PARENTING AUTISM & ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 27      
October 2009        

Welcome to the twenty-seventh edition  
of “The Parenting Autism & Asperger’s Newsletter”
Inside this edition you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Bullying and Asperger’s Syndrome

2. In the News – IPODs May Help Teens Learn Social Skills

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic

Thanks

Dave
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1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Bullying and Asperger’s Syndrome
Because of events that have transpired in the past regarding school bullying, there have been numerous recommendations to change school policies in order to protect students against bullying. Students who engage in violent behaviors such as bullying or disability harassment will be suspended or expelled. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Section 504 states that disability harassment in public school districts and colleges is a violation of the law. Students with disabilities who experience such harassments and bullying have the right to complain at the Office of Civil Rights and receive due process.

Although laws have been in place to protect students with disabilities against harassment and bullying, the National Education Association states that incidence of bullying occurs “every seven minutes of every school day”. Additionally, students and teachers most of the time fail to intervene in school bullying. This reveals that anti-bullying school policies do not offer much help to the victims of bullying.

Many victims of school bullying tend to be children who are in special education. An expert even puts a 100% rate of bullying on children with Asperger’s Syndrome. This is because a child with Asperger’s Syndrome is likely to be seen as a loner type with poor social skills. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome who appears to be under stress, are physically weak and who starts to miss school are likely to be victims of school bullying.

To read the full article, go to:  http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/bullying.html 

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

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2.  In the News – IPODs May Help Teens Learn Social Skills

People with Asperger’s Syndrome tend to struggle when it comes to their social skills. Sue Pederson, a psychologist, and researchers from the Fraser Child and Family Center claimed to have figured out a way to improve the social skills of teens with Asperger’s Syndrome. According to Pederson, IPODs (a device that plays music, videos and movies) can help these teens develop their social skills.

The IPODs can hold audios, videos and picture slideshows about information that could teach people with Asperger’s Syndrome how to behave in a variety of situations. Aside from using the IPOD, researchers have looked into using other devices such as the smart phones and palm pilots. According to Jim Ball from the Autism Society of America, these devices can be helpful especially to people with Asperger’s as they feel more comfortable when dealing with technology rather than with people.  

To read the full article, go to: http://www.omaha.com/article/20090926/LIVING/709269966 

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

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3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic

Tim Page was born October 11, 1954 in San Diego California. Page spent most of his childhood in Storrs Connecticut where his father was a professor at the University of Connecticut. Before Page became a Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic, he was a student of piano and composition and was interested in film making. In 1975, he moved to New York and attended the Mannes College for one year before transferring to Columbia University. In 1981, Page started his afternoon broadcast program that interviews prominent musicians and composers. A year later, he joined the New York Times as a music writer. In 1987, he became the chief music critic for Newsday and in 1995 he became the chief classical music critic for the Washington Post. He was awarded with the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.

Tim Page revealed in 2007 that he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when he and his 10 year old son went to a therapist. His son was diagnosed with Asperger’s as well. Currently, Tim Page is a professor of journalism and music in the University of Southern California. 

To see the full text of the article go to:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Page_(music_critic) )

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 information new to you.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in November, 2009.      
And as ever … please send in any inspirational stories that you know of, any questions that you would like our team of experts to answer, any topics that you wish to be discussed, and news stories that you want to share VIA THE BLOG.

We will publish as many as we can.

Until next month………

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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What tips can you give me to help my son with Aspergers to cope with his first day at college?

More children with Asperger’s Syndrome are going off to college now than ever before. While college is a big step in every teen’s life, you can help make the transition go smoothly with a little advanced preparation. Until he leaves, you are still in command. You can help him …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/331.cfm

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We are planning a family holiday this year with our child who has Aspergers – any tips?

There is just nothing better than a family holiday! Asperger’s Syndrome should not stand in the way of a fun family adventure. With a little advanced planning and extra consideration, you can arrange a trip that will be a great memory for years to come …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/330.cfm

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What tips can you give me to help my son with Aspergers to cope with his first day at college?

More children with Asperger’s Syndrome are going off to college now than ever before. While college is a big step in every teen’s life, you can help make the transition go smoothly with a little advanced preparation. Until he leaves, you are still in command. You can help him …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/329.cfm

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