Asperger's Disorder
Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger disorder (AD) or simply Asperger's,
is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction
and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
Featured Child
This is Schuyler
Schuyler was just four years old when he was diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and autism. Through early and intensive intervention, which has included many years at therapeutic boarding schools, Schuyler continues to experience successful relationships, academic progress, and vocational growth and opportunities.
Featured Articles for Asperger's
Feeling Guilty When Raising a Child With Special Needs
Parents are often their own toughest critics. When the idyllic picture of what we thought our family would look like is a stark contrast to what the reality is, we add on even more stress by feeling guilty about what we did or didn't do in a a sea of very complex situations. For parents of special needs children, these instances are magnified, but they are recurring thoughts of every parent, nearly every day. Break the cycle of guilt for your sake and for the sake of your child.
When Your Child with Asperger's Disorder is Bullied
It's not just about your child being picked last for the kickball game or not making new friends at school, it's about the derogatory comments towards your child from other children or the lack of empathy from the adults in his/her life. Finding the right tools to help your child with Asperger's and Autism Spectrum Disorder and educating those who interact with your child, will help lead you all down a path towards a bright future for your child.
Reflecting on Newtown and Coming Out of the Closet on Mental Illness: It's Time
Each year we reflect on the anniversary of Newtown. During the recollection, let's make sure that we strengthen our commitment to preventing this from happening again, anywhere. One way is to read this emotional plea by Christine Walker, mother of a son afflicted with mental illness.
Latest Articles for Asperger's
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Stop, Think, and Don’t React: Encouraging Parents to Be Proactive – Instead of Reactive or Confrontative – During Times of Conflict
Written By: Rebecca Thomas | Resource Creation By Bridget Morton | Design By Sunny DiMartino
Parents may often find themselves resorting to ultimatums, threats of punishment, removing privileges, or simply throwing up their hands when their child with special needs is having a meltdown and exhibits demanding or irrational behavior. Before exercising rigid authority, which often worsens challenging behavior, parents can instead use personal coping strategies to help themselves stay centered and focused so they remain calm in the face of conflict and, in turn, help their child become more calm as well.
The Sometimes Long and Winding Road to an Individualized Education Program
Written By Geoff Campbell | Resource Creation By Bridget Morton | Design By Sunny DiMartino
Maintaining an open line of communication with parents is important and often difficult, even in the best of circumstances. This is especially true when a struggling student is being evaluated for a possible disability—and an IEP—and a teacher’s continued updates throughout the process can provide worried parents with much-needed reassurance.
When Children with Special Needs Have Siblings
Written By: Geoff Campbell | Resource Creation By: Bridget Morton | Design By: Sunny DiMartino
Parents may often feel
challenged when raising a child with special needs. But when there are other
children in the family and that special-needs child has a sibling, parents often
feel even greater stress when trying to give both children the time, support,
and attention they need.
Returning to Safety: Understanding and Reducing Self-Injurious Behavior
Written By: Julie Wallach | Resource Creation By: Bridget Morton | Design By: Sunny DiMartino
A seven-year-old girl's increasingly extreme self-injurious behavior requires understanding, thoughtful solutions, and careful planning. After a very challenging period of time, Lyla* receives the adult understanding, special education, and therapeutic care she needs to keep herself safe from her own harm.
When Helping Can Hurt: Parent Enabling of Children with Special Needs
Written By: Agata Antonow | Resource Creation By: Bridget Morton | Design By: Sunny DiMartino
All parents want to help their children, and that can be especially true of parents who have children with special needs. Unfortunately, doing too much for your child may mean that they don’t learn some of the basic life skills they’ll need later in life.
Tracking the Clues: Using Functional Behavioral Assessment to Help Kids with Special Needs
Written By: Agata Antonow | Resource Creation By: Bridget Morton | Design By: Sunny DiMartino
Sometimes, children with special needs exhibit behaviors that seem random and are difficult to understand, leaving parents with the difficult task of figuring out what they mean and how to respond. In these situations, a set of tools known as Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) can help. Many parents have not heard of FBA, but counselors and therapists use this approach to systematically gather specific data about behaviors and decide on the appropriate intervention. FBA strategies can also be used in the home by parents struggling to understand specific behavior problems—and how to address them.