Hello all! I have a 12 year old Aspie Boy

Post Reply New Topic

I am joining this group to reach out to others who are involved with an Aspergers child. My son is 12 years of age and I am trying to make sure he has every chance of succeeding and happiness in his life. He is now in year 8 of school and although academically he is thriving, I am afraid he is not finding the happiness and security he deserves. Where are the best resources that I can find to better understand him? Also where are the best resources for helping me to be a better parent for him?

welcome.
I hope this forum is good for you.
there is a parents section that is very good.

Agree with the animal sentiment. They never let my boy down!

Hi suz, Im not a parent but I have been relitivly successful in my life. I think it's important that your son doesn't underestimate himself but he needs to study body langauge, human behavior and facial expressions as a science. The Facial Action Coding System for example, this is a little condecending I'm sorry but I find looking at behavior of simpler primates to make understand the more complex behavio of human beings easier. Basicly go as Jane Goodall on your asses
If it's at all possible try to streer him towords interests that can turn into professions eg. Software as opposed to facts about the titanic.
I was always encorged by my mother to get upto a small bit of mischeif, I think that helped. Feel free to IM me

To WrongPlanet!! !

Welcome!

If you have not done so already, try a web search for "autism (your city)" and look for a support group.

Welcome to WrongPlanet.

...they have access to all sorts of resources.

Welcome to WrongPlanet.

Hello SuzHansen, welcome to Wrong Planet!

You can look at the books section of WP. I would go directly to Jessica Kingsly Publishing and order some books from them.
My AS son was interested in programming video games, so we sent him to a two week camp for teenagers at Digipen in Vancouver B.C. He came back pumped. He did graduate from college with a degree in computer science and then attended Digipen in Redmond for a year and then got a job programming video games. I told you that to tell you this: make room for his interests. If he is fascinated by trains, buy him professional train magazines. Buy him books about how motors work. Yes, by all means, teach him all the social rules that seem obvious to you but that he won't see because he can't, but also love his interests.

Hi SuzHansen,

I'm an aspie father with two sons on the spectrum. You might want to have a read of my blog because it covers a lot of topics you'll have questions about.

http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/

Your son will be fine provided that you're understanding and supportive as parents. Aspergers isn't always a bad thing. There are lots of famous people with it. It doesn't mean that your son will be a genius or anything but simply suggests that aspergers need not be a barrier.

Does your son know about his aspergers?
If so, what does he think of it? Does he "hate" it? Does he feel like it limits him?

Does he have an IEP at school - and if so, is it tailored to his needs?

Hello SuzHansen, and welcome to WrongPlanet!

Welcome to WrongPlanet! Please refer to the Parents' DIscussion and the Adolescent Autism Forum sections of the forum to see what the other youth Aspies are thinking. I see that you're rather supportive of your Aspie child. In this case, why not explore Asperger's with your child and sap into the strengths of your child? It will be good to do our best to explore autism as much as we can understand, as early as possible. Of course, future needs for the child (ie independence in life from parents) is also important, so if there is the opportunity, we can look into this in future...

Welcome to WrongPlanet!

Does your son know about his aspergers?
If so, what does he think of it? Does he "hate" it? Does he feel like it limits him?

Does he have an IEP at school - and if so, is it tailored to his needs?

Hi Gavin! He knows about his Aspergers and he is good with it. He likes the uniqueness. He had read a couple of books with me, and he is in a counciling session to help him with social tactics, etc. What he hates is the fact that he struggles to keep friends. I have suggested that for those he cares about he should tell them about his situation and if they are good friends they will be more flexible. He is at a diffult age though when all of us experience ackwardness. I am not sure what IEP is, but he is in a Advanced Inquiry Class, which he likes a lot. NZ is a small country though, and the resources here are not as available as I would like.