Advice for AS children given by AS adult

Parents of children with AS, this is a question for you. I was recently approached by a special ed teacher at one of the local middle schools; she suggested that after I've learned more about AS, which is the process I am in right now, that I come talk to the children, possibly about self-advocacy.

If an adult who has AS were going to speak to your AS child, what sort of advice would you want them to give, or what type of behavior would you want them to model? I don't have children of my own so this is outside my frame of reference.

In some ways your children will already be at an advantage by virtue of a diagnosis that was unknown when I was their age (doesn't saying that make me feel "old"!) So, many of the interventions (and hopefully the supporters and advocates) will already be in place. I would like to address needs that are not already being met, if it is in my power.

If you've suggestions I would like to hear them.

A day that I buy books is a good day!

There were two books I wanted, specifically addressing women's issues with A.S. -- "Women From Another Planet? Our Lives in the Universe of Autism" by Jean Kearns Miller and "Asperger's and Girls" by Tony Attwood.

Outstanding Media Coverage of Public Education

To “Professional Awards,” I can add Outstanding Media Coverage of Public Education, presented by the Association of California School Administrators to the Clear Lake Observer American. The newspaper and I were nominated for the award by Dr. Louise Nan, superintendent of the Konocti Unified School District.

Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism

“This is the generation that missed the opportunity to be diagnosed and understood.” -- Tony Attwood, “The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome” (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007)

One month ago, if you had asked me, I would not even have known what “Asperger
Syndrome” was. Now, I am learning everything I can about this fascinating condition that explains my lifelong tendencies.

Coming out with Asperger's

What a relief to find that there are others like me after a lifetime of feeling out-of-place! No formal diagnosis but I am reading Tony Attwood's "Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" and it is like reading a biography of myself.

Yesterday I told my mother that I believe I have Asperger's Syndrome. I showed her Kathy Hoopmann's delightful "All cats have Asperger Syndrome" to help introduce the subject. The book was invaluable because it used such a familiar topic -- cats -- to introduce something so new and unfamiliar.

Originally posted to DailyStrength.org

Author's Note: In June 2007, a friend told my husband about a neurobiological disorder called "Asperger's syndrome" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. She suggested to my husband that I had it. The two books mentioned in this narrative were my introductions to Asperger's syndrome. A short while later, I created an account at DailyStrength to gain and share insights with peers.