Have you seen this? Do you know anyone Autistic?

Question

My son has Aspergers Syndrome (in the Autistic Spectrum). He is six years old and I know he is viewed differently by his peers. I can only hope he becomes this High Functioning as an adult. Do you know anyone with Aspergers or Autism? ABC News link on Daniel Tammet:

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerindex?...

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Thank you for all of your responses! I don't like having to "pick" a Best Answer when so many are kind and helpful!

My son is in the Public School system and receives "special services". He is a whiz at reading and arithmetic, but his Fine Motor Skills (writing and drawing) are poor. He told his brother that he's a "freak"...so I know he's feeling different and being picked on. As a parent you want to protect your child (especially if they are so vulnerable) to the nuances of childhood interactions, but he's going to have to learn what works for him. Luckily, he's becoming more cognizant of the difference in himself and will come up with a Positive Behavior to compensate. Plus, he has a family that adores and loves him deeply…that helps too!

Answer 1

Yes, my 7 year old son has autism. He is the sweetest boy & a real joy. He has to go to a special school that specialises in autistic children. It has help him, but there is no way of knowing what the limit is going to be on his potential. I am afraid that his brothers are going to have to always be there for him in some way after his mother and I pass on. That is my only worry. By the way, I firmly believe that his conditition was caused by those series of shots that were given. They were "way too much & way too early". No matter how many times the government denies a cause & effect between them and autism. He was progressing perfectly normally for a child of his age until he received them. I look at family video tapes "before" and "after", and it makes me want to cry, to see the difference. But nothing can be done about that now, so we do the best we can and depend on God for the strength and faith to cope with an unknown future. Take care and our prayers are with you.--theBerean

Answer 2

Actually my brother is autistic. He has Aspergers as well. He is in the 9th grade at a public high school. do you have any other children? if yes, then what ever you do...do not separate them. if no, get him around other children more often, the park is always a good idea. But what ever you do, don't give up. We were going to put my brother in a "special" school but he knew that he was different and we didn't want him to grow up around an environment like that. so we put him in public schools and it has been a big help with his social life. a book i recomend is "there's a boy in here" by judy barron and her son sean barron. it is the story of a mother and her autistic son. when i read it, it opened my eyes to a whole new light. when i read the things sean did in the book i could compare them to my brother, stephen. and when sean wrote his side of the story i understood WHY stephen was doing the things that he would do. the book is a true story and the endding is fantastic and i believe it is what you have been looking for. if you what to talk please feel free to email me at [e-mail] you are in my prayers.

Answer 3

First of all, don't ever let him believe what anyone says when it comes to his being a "freak" and get him out of that mentality. I actually know someone who is very autistic. His is a condition in which he is extremely mental (no, i don't mean crazy or anything like that) and not much physical. That is perfectly OK! I'm sure he will become a very strong individual in the math and science spectrum. He may not be the epitome of social butterfly-ism, but he will definitely be a very logical person, maybe even becoming a mathematician.

However, when he gets to school, remind him that the teacher does have control over the class and it's not nice to shout anything out (teach him the hand rule)

Answer 4

my 16 year old neice is autistic she goes to regular public school she's going to graduiate in two more years and she is medium function but she has hardly any social skills can't really carry on a conversation but asks ton of questions and is also a math and science wiz but she hate to read and she will never be able to live alone or work at any type or regular job she'll have to be employed buy easter seals or some such charity if her mom and dad think that it's right for her they are inrolling her in some academic programs at the local community college when she graduates in 09, she likes everything just the way it is and hates company (even though she loves us and our kids) and every time we go to their house the first thing she says is "hi anut sarah when are you gonna leave" it's quite funny and whatever time we tell her as soon as it's about a 1/2 hour away the count down begins "aunt sarah your leaving in a half hour it's almost time" every 5 min till we go holidays like thanksgiving and christmas if there's too many people she will sometimes stem a little or sometimes a lot we usually take her out side to calm down or keep the door open if she at my house the door has got to be open if you shut any door in the house she'll stem out completly so we learn all this through trial and error don't worry we live in florida so the door open in the winter is just fine unless it's like today it's 52 degrees and i'm freezing , learn all you can as for how they are treated in school her parents are verry involved and they say the kids are all nice to her and no one makes fun of her but they and we still worry i have 3 other neices who live in a different state there all teens and i have asked them how other special needs kids are treated in there high school and they all said that these kids are treated well and made to feel special and included in all aspects they even have a 17 year old down syndrom girl on the cheerleading team so maybe all the teachings of tolerance help but at the ages of elementary they are just too young and don't realise that making fun on someone who's special is really damaging to them best thing to do is educate their parents about your sons atusim so that he won't be misunderstood and maybe they'll learn some compassion good luck

Answer 5

You've gotten a lot of great advice from people already. I only wanted to add that I know kids with autism and with Aspergers, and their symptoms range from mild to severe. For one child with Aspergers, public school became too difficult at age ten (socially, not academically -- this kid is brilliant), so he's now being home schooled. I went to high school with a kid with Aspergers who grew up to become a Juilliard-trained composer. Anything is possible. Good luck!

Answer 6

People often have Asperger's Syndrome and don't even know it.

This is a fairly newly "discovered" condition, and it is generally considered a mild form of autism (as you must know) with people who have it generally being average to above average IQ's.

There was a president (I think that was his title) of Harvard University who recently resigned. I heard he may have had Asperger's Syndrome. I don't know this person, but I thought it was worth mentioning to you.

I can't think of their names right now, but there are some very successful people who have Asperger's Syndrome.

Answer 7

i know several kids with autism. i was a nanny for a girl with autism. she's 19 now and in her first year of college. she was born with spina bifida and low level autism. she was different from her friends and as they got older, they noticed it more. by middle school she had started over with new friends, who liked her for who she was. she is still slow to get some things, and doesn't get good grades easily. she works very hard and has a cashier job at petco, drives a car and has dated a few boys.you never know what will happen in life...i wish you and your son the best...good luck

Answer 8

I know heaps of kids with autism all of varying degrees.Most go to a normal school with a special needs unit.Your son might need to go to a school with special needs.I know a lad who was extremely unhappy at his previous nprmal school but since he moved to a new school with special needs and with other kids like him he has come on leaps and bounds.You have to do what is right by your child.Ordinary school kids may view and tease your son so be careful about waht type of school you send your son to.

Answer 9

My youngest has just been diagnosed as ASD. At only just 3 we are just beginning to understand what could be ahead for him. Good luck with your son, I'm sure with the right guidance he will become a high functioning adult.

Answer 10

yea, my sister.

I dont think theres a cure for it, is there?