I’m 53 and the younger sister of an older brother (by two years) who had undiagnosed Asperger’s while we were growing up (1960s and 1970s). My brother and I grew up with very unaware, self-involved parents. Short story…I spent years in therapy sorting through our family dynamics and learned so much about the kind of [...]
Parenting or teaching a child with autism spectrum disorder is both challenging and rewarding. The adults in the lives of children with autism have to organize their home or classroom environment to make it a pleasant place where these kids can thrive. Caregivers have to understand the characteristics of kids on the spectrum and know [...]
Psychiatrists, psychologists, and medical doctors use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association to diagnose mental disorders and intellectual disabilities. The DSM is an important tool not only to diagnose, but having a DSM diagnosis is often required for insurance coverage, and to access special education and/or state-sponsored programs. Asperger’s [...]
PBS News Hour covered a story about their own tradecraft. News has an agenda in Worrall Elementary School, where reporters with Asperger’s syndrome are routinely pulled from their classrooms to learn the basics of journalism. Their teachers say producing a newscast is one of the best ways for their students to learn how to speak clearly, [...]
Recently the movie A Mile In His Shoes was released. A Mile In His Shoes is the story of Mickey Tussler, a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome and a golden arm. The manager for a local baseball team convinces Mickey to join the team. For the first time in his life Mickey is forced to interact with others [...]
One of my happiest days in 2011 was the day I met the new social worker at my son’s school. I went into the meeting with two questions: 1. Have you ever heard of a type of peer-led Person-Centered Planning called Circle of Friends? 2. How can I implement a Circle of Friends for my [...]
From the Maker of: Parenting advice from total strangers comes another video about a substitute teacher that is convinced that your child is defiant and oppositional. Have you had such an experience with a teacher?
