Teenager with Highly Functioning Autism - Asperger's Syndrome

patience & acceptance....& you may learn that it explains a lot of your life together.

Well... my daughter in her martial arts class... has a teen classmate that is Asperger's highly functioning.
I don't know how he was when he was younger.
But his Mom, as she told me.... her son was and is, very bright and socially, was not as on par. But she provided him with a lot of experiences and guidance, in order to develop him in a more well rounded way.
Again, he is highly functioning. And if you didn't know he was Asperger's, you might not think he is. Or you might think that he is just a bit 'eccentric.'
Anyway, he is a 'normal' kid. With quirks. And he fortunately has not had bad experiences in school per peers etc. Because his classmates accept him and he has friends etc.

Then I have a friend, with a son who is younger. And her son is high functioning Autism. He has an Aide in class with him. Daily. He needs it. But he is a great boy. He has friends and none of the classmates treat him any differently. He has good days and bad days. He is also, very bright academically... but not as much per social skills. But he is a happy great kid.

My sister has Asperger's, and she lives with me so I'm very familiar with it. I also know several other people with Asperger's, and the only helpful advice I can really think of is that even with a diagnosis, it's still hard because everybody is so different. I know people with Asperger's who are doing great - have their own apartments, jobs, and really great lives. I also know some who are in group homes and will continue to be in group homes for the rest of their lives. My sister can't live on her own, and will most likely live with me for the rest of her life. She is able to work, though, and is even trying to go to school right now (even though she's really struggling because of her sensory problems). So it's really hard to define because of that. And it seems (to me anyway) that all of the doctors I have talked to tend to generalize it like everyone with Asperger's is the same. I'm sure not all doctors are like that though. I've probably just had bad luck.

My sister also didn't get diagnosed until she was a teenager, which was really hard because since nobody knew what was wrong with her, they expected her to just act normally. The actual diagnosis didn't change much for her, but it did change the way other people saw her. Most people became much more understanding and kinder to her.

I wish I could give some great words of wisdom that would help! Just remember that you know your teenager better than anyone else, and you know what's best for them more than anyone else. Good luck! :-)

Check out my post from earlier today.....And then check out my Face book Page.

My son is three just had his testing for the IEP program at school.

He hit 8 of the ten markers looked for in HFA.

Here is the link to my FB page....We are strictly a support based page. I am still a work in progress with it. But I am realizing as I find all this stuff out I need people around me going through the same things...Or have been there.

http://www.facebook.com/tat2d2bamsue

Please check it out...If anything just to have people in your corner.

I work with middle schoolers with these diagnosis-es (did I spell that right?) They can be so fun to work with and have a lot of things that are very similar to everyone else in that age group. My eighth graders start looking at boys or girls, complain about the work, wanta go home and make up funny jokes-but oftentimes just talk or blurt out their own little world. It is incredible how brilliant some of these people are. If you ever get a chance look up some of the amazing people who have been diagnosed with this and the wonders they have achieved on earth. I wish I had some names right now, they aren't coming to me. They have quirks, but don't we all? And they know that sometimes they have a hard time letting people know what they want. One of the girls I worked with last year was in the band and played an instrument and all in all from what I hear from the followup, highschool is pretty cool for them, too. Best wishes to you. I love these kids.

Are you familiar with the Autism Society of IL? http://www.autismillinois.org/

We have a similar organization here in Minneapolis and they have many resources available for understanding and dealing with Asperger's Syndrome.

I remember hearing about a book written by a teen with Asperger's- Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome. The website yourlittleprofessor.com has a review of it, and also an article describing of the issues faced by teens. There are support groups out there, including ones for adults with Apergers. Some of them put a spin on it- together they feel normal and call themselves "aspies", while the rest of the world is "neurotypical".