The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Asperger's Syndrome

by William Stillman, Nick Dubin

Overview

The clinical diagnosis of Asperger's can be intimidating for parents. Often the focus is on their child's "disabilities" rather than his "abilities," and parents may be left wondering what they should expect as their child journeys through life. This guide helps you take the first steps toward understanding how this developmental disorder may impact your child. This uncomplicated handbook introduces you to Asperger's and helps you to:

• Get a diagnosis and understand the results
• Identify triggers that can lead to sensory overload
• Recognize symptoms of meltdowns and work to prevent them
• Educate family and friends about Asperger's
• Discover support groups for themselves and their child

Now revised and updated, this new edition includes information on educational concerns and social interactions. This is the only resource you need to help your child overcome the obstacles of Asperger's and find success—and happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440503948
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	11/18/2010
Series:	Everything�
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

An Adams Media author.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Introduction xv

1 Defining Asperger's Syndrome 1

Background and History 1

On the Autism Spectrum 2

Asperger's Defined 3

Asperger's and Autistic-Like Commonalities 7

Prevalence and Misdiagnosis 12

Goodbye to Asperger's? 14

2 Positive Perspectives 18

We're All More Alike 18

Similar Habits 20

Confronting Negative Feelings 21

Offering Encouragement and Support 23

Positive Philosophies 26

Comfort Zones 27

3 Seeking Diagnosis 29

Is a Diagnosis Necessary? 29

Making the Decision 31

Local Resources for Diagnosis 33

Intervention 30

Disclosure and Self-Understanding 40

4 Discipline 47

Your Approach to Discipline 47

Setting Rules 49

Communicating Expectations 50

Seeing Your Child's Point of View 52

Knowing When to Discipline 54

Meltdowns 56

5 Communication 59

How Would You Feel? 59

Communicating Visually 62

Extra Processing Time 63

Eye Contact 64

Creating Trust 66

Helping Your Child Crack the "Social Code" 67

Texting-A Good Thing? 70

Additional Social Strategies 71

6 Physical Health 74

Recognizing Pain 74

Allergies 76

Gastrointestinal Issues 77

Why Does Pain Go Unreported? 82

Stones for Reporting Pain 86

7 Mental Health 90

Prevention, Not Intervention 90

Depression 92

Bipolar Disorder 97

Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 101

Ways to Approach Mental Health 103

Fostering Mental Health Self-Advocacy 107

8 Passions 110

Identifying and Valuing Personal Passions 110

How Others Perceive Passions 114

Passions and Relationship Building 115

Passions as Bridges to Learning 119

Passions as Bridges to Employment 123

When Is a Passion an OCD? 124

9 Family Dynamics 128

Parents with Asperger's 128

Recognizing Asperger's in You or Your Spouse 131

Sibling Relationships 132

Extended Family 135

Your Community 138

10 Fostering Relationships 141

Your Child's Interactions 141

The Dance of Reciprocal Flow 142

Conversational "Bag of Tricks" 145

Opportunities for Bonding 148

Finding Allies 150

Is It Okay to Be Alone? 152

11 Educational Programming 154

Your Child's School Experience 154

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 155

Special Education 157

Creating the Individualized Education Program 160

Resolving Disagreements 164

Alternative Education Programs 166

12 School-Related Issues 173

The School Day 173

How Your Child Learns 174

Environmental Issues 177

Homework 180

Bullying 182

Unstructured School Environments 184

13 Extracurricular Activities 186

Athletic Options 186

Playing on a Team 189

Being a Good Sport 190

School-Sponsored Activities 192

Summer Camp 195

14 Significant Transitions and Change 199

Attending a New School 199

Transition to New Home 206

Transition to College 208

Handling Divorce 213

Loss of Loved Ones 215

Follow-up Support 217

15 Traveling and Vacations 218

Fun Vacations 218

A Role in Planning 219

Vacation Anxieties 221

Flying 222

Amusement Parks 225

16 Sexuality 230

The Birds and the Bees 230

Masturbation 234

Infatuation 236

Dating 238

Same-Sex Attraction 241

17 Strategies of Lifelong Value 243

Personal Schedules 243

The Touchstone 246

The Social Out 248

Acting and Music 250

Written Narratives 252

Spirituality 254

18 Employment 256

Identifying Job Interests 256

Part-Time and After-School Work 258

Applying for the Job 260

The Job Interview 261

If Your Child Doesn't Get the Job 263

On-the-Job Issues 264

Emerging Employment Models 267

19 Transitioning to Adulthood 269

Planning for the Future 269

The Person-Centered Planning Process 271

Independent Living 273

Learning New Responsibilities 275

Don't Get Taken Advantage Of 277

20 Law Enforcement 280

Understanding Justice 280

Misunderstandings 285

Calling the Police 287

21 The Rewards of Being an Asperger's Parent 289

What Have You Learned? 289

The Desire to Give Back 291

Asperger's and the World 292

The Neurodiversity Movement 293

The Future 295

Appendix A Further Reading 296

Appendix B Website Resources 298

Index 301