Any ideas on how to explain 8 year old's AS to classmates?

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My son was offically dx'd with AS this month. We've assumed all along that he had it, but the school had to have an offical dx to get him Speech/Language therapy.

With that being said the class has figured out that there's something a little different about my son. But the teacher (she's been great) has been understanding and accomidating his sensory issues prior to the dx. If it's too loud in class, she'll let him go to the office or take a break in the hall, etc.

So now that we know for sure how do we explain it to the class? I don't want them to think that he's purposely getting "special treatment" or being "bratty".

So, we've decided to have a "pizza party" lunch for the class on the 30th of this month. I've ordered the book "all cat's have Asperger's" to try to explain it.

I've been trying to explain it to my son gradually. Anyone else have any ideas?

Do just what you've been doing. Good luck to you and your son.

Think carefully! Discuss with your son, and maybe the father. Kids, ESPECIALLY boys , can be viscious and one wrong word can create a lot of problems. but let them know how sounds/lights can bother him, etc...

You might also think about getting him some kind of inobvious earplugs he can use to muffle the noise. He shouldn't wear them all the time, but maybe if he expects lound or high pitched noises. Go to a drug store, and check it out.

Since the teacher is allowing him to leave, and knows he has a problem, I assume they are being civil. He SHOULD be fairly well behaved. THAT, and a nice pizza party with icecream should go a LONG way towards making the other kids more civil. Who knows? MAYBE he'll make some friends!

Fortunately she's paired him up with "peer buddies" that aren't easily annoyed. They look out for him and help him out.

So....far we've been lucky. Friends are hard for him. He has one friend now that he's been taking Taekwondo with for about 8 months. He goes to his house in the morning to catch the bus.

He really watches out for him and sticks up for him. Of course he's told me that he gets on his nerves sometimes I explained why he understood.

Maybe this will help him out a little.

I'm glad you brought this up. I have been intending to do something similar in my son's class. (Mine is 7.) The teacher mentioned that the kids are learning about differences through having kids in the class with asthma or diabetes who need accommodations too. I don't necessarily want to bring in a disease model, but I do think it might be helpful to tie in the message they are already familiar with: different kids need different things. I'm wondering about what simple games or exercises I could have them do to make them aware of the different ways that people process things.

If you're after a good resource to explain it, I'd suggest the book "All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome". It presents it in a positive way, using lots of amusing pictures of cats to illustrate it and comparing it with all the things that you love about them. Basically it works as an easy to follow, 'cute' introduction to it... it's aimed at kids but I've used it to explain it to my partner and a friend and they both loved it too. So perhaps if you do want to tell them what it is outright and explain it at their level, that would be a way to do it. Sit and read it and then they can ask questions or something.

This is a very good idea if I may say so myself. Often times in the school setting, children are to eager to jump on and bully those that they find different from them. It is a wise choice to instill a sense of understanding at this young age.

Well, recently discovered my Aspie-ways myself. I'm currently not living with my husband (involuntarily so, he's studying abroad) and after I "came out" to him while visiting in November, I ordered the book for him. He benefited from it even though he's an adult.

I'm all for explaining it to your son.

I'm not so sure that you need to explain it to the class - it could just be giving them fodder.

In some ways, I'd recommend that you get your son up to speed on the condition first. Make him an "expert" on his differences - and - make him proud of them.

When he's ready, he could explain the bits he thinks are important to his special friends.