Aspergers question?

Question

My husband and I have adopted 2 children...one is 13 and one is 3. We have been asked to adopt a 4 year old w
with Aspergers. We really want a son to complete our family -- but have only limited information about Aspergers. Any advice to help us make our decision? We have not met him; but I am already feeling a conneciton to him...I want to make sure and do the right thing for him and for the kids I already have. We live in a very very small town (65) and the local school district doesn't have very much of a spec. ed program. Any info is appreciated

Answer 1

I have a student with Asperger's. For the most part, he is a normal boy - he is involved in sports and music. His motor skills are lacking. He also has poor social skills and sometimes has emotional outbursts (i.e. if he is upset he slap his head, or if he is excited, he will jump up excitedly.)
He gets frustrated rather easily and is really hard on himself. He learns a lot by rote, so, he will do things repeatedly until he gets it and can become fixated on one thing - this is where he gets easily frustrated. I also notice he is bothered by sounds that most children would just ignore. For instance, he mentions that certain noises make his teeth hurt, or he will notice a sound in another room (while there are many other sounds going on) that catches his attention.
It's also "all or nothing" with him. He takes things very literally and to the extreme.

Overall, he is a sweet boy and very polite. He works very hard and is a good student. I read a book that was recommended by his parents "Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals" by Tony Attwood. It was pretty good and helped me understand Asperger's a lot better.

Here are some websites with info.

http://www.aspergers.com
http://www.asperger.net/

Good luck with the adoption! :-)

Answer 2

Asperger's is a type of autism, falling mostly under the social/emotional part of the spectrum. He will struggle all his life with social interactions. Not in being shy, but in things like being unable repond correctly to social cues. He will be able to understand that someone might be upset or unhappy with, but won't be able to respond with an apology (for example).

There's also a chance that he will be unable to stand being touched. Many children with autism/Asperger's have sensory disorders. He could be unable to do simple things like hugging, or he could be clingy and unabe to let go. There are some foods he may be unable to eat because the texture or color of it makes him gag. He may have learning disabilities ranging from mild to severe, or he could be a true genius.

It is imperative that he get the right kind of special education. This means you will need a team of teachers and therapists, at least one of whom specializes in working with children who have autism/Aspergers. Without it, this little boy will never reach his full potential, and in a worst case scenario, he may end up spending his adult life in a residential program.

If you cannot convince your local school district to hire these kinds of specialists, you will need to look into whether or not there are any private schools in the area that have experience working with Asperger's children. If not, you may want to consider moving to a town or city that does.

He may need medication as he gets older, and he may have to be hospitalized (in the psychiatric wing), possibly more than once through out his life.

That's the downside.

On the upside, he will teach you more than you teach him. You will learn new ways of thinking and seeing the world as you interact with him. He will teach you more about patience and tolerance than any book could possibly do. Even if he cannot stand physical contact, the love he will have for you will be worth all the effort and expense. He will probably be able to teach you more about God's unconditional love than the Bible or any pastor ever could.

If you can come up with the resources you will need to raise him, you will not regret it.

If you need specific information, try these websites:

http://www.aspergers.com/

www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger

http://www.aspergerssyndrome.net/

There are plenty of other sites on the web, but these are the ones that helped me the most.

Hope things work out for the best for your family.

Answer 3

Asperger's is on a continuum and can be so mild as to be almost non-existent to so severe it is disabling. Such a small school would NOT be a good place for a severe case and I know you want to do a good thing; however, please do the right thing. See the child, read his records, and talk to the school. This could and may impact your life in ways you cannot fathom...if all else fails he could be traveling miles each way on a bus to be educated...

Answer 4

I'd say just do your research...and maybe go to the school and check out their special ed program. Let them know the situation that you may adopt a boy with Aspergers and go from there....

That's a really great thing what you're doing....
May GOD bless you and good luck.

Answer 5

It's very important that he will have an aide in school. My friend's son has aspergers and he's done very well because he always has someone to give him support in school and at home his mom has to help him with things as well. If you love him, it can be done.

Answer 6

properly, I doubt any are born with it. i think that what truthfully happens is that Introverted, yet proficient, infants are teased and tormented by ability of their fellow pupils at college. those different pupils would certainly be prompted by ability of sheer envy! Such introverted, yet proficient, pupils react by ability of exhibiting particular emotional and behavioral problems that are categorized (gasp) Asperger. of course, including insult to harm, there is the extreme Male innovations canard! that's designed, of course, to reason women folk with Radical Feminists leanings to anticipate that their detrimental stereotypes of adult males are exceedingly and strangely authentic of those unhappy, traumatized Introverts, who, are stated as Aspies in this society.

Answer 7

Depending on his individual needs, he may or may not need a lot of special education services. The best thing that you can do is educate yourself, and develop a positive, helping relationship with your child's teachers, sharing with them any information or resources that you find helpful.

Here is a description of Asperger's syndrome with some additional resources that may help. Best of luck to you! I wish your family all the best!

Asperger's Syndrome is a condition similar to autism, and may be characterized by:

- "peer relationships characterized by absolute loyalty and impeccable dependability,"

- "seeking an audience or friends capable of: enthusiasm for unique interests and topics,"

- "consideration of details; spending time discussing a topic that may not be of primary interest,"

- "interested primarily in significant contributions to conversation; preferring to avoid 'ritualistic small talk' or socially trivial statements and superficial conversation,"

- "seeking sincere, positive, genuine friends with an unassuming sense of humor,"

- "advanced vocabulary and interest in words,"

- "strong preference for detail over gestalt,"

- "exceptional memory and/or recall of details ... for example: names, dates, schedules, routines,"

- "avid perseverance in gathering and cataloging information on a topic of interest,"

- "focused desire to maintain order and accuracy,"

- "clarity of values/decision making unaltered by political or financial factors,"

- "acute sensitivity to specific sensory experiences and stimuli, for example: hearing, touch, vision, and/or smell,"

and

- "strength in individual sports and games, particularly those involving endurance or visual accuracy, including rowing, swimming, bowling, chess."

Source: The Discovery of "Aspie" Criteria, By Carol Gray and Tony Attwood - http://www.thegraycenter.org/sectionsdetails.cfm?id=38


Other highly-recommended resources:

Websites:

"Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew" by Ellen Notbohm - http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/sfe-sfp-autism,0,6196233.story

Website of Paula Kluth, Ph.D. - http://www.paulakluth.com/autism.html

Positively Autism (free online magazine, includes free lessons/activities) - http://www.positivelyautism.com

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism by Temple Grandin, Ph.D. - http://www.autism.org/temple/tips.html


Books:

"Your Life is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" by Jerry Newport

"You're Going to Love This Kid!: Teaching Students With Autism in the Inclusive Classroom" By Paula Kluth

"Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism" By Paul Collins

Any book by Temple Grandin