News on Asperger Syndrome
News stories of interest to parents of children with Asperger syndrome, from the Parenting Special Needs blog and news sources around the Web. For the latest news, go to the Today's News folder.
Adam: Asperger's movie coming to cinemas
From Ouch! "Adam is a quirky romantic comedy starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Adam is a handsome but intriguing young man with Asperger's who has led a sheltered life - but all that changes when he meets his new neighbour, Beth, a beautiful and brainy writer damaged from a past relationship." (6/15/09)
From Ouch! "Adam is a quirky romantic comedy starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Adam is a handsome but intriguing young man with Asperger's who has led a sheltered life - but all that changes when he meets his new neighbour, Beth, a beautiful and brainy writer damaged from a past relationship." (6/15/09)
Ask an Aspie: Pica
From Spectrum Siblings: "Pica is still an issue here at my house. Carl has eaten a good percentage of his baseball card collection, any stray wrappers he finds around the house, the velcro off of both our watches. He really likes to chew."
From Spectrum Siblings: "Pica is still an issue here at my house. Carl has eaten a good percentage of his baseball card collection, any stray wrappers he finds around the house, the velcro off of both our watches. He really likes to chew."
Think high school is challenging? Try it with Asperger Syndrome
From Easter Seals and Autism: "Many individuals with Asperger Syndrome report that high school years are particularly challenging. Self advocacy is especially important as these children grow into adulthood." (5/11/09)
From Easter Seals and Autism: "Many individuals with Asperger Syndrome report that high school years are particularly challenging. Self advocacy is especially important as these children grow into adulthood." (5/11/09)
13-year-old with Asperger's drives 30 miles, flies across country
From Sun Sentinel: "Kenton Weaver drove from his Boca Raton area home to the airport in Fort Lauderdale, parked and locked the SUV in the garage and took a flight to California. The problems: He's 13, he took his dad's Ford Explorer without permission and he ran away from home. ... The teen has a heart condition and Asperger's syndrome." (5/4/09)
From Sun Sentinel: "Kenton Weaver drove from his Boca Raton area home to the airport in Fort Lauderdale, parked and locked the SUV in the garage and took a flight to California. The problems: He's 13, he took his dad's Ford Explorer without permission and he ran away from home. ... The teen has a heart condition and Asperger's syndrome." (5/4/09)
The Aspergian Teenage Mind (in all of its wonder)
From 5 Minutes for Special Needs: "My son, Spiff, is 14 and is an Aspergian teenager in middle school. I thought it would be a great way to get to know him better if I kept him up past his bedtime (non-medicated, and on a school night, no less!) and volleyed random questions at him." (4/9/09)
From 5 Minutes for Special Needs: "My son, Spiff, is 14 and is an Aspergian teenager in middle school. I thought it would be a great way to get to know him better if I kept him up past his bedtime (non-medicated, and on a school night, no less!) and volleyed random questions at him." (4/9/09)
The Child with Asperger Syndrome and Easter
From Suite 101: "Prepare the child on the autism spectrum for the Easter holiday schedule. Visual aids ease the adjustment to a different schedule." (4/3/09)
From Suite 101: "Prepare the child on the autism spectrum for the Easter holiday schedule. Visual aids ease the adjustment to a different schedule." (4/3/09)
Darwin, Einstein, Turing and Posthumous Diagnosis
From Autism - Change.org: "The chance of an autistic person changing world paradigms is, I would guess, just as slim as the chance of a non-autistic person changing world paradigms. That doesn't mean we can't all dream of being Einstein (or in my case, Turing), but it's not going to happen just by virtue of having an autistic brain." (2/20/09)
From Autism - Change.org: "The chance of an autistic person changing world paradigms is, I would guess, just as slim as the chance of a non-autistic person changing world paradigms. That doesn't mean we can't all dream of being Einstein (or in my case, Turing), but it's not going to happen just by virtue of having an autistic brain." (2/20/09)
Darwin Had Asperger's Syndrome, Professor Says
From Disability Scoop: "The author of On the Origin of Species who pioneered the theory of evolution would turn 200-years-old this month. And now, Professor Michael Fitzgerald at Trinity College in Ireland believes Darwin's tendency toward solitude and his obsessions with insects, shells, chemistry and gadgets indicate that the man had Asperger's." (2/19/09)
From Disability Scoop: "The author of On the Origin of Species who pioneered the theory of evolution would turn 200-years-old this month. And now, Professor Michael Fitzgerald at Trinity College in Ireland believes Darwin's tendency toward solitude and his obsessions with insects, shells, chemistry and gadgets indicate that the man had Asperger's." (2/19/09)
McDonnell Offends and Annoys: Aspergers on Grey's Anatomy
From The Karianna Spectrum: "Are people unfamiliar with Asperger's Syndrome now going to believe that such people are not only heartless, but actually devious and take pleasure in other people's emotional pain?" (12/6/08)
From The Karianna Spectrum: "Are people unfamiliar with Asperger's Syndrome now going to believe that such people are not only heartless, but actually devious and take pleasure in other people's emotional pain?" (12/6/08)
Teacher Suspended For Letting Students Vote Alex Barton Out
From AutismVox: "Florida teacher Wendy Portillo -- who allowed her kindergarten class to vote on whether or not their classmate Alex Barton could remain in class -- has been suspended without pay for a year, according to the Naples News." (11/19/08)
From AutismVox: "Florida teacher Wendy Portillo -- who allowed her kindergarten class to vote on whether or not their classmate Alex Barton could remain in class -- has been suspended without pay for a year, according to the Naples News." (11/19/08)
The First McDonnell Episode: Aspergers in Grey's Anatomy
From The Karianna Spectrum: "Last week I mentioned my hope that Mary McDonnell's portrayal of Asperger's on Grey's Anatomy would be dignified, and not stereotypical. Alas, I am disappointed." (11/14/08)
From The Karianna Spectrum: "Last week I mentioned my hope that Mary McDonnell's portrayal of Asperger's on Grey's Anatomy would be dignified, and not stereotypical. Alas, I am disappointed." (11/14/08)
Hit Hot Sitcoms with Autistic Characters--fair?
From Fearless Females, an item on Asperger syndrome and "Grey's Anatomy: "Personally, I thought she overplayed the part. I know a couple of adults who have AS and they are not as 'extreme' as this actor played." (11/15/08)
From Fearless Females, an item on Asperger syndrome and "Grey's Anatomy: "Personally, I thought she overplayed the part. I know a couple of adults who have AS and they are not as 'extreme' as this actor played." (11/15/08)
Your Advice Requested: Disclosing Your Child's Asperger Syndrome
From About.com Autism: "When your child has Asperger syndrome or High Functioning Autism, you walk a fine line. Sometimes, under some circumstances, your child is perfectly capable of behaving typically. Other times, not so much. And it's not always easy to predict when things will suddenly become overwhelming." (11/14/08)
From About.com Autism: "When your child has Asperger syndrome or High Functioning Autism, you walk a fine line. Sometimes, under some circumstances, your child is perfectly capable of behaving typically. Other times, not so much. And it's not always easy to predict when things will suddenly become overwhelming." (11/14/08)
"Billy the Kid" now available on DVD
For more on the documentary about a young man with Asperger syndrome, read the review from the About.com guide to Documentaries. (10/27/08)
For more on the documentary about a young man with Asperger syndrome, read the review from the About.com guide to Documentaries. (10/27/08)
Ex-CEO with Asperger's explains it all
From Disability News: "Bram Cohen, founder and former CEO of BitTorrent technology, diagnosed his own Asperger's syndrome. He says his disability made running a company hard. Experts say more people like Cohen will arrive in the workplace in the years ahead, and their presence will bring momentous changes." (10/18/08)
From Disability News: "Bram Cohen, founder and former CEO of BitTorrent technology, diagnosed his own Asperger's syndrome. He says his disability made running a company hard. Experts say more people like Cohen will arrive in the workplace in the years ahead, and their presence will bring momentous changes." (10/18/08)
Rules for Aspies
From Suite 101: Getting the child with Asperger syndrome to cooperate. (9/1/08)
From Suite 101: Getting the child with Asperger syndrome to cooperate. (9/1/08)
U.K. Hacker Gary McKinnon Plays the Asperger's Card
Wired reports that a newly obtained diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome may be used in McKinnon's defense against charges of crashing computers at the Pentagon and NASA. (8/29/08)
Wired reports that a newly obtained diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome may be used in McKinnon's defense against charges of crashing computers at the Pentagon and NASA. (8/29/08)
Living with Aspergers/Autism: personality/disorder
From the blog Fearless Females: "Hey, who wants to raise a boring, typical kid anyway?" (8/23/08)
From the blog Fearless Females: "Hey, who wants to raise a boring, typical kid anyway?" (8/23/08)
Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome
Introducing a new book to explain AS to young kids. (8/12/08)
Introducing a new book to explain AS to young kids. (8/12/08)
Imagine This (A Narrative on Bullying)
What would you do if this was your life at school? (8/7/08)
What would you do if this was your life at school? (8/7/08)
Handling BIG Emotions and Asperger Syndrome
About.com Autism Guide Lisa Jo Rudy seeks reader input on handilng oversized reactions in teens with AS. (7/28/08)
About.com Autism Guide Lisa Jo Rudy seeks reader input on handilng oversized reactions in teens with AS. (7/28/08)
Hans Reiser and the Asperger's Defense: Troubling
I've been seeing headlines about the Hans Reiser case, but didn't realize that it involved Asperger syndrome as a defense for murder until I read this Autism Vox post. Or that they were using Asperger's as shorthand for "a total nut-job." (7/9/08)
I've been seeing headlines about the Hans Reiser case, but didn't realize that it involved Asperger syndrome as a defense for murder until I read this Autism Vox post. Or that they were using Asperger's as shorthand for "a total nut-job." (7/9/08)
Eight-year-old with Asperger's aims high
In November, an 8-year-old from Washington state with Asperger syndrome became probably the youngest person ever to climb the 20,300-foot Island Peak in the Himalayas. (1/3/06)
In November, an 8-year-old from Washington state with Asperger syndrome became probably the youngest person ever to climb the 20,300-foot Island Peak in the Himalayas. (1/3/06)
Does Tim Burton have Asperger's?
Actress Helena Bonham Carter sees the signs. (11/17/05)
Actress Helena Bonham Carter sees the signs. (11/17/05)
Despairing parents make suicide pact
In a tragic story from the U.K., an elderly couple attempted suicide out of despair over their inability to care for their 33-year-old daughter, who has Asperger syndrome. (11/10/04)
In a tragic story from the U.K., an elderly couple attempted suicide out of despair over their inability to care for their 33-year-old daughter, who has Asperger syndrome. (11/10/04)