Re: high functioning autism/ almost like aspergers

[Guest guest]

Hi,

this pretty much describes my own son...12 and more Asperger's like than autistic now, though not as rigid as many kids with Aspergers can be, he is easy going...he is doing pretty well in LD classes in Jr.High...Regards, Sally

[Guest guest]

Hi

I have 11 yr old son with PDD-NOS. I guess you could label him HFA

or AS.

I would be happy to swap stories and advice.

Right now, my biggest battle is the middle school transition. He

isn't functioning at the school and I am starting to see regression

at home.

How did your son survive the middle school transition? What type of

placement does he have?

Placement is really the issue. SD says it can provide a safe FAPE,

but it not any where close. Good news is that I found a non-public

school that would be appropriate and I believe he would thrive

there. Now I just need the school to agree with placement and pay

tuition and provide busing. Any advice on this issue would be

greatly appreciated.

I think we have travelled a long road and I see much improvement. I

think that someday he will find his niche in the world, but school

is just to darn difficult. I don't think middle school or high

school is even close to representing what the real world is like, so

if can't function there I don't think it is hopeless.

I actually had the autistic specialist tell me that I had to decide

on social development or academic development. I think there equally

important. I don't think I should have to sacrifice one for the

other. I don't want to limit my son's educuational opportunities

but he needs help in social development, among other things. Isn't

that what Special Education is suppose to be all about? If the

mainstream environment can only provide one or the other, then place

me in non-public school where I can get both. Geez.

Sometimes, I can't believe the " reasonable " options that educators

give me. I guess that is enough of rant for now.

.

> i sent and email about 4months ago inreference to if anyone had a

child that

> was high functioning autism almost aspergers and my son is also 12

almost a

> teenager also i stated i could be of help in some cases because i

have

> experience quite a few different situations with my son when was

younger and with time

> and prayer alot have change the point i am making i was

disappointed i never

> receive a response from anyone! thank you!

[Guest guest]

My son is not high functioning, which is why I didn't reply. Thank you for your kind offer to help those in need of advice.

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

My son is not high functioning, which is why I didn't reply. Thank you for your kind offer to help those in need of advice.

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Hi Sally thank you for responding my son is going through a little of the puberty stage and the sassy stage it is bad but not as bad as i think it can get so if you have some insight please share just to let you know a little about my son he pretty much can do anything he is totally functional but that sometimes can be hard thanx ab

[Guest guest]

Hi thanx for responding guess what my son has not main stream yet he turned 12 in sept so he is suppose to mainstrean next year although my lawyer and everyone is starting to see he needs to mainstream now catherine to tell you a little bit about my son he is totally functional and pretty much can do what any other kid can do he is extremely verbal and academics are doing great but when he is not challenge properly his behavior regress right now in school my son is not placed properly he is not getting the proper social and emotional skills so his behavior is off the hook so i agree with you catherine about not sacrifice one for the other! THanx ab

[Guest guest]

Hi thanx for responding guess what my son has not main stream yet he turned 12 in sept so he is suppose to mainstrean next year although my lawyer and everyone is starting to see he needs to mainstream now catherine to tell you a little bit about my son he is totally functional and pretty much can do what any other kid can do he is extremely verbal and academics are doing great but when he is not challenge properly his behavior regress right now in school my son is not placed properly he is not getting the proper social and emotional skills so his behavior is off the hook so i agree with you catherine about not sacrifice one for the other! THanx ab

[Guest guest]

Thank you Rhonda for your response but believe it or not it is not about high functioning children still sometimes have things in common when they are young so you would be surprise the experience i could share with you! thanx ab

[Guest guest]

Thank you Rhonda for your response but believe it or not it is not about high functioning children still sometimes have things in common when they are young so you would be surprise the experience i could share with you! thanx ab

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie thank you for responding but you can not speak for everyone else if that is how you feel carry on but there are some people who like to know what may can happen next children do have things in common sometime so your negativety please keep it to your self and remember that is not good for children either good luck! Thanx ab

[Guest guest]

Well I have two sons, both autistic. My high functioning son is almost nine and not close to aspergers.

Honestly I do not recall the posting of four months ago, but I am not in need of assistance at this time. I read many books as well.

My non verbal son who is 7 is the one I write about at this group.

It is possible that no one else here has a child that fit that criteria or is in need of help at this point.

You could always post a recap of points to look out for when a child is close to that age and what worked best. I think that might be beneficial since the recent posting is not really specific as to what experience you could share.

We usually post as things take place and when the need is urgent. As the single parent to two kids with no family on the same coast I cannot prepare for the future, but only get through the day..

My main concern of late is finding a book to help my son relate to with his being autistic. We have read many books that portray accurately his brother, but I would like to explain about autism and the variety of the disability along the spectrum and focus on the HFA son. Now when we read books he always assumes it is in reference to his brother.

My idea is to write one myself.'

Bonnie in Los Angeles

======================

===============aabbmb@... wrote:

i sent and email about 4months ago inreference to if anyone had a child that was high functioning autism almost aspergers and my son is also 12 almost a teenager also i stated i could be of help in some cases because i have experience quite a few different situations with my son when was younger and with time and prayer alot have change the point i am making i was disappointed i never receive a response from anyone! thank you!

[Guest guest]

Well I have two sons, both autistic. My high functioning son is almost nine and not close to aspergers.

Honestly I do not recall the posting of four months ago, but I am not in need of assistance at this time. I read many books as well.

My non verbal son who is 7 is the one I write about at this group.

It is possible that no one else here has a child that fit that criteria or is in need of help at this point.

You could always post a recap of points to look out for when a child is close to that age and what worked best. I think that might be beneficial since the recent posting is not really specific as to what experience you could share.

We usually post as things take place and when the need is urgent. As the single parent to two kids with no family on the same coast I cannot prepare for the future, but only get through the day..

My main concern of late is finding a book to help my son relate to with his being autistic. We have read many books that portray accurately his brother, but I would like to explain about autism and the variety of the disability along the spectrum and focus on the HFA son. Now when we read books he always assumes it is in reference to his brother.

My idea is to write one myself.'

Bonnie in Los Angeles

======================

===============aabbmb@... wrote:

i sent and email about 4months ago inreference to if anyone had a child that was high functioning autism almost aspergers and my son is also 12 almost a teenager also i stated i could be of help in some cases because i have experience quite a few different situations with my son when was younger and with time and prayer alot have change the point i am making i was disappointed i never receive a response from anyone! thank you!

[Guest guest]

Just fyi, there is supposed to be a movie in the works on the life of Temple Grandin, that might be a good teaching tool for the high functioning son...just a thought-or one of her books for him to read together and discuss how her life was and how she thinks and see if he feels he has any similarities. Another one might be, "There's a Boy In Here" by a mom and her now-high functioning adult son(he recalls his severely autistic days and the gradual growth he experienced)...it is an interesting book. Sally

[Guest guest]

Hi,

have you ever tried a kind of modified social story with him, to explain everyone's behavior has an affect on those around them? Like, you could explain how if you are sad it makes him feel sad, how if he is upset, you are concerned about him, if someone is mean to someone it makes them sad, etc... and then give him appropriate ways to express how he feels/frustration/irritation?(Punch a pillow when angry or draw with "angry colors" or write a story about it, etc.) Carol Gray has kids assign emotions to crayon colors for her Cartoon Talks(I can't remember the exact name, but the child and the parent or whoever work together to do stick figures and things in various colors, red could be angry-orange could be sassy, green could be relaxed, blue could be happy-I can't remember how she does it, but do a search on Carol Gray, she has a website and books on it). It is so normal really for kids this age to test their limits...my son has tried a little bit of the sassy talk, and I remind him his allowance is based on two things...behavior and cleaning his room, and that takes the starch out of him. I would try a reward system based on his behavior with simple goals. (He could earn points toward a favorite activity, he would lose a set point number-maybe one point for being sassy with a possible 5-6 a day possible to earn and he could earn points back with good behavior, doing an extra task(help put dishes away maybe)...he would learn his behavior affects those around him and affects how people see him and what he gets to do if you can explain it to him.

You could use pictures, books, videos about emotions and families to explain how what we do affects others. Give him things to do that make him feel good about himself too (my son once agreed to donate some toys he didn't really want to "little kids who don't have any toys" and he was proud of himself).

Just a thought...Sally

[Guest guest]

If you can find some area the child succeeds at, use that to the hilt. Try to find a teacher to mentor him a little if there is someone...an art teacher if he has skills, a math teacher who will use him to tutor other kids, a coach who will let him be his assistant or give him a position in something he is good at. For kids who act out a lot, it is important to keep them busy and to promote what they are good at...Sally

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie:

Writing a book to help explain that vast differences to childeren on

Autistic Spectrum would be excellent.

My son went through so many different dxs that I stopped trying to

explain each one. We often would discuss the syptoms, such as proper

way to communicate, how to make and keep friends, etc. It has been

several years, his communications skills have improved dramtically.

He is almost 12. He will soon be involved in special ed tranistion

planning process. I recently started talking to him about autism. I

would be very interested in a book that would help him get grasp of

dx.

I know that when he was dx w/ ADD, he felt better when he found a

peer that was dx with it, too. I have not found another peer that

has been dx with PDD-NOS that is in the same range in spectrum.

Unless, I tell parent that he is on the spectrum; they have no idea.

People will often see the behavior and not recognize that there may

skills to cope. If I met a child similar to mine, I don't think I

would necessary recognize right away either.

I think if there was a book about kids on the higher end of

spectrum, it would benefit many families. I look forward to seeing

your book on my shelf someday.

> i sent and email about 4months ago inreference to if anyone had a

child that was high functioning autism almost aspergers and my son

is also 12 almost a teenager also i stated i could be of help in

some cases because i have experience quite a few different

situations with my son when was younger and with time and prayer

alot have change the point i am making i was disappointed i never

receive a response from anyone! thank you!

>

> ---------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

This is GREAT advice.

Penny :-D

-----Original Message-----From: Sally [mailto:eeyores1@...]Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 9:30 PMautism Subject: Re: Re: high functioning autism/ almost like aspergers

If you can find some area the child succeeds at, use that to the hilt. Try to find a teacher to mentor him a little if there is someone...an art teacher if he has skills, a math teacher who will use him to tutor other kids, a coach who will let him be his assistant or give him a position in something he is good at. For kids who act out a lot, it is important to keep them busy and to promote what they are good at...Sally

[Guest guest]

Thanks Penny, someone else gave it to me, I am just passing it on... It works for my son. It is so important to try to find an area of competence for your child to feel successful and also for them to be seen as competent by peers. It can be something very simple or something very advanced. My son once won the admiration of a group of kids by shooting a candle out with a squirt gun at a party when he was little...you never know what little thing may be useful! It's also important to develop leisure skills, one of the big problems of people with autism is they have trouble figuring out what to do with their time, and learning to do activities with others...my son enjoys cooking(he can't use the stove yet, but he microwaves...he thinks almost everything is "55" (55 seconds:) He once melted chocolate syrup over peanut butter and made a kind of funky fudge he and his brother scooped off the plate and ate. He likes to "invent" foods... Take care, Sally(one activity I am going to start doing is teaching him to make a list of grocery items for something simple, practice measuring the ingredients, combining, etc. and teach him to cook simple foods. We will also work on how to find items in a store and money handling/planning/change counting with this activity.

[Guest guest]

Hi sally it's AB thanx that is good information!

[Guest guest]

hi bonnie i am going through the same problem my son hates the work autism he says i am just a regular kid ! thanx ab

[Guest guest]

Hi AB, no problem, it's just my ideas(or someones I heard I pass along)take or leave what you like/don't like:) Take care,Sally

[Guest guest]

Bonnie:

I bought a book about Albert Einstein for my daughter (Shelby's 11 and is HFA as well, although with a pretty significant pragmatic language disability on top of it all). There's another one about Mozart, and a few other "geniuses" who are suspected to have autism. The Albert Einstein book is really good.

Missy

-----Original Message-----From: Bonnie Sayers [mailto:bonniesa@...] Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 6:34 PMautism Subject: Re: high functioning autism/ almost like aspergers

Well I have two sons, both autistic. My high functioning son is almost nine and not close to aspergers.

Honestly I do not recall the posting of four months ago, but I am not in need of assistance at this time. I read many books as well.

My non verbal son who is 7 is the one I write about at this group.

It is possible that no one else here has a child that fit that criteria or is in need of help at this point.

You could always post a recap of points to look out for when a child is close to that age and what worked best. I think that might be beneficial since the recent posting is not really specific as to what experience you could share.

We usually post as things take place and when the need is urgent. As the single parent to two kids with no family on the same coast I cannot prepare for the future, but only get through the day..

My main concern of late is finding a book to help my son relate to with his being autistic. We have read many books that portray accurately his brother, but I would like to explain about autism and the variety of the disability along the spectrum and focus on the HFA son. Now when we read books he always assumes it is in reference to his brother.

My idea is to write one myself.'

Bonnie in Los Angeles

======================

===============aabbmb@... wrote:

i sent and email about 4months ago inreference to if anyone had a child that was high functioning autism almost aspergers and my son is also 12 almost a teenager also i stated i could be of help in some cases because i have experience quite a few different situations with my son when was younger and with time and prayer alot have change the point i am making i was disappointed i never receive a response from anyone! thank you!