Note: I'm not an expert on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. This blog is about my learning in and outside of my graduate studies. I just love to share what I'm learning along the way. If you want to learn more about Autism and AS, please read books and articles yourself. However, the best bet is to learn from the professionals and adult Aspies. If any Aspies are reading this, I know I might have grammar mistakes. English is my second language and I grew up without the proper language support I need to master the English language. However, it's important for regular people to read my blog entries as is because it shows I'm human and how I write is my written voice. Typical people don't like to read text that is too perfect so it's boring to them generally.
Mayo Clinic definition of Aspergers said, "Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics.
Doctors group Asperger's syndrome with other conditions that are called autistic spectrum disorders or pervasive developmental disorders. These disorders all involve problems with social skills and communication. Asperger's syndrome is generally thought to be at the milder end of this spectrum.
While there's no cure for Asperger's syndrome, if your child has the condition treatment can help him or her learn how to interact more successfully in social situations."
To read a summary about Asperger's Syndrome, how it was named, and other facts, go here. Just as a note, many of the descriptions about AS explains the Aspie boys. There aren't as many Aspie girls but there is a growing understanding about them and how their symptoms are milder forms.
Here's a youclip about female Aspies:
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I am reading up on Asperger's Syndrome (AS for short)during my winter break. I want to understand this diagnosis better. I learned that many teens and young adults with Asperger's call their condition as Aspies. Many people who get diagnosed with AS happens in their teens and young adult years since this condition became noticeable in some circles here in America during the year 1991. The last few years, more young children are being diagnosed with AS so it means they get earlier treatment so they can socialized better like typical people do. Read my first blog on AS here. Yes, the kindergarten boy is the first child I met who has AS. He is teaching me a lot about his unique perspectives. I don't get to spend too much time with him since I'm not his main after school leader. By the way, a few years ago, I had a chance to work about four months with a young child with high functioning autism. That's another story I won't get into now. I might have to write a blog entry on autism one of these days.
Asperger's Syndrome VS. Autism
Generally, both conditions have two things in common, these people struggle with communication and social skills. There are three areas we will look at to understand the differences between AS and Autism; they are speech, cognitive skills, and social skills and communication.
1. Speech
Aspies don't usually have speech delays or interruptions or loss of speech. Each Aspie child's speech and language development varies like typical children. We don't always start talking at the same age or acquire language the same way. By the way, my first language was Cantonese. I didn't start talking until I was about 3 years old. In my toddler years, I only knew how to say, "Mama."
At a young age, some Aspie children acquire higher language skills like an adult; however, they won't be able to share their wants and needs. For example, this child may know a lot about trains, but he or she can't decide what to eat for lunch. There are other concerns about speech development as in, "unusual speech patterns and talking in am onotone or sing-song manner...[he or she] might also have difficulty with pragmatics, understanding abstract and social uses of language" (p. 6-7).
2. Cognitive Skills
Children with AS usually don't have delays with cognitive (thinking and processing) skills development but children with Autism might have cognitive development delays. Here are three specific areas that an autistic child have difficulties:
a)"Visuospatial coherence: The ability to see an object as separate parts and then put those parts together such as buttoning a shirt or making a bed"(p. 7).
b) "False-belief understanding: The ability to infer what other people believe tend think and then predict behavior" (p.7). For example, a child may take your cup and placed it somewhere else. Generally, a typical child will know that you don't know where the cup went. However, the child with underdeveloped false-belief understanding will think you know where the cup is located since he knows where its location. This usually occurs after age 2.
c)"Executive functioning:Using cognitive abilities to carry out daily tasks such as planning, organization, keeping tack of time, multitasking, recalling past events and relating them to the current situation, chanting plans when needed and interacting with a group of people" (p.8)
3. Social Skills and Communication:
Both conditions do share issues with social skills and communication. Here are the details in how Apies are in social situations and using communication skills with others:
*They are interesting in developing social bonds but they need help with learning social skills such as looking someone in the eye (such an American behavior), recognizing facial expressions, and participating in a conversation.
*Some Aspies may be considered "odd" or socially inept. Sometimes some typical people may say that some Aspies as socially arkward or introverted or chatterboxes (people who talk too much without considering your audience).
Here's a youtube clip from a high functioning autistic man explaining differences between high functioning autism (HFA) and AS:
Source: I got the info between Autism and AS from this book called The Essential Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Eileen Bailey and Robert W. Montgomery, PhD. This is basically AS 101 to help you understand young children to young adults with AS especially a whole chapter on Aspie girls and women. Yes, this is a parenting book but I find many useful info from parenting books. Is it weird for a childless Single person like me to do this? I don't really care. I just love to read and sometimes I read for information for my life or my life's work. In addition, reading parenting books do give me a glimpse what's like for parents dealing with all kinds of children. Why does society judge parents so harshly?
Another book to check out is called Quirky, Yes--Hopeless, No: Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted by Cynthia La Brie Norall, Ph.D. This is a fascinating book. So many good tips. I might even use some of these strategies on my K-1 typical students. I'm always finding better ways for me to communicate with children and strategies to help them succeed with problem solving, social problems and other life skills.
There are many books out there including ones written by Aspies. I just don't have time to read everything. I have two books on friendships checked out from the library. Maybe I'll gleam some useful info to use with my K-1 students.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
The Top Ten Things You Learn or Experience with an Asperger's child
I know, I should be relaxing since I'm on my Christmas break from school. However, even on my down time, I do love to read. I have been around a kindergarten boy who has Asperger's the last two months and so I wanted to learn more. I heard about the autism spectrum over 5 years ago. So the last 5 years, I have observed or worked with a child with high functioning autism in short periods. I kind of know some basic info on this but I'm am work in progress when learning about autism and Asperger's. (Note: I have met a man who has Asperger's, a friend of a friend. It was interesting talking with him. He must have learned a bit of social skills since he didn't talked my ears off as I heard that some people with Asperger's do. Then again, I am such a patient and kind person who has good listening skills.)
Back to the child I was talking about, he is the first one I am kind of working with who has Asperger's. In addition, he also has ADHD. I have worked with many kids with ADHD so I got that part okay. I'm always learning though. Anyways, I checked out a few books from the library on Asperger's. So far, I only been able to read one book written by a mom who has a son with Asperger's and ADHD this week. It was an interesting read so I encouraged you to read The Best King of Different: Our Family's Journey with Asperger's Syndrome by Shonda Schilling.
Personally, I don't use labels to box people in. Labels are useful for me since I need some kind of basic information for me to get to know people. I do see children (and adults too) more than their labels. There are strengths and weaknesses. But I also see a specialness only God can create in each one of us. I myself was labeled a shy, quiet kid. I wasn't even shy until I cared about what others' thought of me. I didn't like how people boxed me in so that it was hard to really be me in public. By the way, Susan Cain defined shyness as "the fear of social rejection and humiliation." I didn't really feel shy until I was around 10 or 11 years old. Maybe as a little kid, I may get a bit nervous meeting new people or people I'm not familiar with so I tend to be sticking to my mom's side or behind her. I don't see that as shyness, just more about feeling unsure about someone I don't know well. As a child, I socialized differently. I'm a proud introvert. Please read some past entries about introverts and the gifts of introverts. Okay, I did turned out fine. I prefer not to socialize in big group settings like an extrovert who enjoys them. Hmm, maybe that is why I feel a connection to people who are viewed differently in society.
Here is the Top Ten List by Curt Schilling (p. 166-67 of his wife's book mentioned above):
10. It is humanly possible to say "Stop" four hundred times in a ten-second time frame. (Adding that children with Asperger's don't stop their actions or words if you shout or say stop a lot.)
9. You know the exact time you will be exhausted every day: within fifteen seconds of waking your child with Asperger's.
8. At fifteen your Asperger's child will likely have an IQ twice as high as yours and let you know exactly when and how you were wrong every day.
7. Everyone at the grocery store, swimming pool, or other public gathering place knows your child's name, even if you didn't tell anyone.
6. Be prepared to never have the last word in any conversation ever.
5. Pray that if they have any nervous tics or habits, they don't include picking their nose.
4. Be prepared to be presented with more information than any human has the right to know about Legos, Star Wars, bulldogs, Bakugan, Pokemon, dinosaurs, Yu-Gi-Oh!, World of Warcraft, Webkinz, the human skin, bowel movements, and body hair--and hope your child only picks one.
3. Do not fart in public if you don't want everyone within earshot to know who, where, and what just happened.
2. Get ready for serious doses of unconditional love. The heart of an Asperger's child is not bound by society's norms, not limited top lessons we were told and taught, not confused or embarrassed by anything the heart emits. Theirs is a brand of unconditional love we should all pray at night to be exposed to, or to be able to extend ourselves. (Just want to add, God gives us unconditional love greater than any human can give.)
Drum roll, please....
1. Be prepared to go further than you dreamed, worked harder than you thought possible, to love, and to cry, but at the end of the day wrap your arms around a true gift from God. : )
Children with autism or Asperger's are very sweet and have interesting minds. I enjoy their point of view on things. They can be funny too in that we all laugh together and having a good time. My final thoughts is that each of us are created uniquely in so we can bring our strengths into our world to make it a good place to be. Our unique strengths will help someone else out. Isn't what life all about, to love and to be loved? : )
Back to the child I was talking about, he is the first one I am kind of working with who has Asperger's. In addition, he also has ADHD. I have worked with many kids with ADHD so I got that part okay. I'm always learning though. Anyways, I checked out a few books from the library on Asperger's. So far, I only been able to read one book written by a mom who has a son with Asperger's and ADHD this week. It was an interesting read so I encouraged you to read The Best King of Different: Our Family's Journey with Asperger's Syndrome by Shonda Schilling.
Personally, I don't use labels to box people in. Labels are useful for me since I need some kind of basic information for me to get to know people. I do see children (and adults too) more than their labels. There are strengths and weaknesses. But I also see a specialness only God can create in each one of us. I myself was labeled a shy, quiet kid. I wasn't even shy until I cared about what others' thought of me. I didn't like how people boxed me in so that it was hard to really be me in public. By the way, Susan Cain defined shyness as "the fear of social rejection and humiliation." I didn't really feel shy until I was around 10 or 11 years old. Maybe as a little kid, I may get a bit nervous meeting new people or people I'm not familiar with so I tend to be sticking to my mom's side or behind her. I don't see that as shyness, just more about feeling unsure about someone I don't know well. As a child, I socialized differently. I'm a proud introvert. Please read some past entries about introverts and the gifts of introverts. Okay, I did turned out fine. I prefer not to socialize in big group settings like an extrovert who enjoys them. Hmm, maybe that is why I feel a connection to people who are viewed differently in society.
Here is the Top Ten List by Curt Schilling (p. 166-67 of his wife's book mentioned above):
10. It is humanly possible to say "Stop" four hundred times in a ten-second time frame. (Adding that children with Asperger's don't stop their actions or words if you shout or say stop a lot.)
9. You know the exact time you will be exhausted every day: within fifteen seconds of waking your child with Asperger's.
8. At fifteen your Asperger's child will likely have an IQ twice as high as yours and let you know exactly when and how you were wrong every day.
7. Everyone at the grocery store, swimming pool, or other public gathering place knows your child's name, even if you didn't tell anyone.
6. Be prepared to never have the last word in any conversation ever.
5. Pray that if they have any nervous tics or habits, they don't include picking their nose.
4. Be prepared to be presented with more information than any human has the right to know about Legos, Star Wars, bulldogs, Bakugan, Pokemon, dinosaurs, Yu-Gi-Oh!, World of Warcraft, Webkinz, the human skin, bowel movements, and body hair--and hope your child only picks one.
3. Do not fart in public if you don't want everyone within earshot to know who, where, and what just happened.
2. Get ready for serious doses of unconditional love. The heart of an Asperger's child is not bound by society's norms, not limited top lessons we were told and taught, not confused or embarrassed by anything the heart emits. Theirs is a brand of unconditional love we should all pray at night to be exposed to, or to be able to extend ourselves. (Just want to add, God gives us unconditional love greater than any human can give.)
Drum roll, please....
1. Be prepared to go further than you dreamed, worked harder than you thought possible, to love, and to cry, but at the end of the day wrap your arms around a true gift from God. : )
Children with autism or Asperger's are very sweet and have interesting minds. I enjoy their point of view on things. They can be funny too in that we all laugh together and having a good time. My final thoughts is that each of us are created uniquely in so we can bring our strengths into our world to make it a good place to be. Our unique strengths will help someone else out. Isn't what life all about, to love and to be loved? : )
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The First Year
I earned an A in my ESOL Methods class. I have straight As this term so that's so awesome.
Recently I saw this informative documentary movie called THE FIRST YEAR which follows 5 young teachers in their first year of teaching back in 2000-01 school year. It's older film but it's still important even today. Watch a neat Black male kindergarten teacher Maurice not giving up on one of his students who needed extra support to Genevieve who "wanted to teach the kids no one else wanted to teach" (at-risk 6th graders) to three others passionate teachers making sure their students' needs are met even when facing bureaucracy. Check this movie out!
There is an extra film shootage on the DVD that also mentioned Mr.Glass who taught special education (grade 3-5) who has high standards of his students and they are learning academic subjects; this portion this make it to the final film because it was probably hard to follow 6 teachers in 80 minutes with a good flow.
Recently I saw this informative documentary movie called THE FIRST YEAR which follows 5 young teachers in their first year of teaching back in 2000-01 school year. It's older film but it's still important even today. Watch a neat Black male kindergarten teacher Maurice not giving up on one of his students who needed extra support to Genevieve who "wanted to teach the kids no one else wanted to teach" (at-risk 6th graders) to three others passionate teachers making sure their students' needs are met even when facing bureaucracy. Check this movie out!
There is an extra film shootage on the DVD that also mentioned Mr.Glass who taught special education (grade 3-5) who has high standards of his students and they are learning academic subjects; this portion this make it to the final film because it was probably hard to follow 6 teachers in 80 minutes with a good flow.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Brainstorming about my Career
I got an A in Positive Classroom class. I'm still waiting on my ESOL methods class. However, I did really well in the Literacy Development Strategies presentation with my partner so it's an A. Even my instructor wrote that she noticed how well my partner and I worked together.
I just met with my advisor. Next term, I'm taking the Descriptive Linguistics and Adolescent Development classes. I needed the development class as part of my professional core. So I should graduate by the end of summer term 2013.
I still don't know what I'm going to do with my non-teaching M.Ed degree. Though, I will enjoy studying courses I get to pick out from now on. Do I want to go back to the teaching route? I'm going back and forth now. Before Spring term incident with me dropping a course, I was so black and white about me becoming a teacher. Now, the last few weeks, I noticed there are different needs that I can work with children. I need a career that fits me and make me feel like I'm contributing to society. I think I'm reflecting more these last couple months at my after school job. Over the years, I have worked with children with special needs and English Language Learners (ELL). This year is my sixth year that I've worked at the ExAcademy program; it's only a part-time job. I know I enjoy working with children in small groups and one-to-one situations. What can I do? I enjoy working with children with special needs (higher functioning of course), learning disabilities and ELLs. What kind of career can I go into working full time?
The Marylhurst Experience
I just met with my advisor. Next term, I'm taking the Descriptive Linguistics and Adolescent Development classes. I needed the development class as part of my professional core. So I should graduate by the end of summer term 2013.
I still don't know what I'm going to do with my non-teaching M.Ed degree. Though, I will enjoy studying courses I get to pick out from now on. Do I want to go back to the teaching route? I'm going back and forth now. Before Spring term incident with me dropping a course, I was so black and white about me becoming a teacher. Now, the last few weeks, I noticed there are different needs that I can work with children. I need a career that fits me and make me feel like I'm contributing to society. I think I'm reflecting more these last couple months at my after school job. Over the years, I have worked with children with special needs and English Language Learners (ELL). This year is my sixth year that I've worked at the ExAcademy program; it's only a part-time job. I know I enjoy working with children in small groups and one-to-one situations. What can I do? I enjoy working with children with special needs (higher functioning of course), learning disabilities and ELLs. What kind of career can I go into working full time?
The Marylhurst Experience
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Quiet: The Power of Introverts, Part 2
Last Thursday evening, it was my last ESOL methods class and being with the Cohort V elementary folks. It was a good last class. I turned in my last two assignments. I presented a 20 minute presentation with my partner on Strategies of Literacy Development from the 50 Strategies book on ELLs and teaching them. I think our presentation went well.
Last Wednesday I finally got to check out Susan Cain's Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (2012) and I have been reading this book the last several days. Her book is speaking to me. I learned so much about the unique gifts of introverts. In some ways, I knew what they are but to know more in-depth ways on how we can contribute to our world is fascinating. Along the way, I learned to cope with living in this Extroverted-loving world. However, I love the tips she shares in bringing out the best of your introverted children.
Here are two quotes that jump out at me from Cain's book:
From p. 4, "Introversion--along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness--is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living under the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man's world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are. Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we're turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform."
From p. 249, "...don't let her hear you call her 'shy': she'll believe the label and experience her nervousness as a fixed trait rather than an emotion she can control. She also knows full well that 'shy' is a negative word in our society. Above all, do not shame her for her shyness." I can relate with that quote because I was labeled shy and bashful. Sometimes in my childhood, it was hard to really connect with people. However, one in a while, I did make a good friend here and there growing up.
Here's another Susan Cain interview:
Last Wednesday I finally got to check out Susan Cain's Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (2012) and I have been reading this book the last several days. Her book is speaking to me. I learned so much about the unique gifts of introverts. In some ways, I knew what they are but to know more in-depth ways on how we can contribute to our world is fascinating. Along the way, I learned to cope with living in this Extroverted-loving world. However, I love the tips she shares in bringing out the best of your introverted children.
Here are two quotes that jump out at me from Cain's book:
From p. 4, "Introversion--along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness--is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living under the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man's world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are. Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we're turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform."
From p. 249, "...don't let her hear you call her 'shy': she'll believe the label and experience her nervousness as a fixed trait rather than an emotion she can control. She also knows full well that 'shy' is a negative word in our society. Above all, do not shame her for her shyness." I can relate with that quote because I was labeled shy and bashful. Sometimes in my childhood, it was hard to really connect with people. However, one in a while, I did make a good friend here and there growing up.
Here's another Susan Cain interview:
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