Aspergers is a difference and typically do not even enter the special education process most times they just follow the same path as the rest of us.

Our society is so compassionate compared to that of the past; most funds are spent on maintaining many people outside of institutions or education of others in special defined programs.

If a person is considered to be reasonably able to function then they are often placed in independent living situations and then kept track of with regular visits it is believed that matriculating in society is best apposed to being institutionalized. Most often, they stay home with their parents or family and often the words “it is to much for me” is said. The county addresses it through the board of mental retardation. They spend what about 22K per each per year to sustain and or support them?

That’s not special education which is a part of the school districts program, children with learning problems the children with mental retardation are not addressed in public schools. Each district spends money on special education, they are responsible to identify these children and their needs. They are typically leaning disabled or developmentally handicapped and some have autism spectrum disorders. That also gets more funds per student then the standard education process, many district have to abide by State requirement to do so, what you are saying is correct, that is the law, give them what they need.

Whether a child with Aspergers needs special education or not is a judgment call, they are different but sometimes it is better for them not to be separated, depends on the child and the extent of their functionality.

With Alex he needs to be taught how his actions are interpreted by others and eventually he will learn to control himself. He will not be eating his homework in high school or humming during exams either. His class mates will still interpret these actions as disgusting and annoying even then, it is all about acclimating to social norms.

Apsergers are at about 35 in 10,000 a best guess, so they have to adjust more than society has to adjust to them, logic would say. Different is ok, I personally like different as long as it is not a propensity to be mean or hurtful.

You are also very correct about the diagnosis of a sociopath, many states have laws that restrict a clinician from that until the individual is an adult, that has allot to do with formation and maturing through adolescence and into adulthood. It is also not wise to use the word in a society that has tendency to make every thing black or white.

You can temper me as you do, that being disagreeing or even offer the occasional complement I am always in learning mode. I stand outside of the mob just watching, and sometimes I rattle the cage, attempting perhaps to inspire some critical analysis. The light are always on and the wheels are always spinning.

But let me say that I disagree with this: “The object is to acclimate the child to society, and with Autism not all can be, half of them are institutionalized as adults.”

Actually, when it comes to public education, I believe the goal is, under the law, for all kids, to be able to provide a free and appropriate education within the least restrictive environments. The idea of getting them acclimated to society – that’s subtle and secondary if at all. I think that’s old school – do you believe that that’s still part of the system? I am under the impression that it isn’t – but I may be wrong.

Alex is considered Aspergers and it is not so much of a disability it is more of a difference, which includes cognitive skills he understands. He ate his homework and then was told that it was disgusting, he likes to hum and was told that it is annoying.

The teacher did not know that Alex feels compelled to hum and like any child, he reacts adversely when his compulsions are contradicted.

Asperger have to be taught cause and effect, and they have trouble understanding why just like any child.

The object is to acclimate the child to society, and with Autism not all can be, half of them are institutionalized as adults.

Aspergers and HFA are not, unless they get fully isolated from society, if they are tormented and ridiculed they may end up climbing the tower at Virginia tech and shooting people they do not even know.

What I noticed with Alex is when they filmed him was he was not oblivious to the cameras, nor was his mother.

Its not just Asperger since most make it a further than 5 before being diagnosed, it also the underling personality as well and in this instance the teacher failed because it has been pretty well publicized that she never took the time to research his condition. On the other hand, maybe she did and misinterpreted it as to make him aware and accountable, which is actually what he requires just not so drastically. Difficult because telling an Aspersger not to hum is like taking the sucker out of any kids mouth and then telling them it is wrong and then punishing them until they realize it. The problem is that the tantrums and the frequency of being reprehended for things they feel compelled to do.

In severe Autism they may stare at a clock all day, if you take the clock away they tantrum, they cannot be taught they lack the cognitive and communication skills. AS and HFA can be taught, they can understand the difference, its that you have to define the compulsions and deal with them accordingly. If it progresses to stepping on the cat then you have a real problem, if they like to count then get them a tutor they could be the next Einstein.

I have trouble with it being all lumped together, but it is neurological and could be a shift in development, one part wanes and the other accelerates. They require monitoring and defining, and people really need to check their diets, because the numbers are growing.

I do not lack empathy and or compassion; I do however lack composition skill, not comprehension though I understood the postings.

As for the parents, what are you suggesting they do? Abandon their kid to whatever the world has in store for them and others with their problem(s)? Simply say, “You know what, I don’t care. We should just let things take care of themselves. He has to learn on his own, and in no way should we be part of that process.”

That won’t work. I don’t have an extensive background like some of the people here, but I think it should be obvious that, especially in the cases of children as young as the boy in this incident, you can’t just stand by and let these things happen. I’m not suggesting that things be taken to any sort of extreme, only that it’s not a good idea to write the case off as ‘someone who is mentally damaged and can’t be helped’ and let this stuff continue.

As for weather or not he’s learning from this stuff, he may not fully understand what’s going on. When you were 5, how much of the events of the world – even if they concerned you – did you grasp? Do you even remember what life was like when you were 5?

It’s certain that this will have some effect on him, but in that regard the damage will have already been done (by the teacher and the students, not the parents) and I think it’s better that his parents are willing to do something.

The incidence/occurance of certain traits in any one individual is something that should be judged and diagnosed on a case by case basis.

I am being assertive here on this point because I believe that to not be clear about that, esp. in the case of autism – which is a very mysterious thing still to many even though we hear about the incidence rate as increasing dramatically over the last 10-20 years – would unnecessarily be pre-judging and making general statements that I know from experience are not true.

No – none of my kids have anything on the autism spectrum. But I’ve worked with families who have kids on the spectrum, I’ve been on the board of a parenting network for kids and families with special ed and gifted ed needs and I know attorneys and mental health professionals as well as friends who have children with such diagnoses.

I also worked in juvenile court’s diagnostic clinic for a year as my field placement in social work school and had the opportunity to meet kids with anti-social traits.

So, again, I’m just going to stand firm on this. I do not share your perspective and I would not ascribe to your descriptions.

It’s just far more complex than I feel you’re describing.

I take it back, the word has social stigma, and I apologize for using it loosely. The difference between “or” and “and” take it up with Webster’s.

What really kills me is that parent disregard that a disorder is neurological, the behavior is not entirely manageable and certainly not entirely reversible. Then it gets into isn’t their a pill they can take, heaven forbid it is just a phase he is only five! Hurry up and get them into special education, then complain that they are not making them just like everybody else.

Is publicly ridiculing the teacher, to teach her a lesson? Is calling the police to teach her a lesson?

It all gets back to play nice right, Alex is said to be high functioning; he is still formative, is he learning from this?

I never said that Aspergers is a Sociopathic Disorder did I, loosely used the word sociopath I did not feel corrected when I looked it up in the dictionary.

Read this…

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/409822

But this is one area – both in terms of the clinical piece and the education piece – that I really have to assert that I feel you do not have a good grasp of what you’re suggesting.

Do you have direct experience with any of this? Because I have both direct experience with it and an educational background in it. I’m saying again, the connections you are making are not valid – based on my knowledge and experience.

Why are you so committed to making the connections you are pushing?

The correct socially acceptable behavior, saying I am sorry my child disrupted the class, I am having trouble with him I believe he may need special education. It is not calling the police…. HELLO, that is irrational, and disruptive to the child compounding the problem.

The acorn never falls to far from the tree does it, maybe the child has Asperger Syndrome, these events are all part of the diagnosis the path to special education, it takes some time to figure it out, if Alex was taken back in class and then acclimated even after his experience with ridicule, then what would be the conclusion, a spoiled brat, then who would we blame.