Caring Hearts/Helping Hands News You Can Use to Change Your Community A Community Care Team Newsletter Fall 2011 Volume 8 Issue 3 Asperger’s Syndrome: An Overview you’ve seen one person and understanding AS Strategies with Asperger’s.” Most relational boundaries 1. Use visuals whenever have average or above Anxiety, in some cas- possible to instruct or intelligence; many es hypervigilance or explain would be described as paranoia 2. Break down tasks into “quirky” or “different” Shyness steps rather than disabled. But Serious all the time 3. Talk slowly. Pause no two are alike. Asper- Immature manners Asperger’s Syndrome is more between sentences ger’s is also a spectrum Tactless honesty or about differences than it is 4. Don’t force eye about disability. disorder that ranges frankness contact from mild to severe. Limited range of Asperger’s Syndrome is highly developed 5. Make the rules clear Some AS characteristics popping up regularly in interests 6. Beware of over- include*: the media these days. Exceptional long- stimulation; keep en- Stilted or pedantic From the lead character in term memory vironment simple conversation style Jodi Picoult’s House Lack of “common 7. Rehearse and role (The Professor) Rules, to Dr. Spencer Reid sense” play new or uncom- Difficulty under- and Sheldon Cooper on Flat affect fortable situations standing the give Criminal Minds and Big Difficulty organizing 8. Help them connect the and take of conver- Bang Theory respectively, and sequencing tasks dots between action sation people with Asperger’s Black and white and consequences Literal interpretation seemed to be emerging thinking 9. Use strengths and in- of words from the shadows into the Messy and disor- terests to find social Low awareness of mainstream. Asperger’s ganized work space niches non-verbal cues Syndrome (AS), named Difficulty imagining 10. Help them organize Difficulty perceiving after the doctor who iden- the thoughts of others and prioritize and applying unwrit- tified the condition, is a (putting oneself in ten social rules 11. Encourage social me- developmental disorder another’s shoes) dia as a way to com- Rigid adherence to resembling autism. In municate with peers general it is characterized rules when flexibil- 12. Help them see “gray” by impaired social interac- ity is needed * No one person has all of the In his/her own world characteristics associated with areas tion, repetitive behaviors AS. A professional evaluation and activities and by Strange or limited 13. Use straightforward is necessary to diagnose language (no idioms, normal language and sense of humor Asperger’s Syndrome. cognitive development. Highly sensitive to metaphors, sarcasm) injustice IN THIS ISSUE: Lora Windsor, LCSW Naïve trust in others joked at a recent presenta- Overview p. 1 Resistant to change Strategies p. 1 tion, “If you’ve seen one Difficulty distin- Physical Characteristics p. 2 person with Asperger’s, guishing acquaint- Unwritten Rules p. 2 ances from friends Self-Affirmation Pledge p. 2 Resources p. 2 Caring Hearts/Helping Hands News You Can Use to Change Your Community A Community Care Team Newsletter CONLEY OUTREACH COMM UNITY SERVICES/COMMUNITY CARE TEAM PO Box 931 Common Physical Manifestations of Asperger’s Elburn IL 60119 630/365-2880 Difficulty with balance; unusual gait stance and posture [email protected] Gross or fine motor coordination problems www.conleyoutreach.org Strong food preferences or aversions; limited food choices Self-injurious or disfiguring behaviors; nail biting Self-stimulatory behavior used to reduce anxiety RESOURCES Monotone vocal expression; limited use of inflection Blazing Prairie Stars (Social Difficulty maintaining eye contact Skills Groups) 630/365-5550 Hypersensitivity to certain sounds, colors, lighting, odors and other stimuli Walburg & Associates Chronic sleep problems (Therapy/Social Skills Groups) Low sensitivity to heat, cold and/or pain 630/845-9644 Poor personal hygiene and self-care Heartland Counseling Failure to observe the personal space of others 630/443-9100 Family Counseling Service of Aurora 630/844-2662 Find back issues of our CCT Newsletters at: www.conleyoutreach.org Self-Affirmation Pledge of People Understanding the Unwritten Rules of with Asperger’s Syndrome By Liane Holliday Willey* Social Relationships I am not defective. I am different. I will not sacrifice my self-worth for Authors Temple Grandin and 5. Being Polite is Appropriate in Any peer acceptance. Sean Barron know first hand the Situation I am a good and interesting person. social land mines of living with I will take pride in myself. 6. Not Everyone Who is Nice to Me is Asperger’s Syndrome. In their My Friend I am capable of getting along with book, Unwritten Rules of Social society. Relationships, Decoding Social 7. People Act Differently in Public than I will ask for help when I need it. Mysteries Through the Unique They Do in Private I am a person who is worthy of others’ respect and acceptance. Perspectives of Autism, they dis- 8. Know When You’re Turning People I will find a career interest what is well cuss 10 unwritten rules people suited to my abilities and interests. Off with Asperger’s need to know: I will be patient with those who need 9. “Fitting In” is Often Tied to Looking time to understand me. 1. Rules are not Absolute. They and Sounding Like You Fit In I am never going to give up on myself. are Situation-based and People- based. 10. People are Responsible for Their I will accept myself for who I am. Own Behaviors. * Liane is a person with AS 2.Not Everything is Equally Im- portant in the Grand Scheme of While these rules are intuitive to most Things people, they must be taught to persons with AS. Concrete examples and visuals 3. Everyone in the World Makes (e.g.TV shows, videos) can help illus- Mistakes. It Doesn’t Have to Ruin trate concepts that are difficult to grasp. Your Day 4. Honesty is Different than Di- plomacy .