I have an 8 year old son diagnosed 2 plus years ago with AS and we have been working our way through ever since. He has made remarkable progress even since the original testing and we keep moving forward. I have found that learning specific "tips" or "suggestions" for how to help him with things at home and school has been an ongoing process which many people have contributed to including his speech language therapist and OT. I am a professor of communication, and a proud parent, and I am in the process of putting together a book, or handbook if you will, of real life, hands on things that can help make everyday life easier for these kinds of kids. For example, my son has difficulty with writing as many AS kids do and so it became a constant battle during first grade of how he would do his spelling tests or writing assignments. So we brainstormed and figured out that the point of those lessons might be, for instance, to simply be able and demonstrate that he can spell and knows these words so why is it necessary that he do this "the school's way" and write it with a pencil. Instead he now has the option to use magnetic letters to spell out the word for the teacher, or type it on the computer or simply dictate the correct spelling.

What I am working on now is compiling a collection of little helpful, but real life stories and suggestions like this that can help parents, and teachers, find better more effective ways to understanding and relating to these kids. I am asking for suggestions, stories, anything people want to share with me that might eventually be very helpful to others just starting out on this path. My email is gr8tkidz@yahoo.com. Please pass this along.

My son is in 5th grade. His handwriting/fine motors skills were seriously compromising his academic achievement. I gave him a PDA (Palm Zire) to use in school. While the elementary school teachers were originally reluctant to encourage its use, with the help of the district autism specialist assistance with the teachers, my son is much better able to keep up with the other students. Since it is a small computer and has an excellent battery capacity, my son does not have to get up an move to a classroom computer, he can had his PDA to a classmate for peer checking and the other kids think it's kinda cool.

My daughter was recently diagnosed with PDD. She also has SI. She usually has difficulty with socks and shoes. I found "lineless" socks or "Comfort Toe" sold at Kids R Us. She still has some difficulty with these so I found that if I sing a silly song while putting them on she will keep them on until her feet feel good in them. I also do this with shoes. She alos does not like to have her hair combed because "it hurts" so we take turns, I let her jump up and down a few times, then I get a turn to comb, and so on until her hair is combed.

Kaysea,
I thought the "sock thing" was unique to my son.
Although Tony is now 22, I am still learning.
Seems there are so many similarities among our AS kids.
But...for all you guys just starting down the road of AS with your kids, keep moving forward, even when the going is rough. Tony is doing well in college now.
Joyce

My 11 year old son has some of the same issues. His hand writng is way below grade level he has been given an Alphasmart to use in school the problem is it is large and he has to leave his desk to print his work. He was also smart enough to find the spell check and boasts about getting 100% on his spelling test....no more. He also cannot tie his shoes at 11 years old I don't now what I will do when they stop making tennis shoes without laces. He is on Ritalin LA 30 mg and it helps him focus in school. But his IS everything you have ever read abut AS.......

Hi, just want to say that if you go to Winosota Shoes, they have velcro sneakers thru adult sizes.

Also, my son is going into 8th grade and he has had an aide since 6th grade who he dictates to.
For homework, he dictates to me. Sally