  They were huge inside and the best part is that any museum in London is free.
One of the other castles we saw was Windsor castle.  Boy, the Queen really knows how to live!  Between Buckingham Palace and Windsor castle, Her Majesty must have a lot of cleaning staff.  My mom kept saying she would not want to clean this house.  We saw the state apartments and St. Georges Chapel where 10 British monarchs were laid to rest including Henry the VIII and the Queen Mum.

By now you are probably asking what about Dave Angel?  We met Dave and his daughter on the Wednesday.  I was actually kind of scared.  What if he doesn’t like me in person, what if I make a fool of myself?  But my fear was overcome with excitement, to meet the man who had helped me so much in the past few years.   My first impression of him was he was nice, but while talking with him he reminded me of my father.  I know this sounds dumb, but the way he acted towards me, made me feel safe.  My dad was the only one who could do this.  He did not judge me and actually asked how I felt about things.  Dave brought his daughter, who was as sweet as honey.  I enjoyed playing games with her and our favorite was dinosaurs.    On this day I did the video for the Aspergers site.    Had a great time!!!!  Later that week Dave invited us to Portsmouth.  We saw the D-Day museum and the English Channel.  We had a wonderful day of site seeing.  I once again want to thank Dave for all his help and understanding.
And most of all his encouragement !!!!!!

Matthew Readman

Parenting Aspergers Newsletter    
July 2011        

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

Inside this edition, you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Summer Fun

2. In the News – Summer Safety

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Surfer Clay Marzo
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1. Hot Topic of Discussion -   Summer Fun:  From ESY to Camps to Family Vacations

As the school year winds down, families begin to think about ways to fill those lazy days of summer.  For kids with Autism, these unstructured days can lead to problems.  With a little planning, families affected by Autism can have a joyful and fun-filled summer.   Public schools have ESY (Extended School Year) offerings to help keep skills at appropriate levels and to provide structure.  Summer camps, outings, and family vacations are often successful adventures for children with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.  Below you will find a selection of web links to help get your summer fun started!

This is an article about a boy’s trip to surfing camp:

http://www.theautismnews.com/2011/06/08/autistic-son-finds-peace-on-the-waves/

These links contain details about special summer camps, museum trips, family vacations, and ESY information:

http://autism.about.com/od/schoolandsummer/ht/summerhowto.htm

http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/autism-camps.html

http://autism.about.com/od/copingwithautism/a/autismmuseums.htm

http://autism.about.com/od/copingwithautism/ht/vacationstep.htm

http://autism.about.com/od/termsanddefinitions/g/ESY.htm

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

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2.  In the News -   Safe Summer Times

Every summer the newspaper is filled with stories of drowning children and missing children.  Often, the media mentions Autism in relation to these tragedies. 

Children with Autism often wander away from home, making summer outdoor play a safety issue.  In addition, the attraction of water in pools, ponds, and lakes is another big risk that escalates this time of year.  You can read about summer safety and Autism by clicking each of the following links.   Safe kids are not an accident!

http://www.autismkey.com/summer-safety-for-children-with-autism/

http://www.care2.com/causes/health-policy/blog/summer-safety-for-special-needs-kids/

http://theautismblog.seattlechildrens.org/safety-skills-for-participating-in-community-activities/

http://www.safetynetsource.com/2011/05/19/summer-safety-and-children-with-autism/

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

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3. Prominent People Linked with ASD- Professional Surfer, Clay Marzo

Twenty-one-year-old Clay Marzo has always been obsessed with water.  A talented swimmer, he began to focus his energy on surfing as a pre-teen.  He turned his talents and obsession into a lucrative career as a professional surfer.  Clay was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 18.  He helps out with Surfers Healing Camp, a surfing camp for children with Autism.  You can learn more about Clay on the following websites:

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

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/autistic-surfer-clay-marzo-masters-waves-struggles-land/story?id=10477337

http://www.surfermag.com/industry-news/komunity-project-welcomes-clay-marzo-to-their-international-pro-surf-team/

 *The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome.
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I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided new and useful information.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in August 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

Sensory integration dysfunction is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s sensory systems.  SID causes an inability to organize and react properly to sensory input.  Some children are diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction alone, and for others, SID is a symptom of something bigger, like Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome usually exhibit many of the same characteristics as a child with Sensory Integration Dysfunction, among other Autism spectrum characteristics.  Here are some common challenges caused by Sensory Integration Dysfunction.

* A child may be overly sensitive to touch, tastes, smells, and sounds.  On the other hand, a child may be under-sensitive to touch, tastes, smells, and sounds.  Many children display a mixture of the two.  He may tolerate a fair amount of touch but cringe and cover his ears because of sounds so faint you can barely perceive them.

* A child may have poor balance, unable to stand on one foot, or walk a balance beam. 

* A child may need to run and crash into things, or need lots of pressure on his body to understand how his body takes up space.

* A child may need to spin, rock, or swing to find comfort, or may find these activities extremely frightening.

* A child may have a strange, uneven gait when walking, or appear clumsy and unsure of himself, physically.

Many people do not realize the connection between Sensory Integration Dysfunction and behavioral problems.  The affects of SID carry over and interfere with a child’s ability to concentrate, ability to regulate movement needs, emotional security, and flexibility.  The sensory systems are highly integrated in all aspects of a child’s development.  When there is a failure within these systems, all areas of development are affected. 

Many occupational therapists are trained in Sensory Integration Dysfunction therapies.  If your child has access to occupational therapy, his therapist will most likely create his sensory profile.  This profile will show you exactly which sensory systems are most affected and whether they are hypersensitive or hyposensitive.  With this information, you can create a home program filled with fun activities that will greatly benefit your child. 

If your child is not able to see a therapist for Sensory Integration Dysfunction, you can find the information you need by searching for information on the Internet or at the public library.  Many books have been written for parents of children with sensory issues.  One such book is “The Out-of-Sync Child”, or you may be interested in the video, “The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction”, by Karol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.  This DVD contains information that provides a drug-free approach to treating SID. 

Thanks,

Dave Angel

Following on from last week’s email I want to tell you today about the visit that I made, as a social worker, to a family in the summer of 2006.

The visit had such a profound effect on me that I decided to set up The Parenting Aspergers website.

At the time I was working as a social worker on a local team for children.

I was asked to go and carry out an assessment of a teenaged boy of 14 who I’ll call Alex (but that’s not his real name), and his family.

The reason for this was that several weeks earlier Alex’s mum had phoned social services absolutely desperate for help.

Because Alex was really struggling at school, was feeling very low and depressed, and was being very aggressive towards his older brother.

Well when I turned up, as often is the case, Alex behaved impeccably.

Sure he didn’t say a lot to me, and wasn’t able to give me eye contact…

But he was polite and what he did say was honest and truthful about his current situation.

He said that he had no friends at school, that he has been bullied and that the teachers “pick on him”.

He really couldn’t see the point of going to school.

Outside of school was no better as he had very little interest in doing anything, except playing on his computer games and doing activities connected to his special interest of math and numbers.

Alex did not really do social activities and again just couldn’t see any point anyway.

So he was in quite a bad way emotionally and at 13 was pretty much opting out of life as best as he could.

Now Alex’s mum was in a really bad place too.

She would burst into tears on numerous occasions as we talked about the situation.

She had very little support as she and her husband (whom she strongly felt had Aspergers too) had split up several years before.

Her own family had also become less and less interested in helping, due to them finding Alex so difficult to cope with.

So she was pretty much on her own dealing with her son’s school problems, his emotional problems and behavioral problems. And it was tough.

And the behavioural problems were going on everyday in her own house – with Alex often being physically aggressive to his brother, and also to his mum.

Now if ever there was a family in need of help it felt like it was this one.

In fact I even got chance to speak to Alex’s brother who was lovely too.

He really tried to downplay the assaults on him, and almost appeared to think that it was OK for his brother to hit him, because of the Aspergers.

Overall it was clear he was just trying to be very protective of his brother and not get him into any kind of trouble.

So I desperately wanted to help this family as it just felt that they were all really suffering.

Anyway I went back to my boss to try to argue the case for the family to receive some support.

But as I expected it was turned down on the basis of Alex’ high IQ and lack of any physical disability.

This is a problem that I have faced time and again with children who have Aspergers.

Because of the invisible nature of the disability, coupled with a good IQ and mainstream schooling, they generally miss out completely for any help from social services.

So because I knew that the family would be getting no official help I decided to at least make use of the internet at work and find some helpful information for them.

Now when I looked there was no shortage of information on Aspergers. But it fell squarely into one of two categories:

1.    Either written by academics citing lots of impressive studies and theories, but written in a manner that was pretty tricky to understand OR…

2.    Autism organisations which often had good basic information but didn’t have specific strategies or techniques for parents to use for dealing with situations that they are faced with.

Eventually after a lot of digging around online I managed to find a few helpful resources and organisations to put the family in touch with.

But it all set me off thinking more about this huge lack of specific resources on the web.

Which led me to researching and writing my first resource “The Parenting Aspergers Resource Guide”.

And over time that has led to the weekly Aspergers blog, further volumes of “The Parenting Aspergers Resource Guide” and The Parenting Aspergers Community website.

And most recently my interview series with various Aspergers experts (which I am glad to say will finally be available in the first week of June).

Now ultimately I don’t know what happened to Alex and his family because, sadly, as I outlined earlier the family never received any more support from social services.

But I hope that one of the local organisations I put them in touch with was able to help out.

And that particular day certainly changed my life and I know that it has also helped a great deal of other parents around the globe, whom I am happy to have helped (and continue to help) from my website.

So I hope this second message has given you some further useful insights into my own story and how Parenting Aspergers came about.

Until next week,

Dave Angel