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ngdawg · 03-10-2006, 08:58 PM

The first time I learned about Asperger's was as a teacher's asst in a 6th grade English class. The boy was not one of my assignments, but both the teacher and I noticed something....different. He couldn't organize, had great difficulty answering questions-he'd stammer and hesitate, but once he got going, he spoke very quickly and nervously. His handwriting was barely readable, but everything he completed was spot on-almost always A's on tests and in-class work. If he needed you, he'd grab your arm with urgency, but wouldn't look anyone in the eye. It was just happenstance that we realized what was going on-I was reading an article in the morning paper about Aspergers. Later, seeing him on the soccer field, my heart fell. He wouldn't run with the teams, he'd wander around. If the ball came near him, he had to be told to kick it.
I admire your courage and I'm sorry it took this long to find out what was holding you back. I hope the student in my class was diagnosed at that time or before, but we certainly were not informed-we had to work on the assumption and not get frustrated with him.
When my son was diagnosed at 10 years old with ADD, it was like a light went on. He had a name for how he was and we could work with it. I'm sure that light went on for you as well.
Good luck, and I do remember you. Glad to have you back.

03-10-2006, 08:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	The first time I learned about Asperger's was as a teacher's asst in a 6th grade English class. The boy was not one of my assignments, but both the teacher and I noticed something....different. He couldn't organize, had great difficulty answering questions-he'd stammer and hesitate, but once he got going, he spoke very quickly and nervously. His handwriting was barely readable, but everything he completed was spot on-almost always A's on tests and in-class work. If he needed you, he'd grab your arm with urgency, but wouldn't look anyone in the eye. It was just happenstance that we realized what was going on-I was reading an article in the morning paper about Aspergers. Later, seeing him on the soccer field, my heart fell. He wouldn't run with the teams, he'd wander around. If the ball came near him, he had to be told to kick it. I admire your courage and I'm sorry it took this long to find out what was holding you back. I hope the student in my class was diagnosed at that time or before, but we certainly were not informed-we had to work on the assumption and not get frustrated with him. When my son was diagnosed at 10 years old with ADD, it was like a light went on. He had a name for how he was and we could work with it. I'm sure that light went on for you as well. Good luck, and I do remember you. Glad to have you back. __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.