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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April 15, 2009
By Toni Lapp
We’ve all heard the saying “it takes a village.” Nowhere is this felt more strongly than in the autism community. I know I often feel like there is only so much I can do for my son. Like it or not, people in the community frequently become role models, particularly for teens.
So I was a little disappointed to hear about the indifference shown to one of Ryan’s classmates at Shawnee Mission East. Knowing how much her son enjoyed sports, Barbara Kimmel was keen to have Robbie placed as a “manager” of one of the athletic teams at the school. The arrangement might provide him a sense of inclusion and camaraderie that he hasn’t really experienced before, and the student athletes, in turn, would gain by knowing someone with special needs, Barbara thought.
Initially, her idea was met with disinterest; one of the athletic personnel suggested Robbie join the pep club. But Barbara persisted, asking the athletic director if he might find a place where Robbie could help out. She never heard back.
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