PARENTING AUTISM & ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 28
February 2009

This is Dave Angel.  Welcome to the twenty-seventh edition of “The Parenting Autism & Asperger’s Newsletter”

Inside this edition you will find:

1. The New Aspergers Website

2. Hot Topic of Discussion – Are Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism the Same Thing?

3. In the News – Defining Neurodiversity

4. Parenting Tip – Food

Thanks

Dave

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1. The New Aspergers Website

Just a quick reminder that if you want to be one of the first people to start taking advantage of the huge wealth of resources on the new parenting Aspergers website then head over to www.ParentingAspergersCommunity.com and sign-up to today, to learn more…

Just to give you an idea some of the features on the new site are:

. Videos on different aspects of Aspergers

. Constantly updating news and research on Aspergers

. Information on topics as diverse as coping with behaviors, diagnosis issues, social skills, communication, sex & relationship issues, parents issues, treatments/therapies, gaining independence, adults with Aspergers, education, gluten free cooking and much more …

. An easy-to-use active parents discussion forum

. The ability to communicate directly with me in simpler and more effective ways for individual help

. A “social networking tool” to allow you to communicate much more effectively with other parents

. New videos, articles and other resources added every single week

. and so much more besides …

So to get on that “notification list” and be at the front of the line when it opens just head over to:

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/

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2. Hot Topic of Discussion – Are Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism the Same Thing?

Many people wonder if Asperger’s Syndrome is the same thing as high functioning autism.  There is a lot of information on the internet that refers to Asperger’s Syndrome by the phrase “high functioning autism.”  Even doctors are not definite as to how to define the two terms so that we can tell the difference.  High functioning autism is generally used to refer to those whose symptoms are not severe.  Children with high functioning autism have average or above-average intelligence.  Generally children with high functioning autism struggle with expressing emotion and interpreting social situations.

Unfortunately, there is no clear cutoff between the diagnosis of low functioning and high functioning autism. Most professionals do seem to agree that Asperger’s Syndrome is a separate autism spectrum disorder.  Asperger’s Syndrome will usually become a concern at the age of three.  Brain scans have shown structural and functional differences within the brains of children without autism disorders, with Asperger’s Syndrome, and who are children with high functioning autism.  A big difference between children with autism and those with Asperger’s is that children with Asperger’s do not typically withdraw from other people as low functioning autistic children do.

To read the full article, go to:  http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/are-aspergers-and-high-functioning-autism-the-same-thing-448862.html

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3.  In the News – Defining Neurodiversity

Understanding neurodiversity is important for professionals working in autism-related fields, as well as for educators and parents.  Neurodiversity is defined as: all human mental or psychological neurological structures and behaviors, which may or may not be problematic, but are acceptable forms of human biology.  This is a controversial topic at the moment, with neurodiversity advocates promoting the idea that autism is just a different way of experiencing the world, and so in conflict with parents of and autistic individuals looking for cures for autism.

The neurodiversity movement focuses on accepting autism as a natural part of life, as opposed to something that needs to be cured or fixed.  The Autism Acceptance Project leads the neurodiversity movement.  It encourages a positive view of autism and the “acceptance of and accommodations for autistic people in society.”  The movement suggests using the terms “autism spectrum conditions,” instead of “autism spectrum disorders,” and “typical” as opposed to “normal” for non-autistic persons.

Diversity is a concept that is respected in our society; neurodiversity should be respected as well.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38749119616

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4. Parenting Tip – Food

“My son is 9 and has similar issues with eating. As you know, Aspies love rules. The approach that I took was that I sat down with him with the Canada Food Guide in front of us and I explained that in order for him to grow up strong and healthy, he must eat foods from all of the food groups. Together, we chose 3 things from each food group for him to eat with the understanding that he could remove any of these items
from his ‘list’ at any time, but then we must replace that item with another as there can never be less than 3 things from each group. Hope that helps. It worked for us.”

Wendy Smith -Ontario, Canada.

Thanks Wendy for that great tip.

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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 March, 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.parentingaspergers.com