Life with Aspergers

The idea of an Autism "Awareness" day is fraught with problems. It suggests that people aren't even aware that autism exists, It's a very scary thought. It puts autism far behind most other forms of  disability.  There is no problem with the acceptance of blindness or deafness, of people with missing or damaged limbs or indeed, of most other mental and physical conditions.  People have no difficulty believing in "invisible" (at first) issues like cancer, AIDS or MS but for some reason, the entire autism spectrum is subject to scrutiny. Everything from ADHD, to Aspergers to Autism is disbelieved. Raising Awareness and Blue Light Bulbs Raising awareness is a nice little idea which effectively means that people get to post little blue statuses or celebrate recognition because they've lobbied to light up national monuments in blue. The problem is that raising awareness of a condition does very little to improve the live of the people who live with it...

My latest article on Special-ism which went live about a week or two ago (I've been very busy, sorry) is all about Anxiety.   Following my review of Dr Edward Aull's book " The Parent's Guide to the Medical World of Autism ", last month, I turned my thoughts to Anxiety and the different ways in which it manifests in children and adults. I also thought about the different ways that we deal with anxiety. Head over to Special-ism to have a read; Detect and Deal with Anxiety by Gavin Bollard http://special-ism.com/detect-and-deal-with-anxiety/ Also, while you're there, have a look at Kimberley S. Williams article entitled " Invisible Anxiety: Hiding in the Classroom " which lists some common signs to look out for and ways that parents and teachers can get help and reduce anxiety in the classroom.

The Parent's Guide to the Medical World of Autism: A Physician Explains Diagnosis, Medications and Treatments by Edward Aull, MD Behavioral Pediatrician. It was with great trepidation that I approached this book. I knew that it was an important topic but both the title and the cover make it seem like it would be a very tough read. Much to my surprise though, the first half is light and breezy and the second is too informative to put down. This is essentially two books in one. The first half of the book is about diagnostic procedures while the second is all about medication. The author, Dr Aull, is a Behavioral Pediatrician with over 30 years of experience treating and diagnosing patients on the autism spectrum. In this book he draws upon his experience to provide many real-world long-term examples of the effects of various medications. Diagnostics  I enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the second because it was much more relatable and be...

When I was four, my parents got me a border collie cross something (Labrador, I think). It was an inspired decision. Spot became my "everywhere friend" and we had lots of adventures together. In fact, we became inseparable for the next eighteen years. In the course of those eighteen years, Spot was a comfort, a companion, a friend that I could talk to and a playmate. He acted for my protection against bullies and managed to chase off a few snakes too.  There is no doubt in my mind that my life was much better because of spot. My next article over at Special-ism all about pets, big and small. Perhaps your special needs child is asking for a pet and you're putting it off because you're not sure whether it would be a good idea? Did you know that there are service dogs for people with autism? Do you want to know what they do? Head over to Special-ism to have a read; From Fish to Dogs – Selecting a Therapeutic Pet http://special-ism.com/from-fish-to-dogs-th...

I'm constantly bumping into things and I often have scrapes and bumps and bruises on my body but can't remember how they got there. It's the same for my kids and it's all to do with spatial awareness. Spatial awareness, which is often also referred to as motor clumsiness is the ability to think about a figure, usually your own body, in three dimensions.  Specifically it's about doing the mental calculations required to move your body through spaces without hitting other objects (unless you're hitting them on purpose, as in bat and ball games).  It's not always about your body though because sometimes it's about other moving objects, like catching a ball for instance, or "extended parts" of your body, such as  when moving furniture from one room to another without bumping into walls. A lack of spacial awareness isn't one on of the defining criteria for autism and indeed I've seen some children on the spectrum with amazing ball cont...

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...