July 22, 2009
By Toni Lapp
Children with Asperger’s syndrome, on the outside, look like typical children, which can be a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing in that they blend in — at least on the surface — with their neurotypical peers in mainstream schools. The curse is that beneath the surface they are frequently dealing with issues such as depression and ADHD, prompting parents to seek accommodations (hence the term “special needs”).
One of my son’s classmates at Shawnee Mission East, 17-year-old Connor Rice, is an example. Because he’s struggled with anxiety — in addition to having Asperger’s syndrome — his mother, Denise Rice, had obtained an “attendance waiver” to excuse him from excessive absences.
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July 13, 2009
By Jeanne Holverstott, M.S.
Question: How do you tell a child that he or she has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome? Is this something that a 9-year-old needs to know? My feeling is to protect my son until it’s absolutely necessary – perhaps when his status becomes more of an issue. Is that wrong?
Answer: To begin with, let me share a story I will never forget.
“Don’t say the ‘A’ word about your brother,” a mom once said to her 7-year-old daughter. I was surprised to hear such a reprimand directed at a girl who was always polite, never crass. Somewhat jokingly, I asked when such colorful language had entered the repertoire. “We decided to tell her, you know, about it.” About what…..? There I was thinking about how behind I was in parenting literature to have missed a page on when to tell your little ones the little four-lettered ones. But then I understood, but not completely.
I do not have a child on the autism spectrum. I do not have children yet. I do not know how the possible grief and denial associated with parenting a child with an autism spectrum disorder feel.
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July 8, 2009
By Julius Karash
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon kicked some well-deserving butts on behalf of the autism world today.
Nixon exercised his boots while signing HB 525 and SB 157 along with sponsors Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit. The two bills codify into law existing autism support through five regional centers.
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July 8, 2009
By Toni Lapp
Leaders in the autism community are urging voters to speak up on the health-care debate — specifically, to contact lawmakers who will be key to crafting health-care reform legislation.
“Autism insurance reform can and should be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October,” writes Elizabeth Emken, vice president of government relations for Autism Speaks, in a blast e-mail to members. “This is the time to end autism insurance discrimination once and for all. Our children have a medical condition which deserves appropriate treatment, therapy and care. Congress needs to know that health care ‘reform’ that fails to stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.”
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July 7, 2009
By Charles Lackner
About two years ago Mandy Commons started working in the marketing department of the company where I was the distribution manager. A few months later I learned that she had three children, one of whom has autism. Not knowing what to say, I said nothing. I listened to her talk about Bryce and how she battled it by herself at first, finding support as she went down a rocky path.
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