Life with Aspergers

One of the most common issues in the world of autism is the perception of Autism itself as a problem - or even worse, as the personification of a problem. It's fairly common in the early days of diagnosis when parents simply aren't handling the changes to their expectations but if it persists for more than a year then it becomes a problem which can end up doing a lot of harm. Objectifying autism takes the focus off the child and puts it on the condition instead. Parents, groups and companies in this mode spend their time thinking about how to cure and prevent the condition rather than on how best to help their children. The focus then becomes extremely negative and it is only a small step from discussion of murdering an imperfect fetus to the murder of a child under your care. This outlook doesn't help anyone. It's not about "Saving the World", it's the smaller, personal stuff that matters Being the parent of a child on the Autism spectrum is...

One of the most frequently cited "treatments" for Autism and Aspergers syndrome is the Gluten Free Diet. Gluten refers to two proteins which are found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Gluten gives dough a spongy texture and it's a common ingredient in bread and pizza bases.  It's also used as a thickener in sauces and soups. I've been asked again about the Gluten Free diet and since I've never really talked about it here, I guess it's something that I should discuss.  Take note though, I'm not a doctor and I'm not an expert on anything, except perhaps information gathering. Before acting on any self-diagnosis, be sure to consult a doctor. What is this Gluten thing? There's a chronic digestive disorder called celiac disease which causes people's bodies to "rebel against gluten" and mount an auto-immune response. This is a serious problem which can damage a person's small intestine.  It affects about 1 in 123 pe...