Ten Minutes to Wapner
My nearly five-year-old nephew Bullhead was diagnosed clinically with Asperger’s syndrome yesterday. I write this post with mixed emotions. Is it possible to be happy, sad, relieved, and sarcastic simulaneously? My sister Flea Fly was correct when she kept saying, “There’s something not right … a mother knows these things.” Sybil, Sanford, and countless daycare providers kept trying to convince her that Bullhead was just B – A – D. I told her to go with her gut and have him tested. What’s the worst they could say — that he is autistic? The pediatric neuropsychiatrist (along with the other experts she has seen) believes Bullhead is on the lower end of the spectrum and that over time with therapy and a good education he will flourish. As a sister, I am relieved for my sister. As a parent, I am convuluted by the possibilities. As an educator, I believe that all students can learn. As an aunt, I want Bullhead included in that statement. He starts kindergarten in 19 days. He is now the one in 166 whose biggest obstacles for the rest of his lifetime are ignorance and intolerance. For every locked mind, there is a key to be found. Celebrate autism. Think outside the box. When in doubt, perservate. At least, we know that one thing is true: my family really is a freak show without the tent. As a blogger, I will exploit show him the love every time I get.
I felt every one of those emotions when you told me this story earlier. Having been lucky enough to meet the little stinker, I think he is a very quick, bright child and your sister is a smart woman and a caring mom. She will do what needs to be done to make sure Bullhead does not fall through the many cracks in our system.
As an Aunt and an educator, you can be her biggest source of information and guidance to make sure she gets all of the benefits and services provided to help kids with Asperger’s Syndrome excel.
Keep me posted! If they every come this way again, LW has a much bigger yard and cool new toys to share with his little friend from the South.
You know, the more I read about people with Asperger’s or other forms of autism, the less I think that these people are disabled. I think they simply have a much different way of processing their environment than we do. I think the trick is to learn how to best help them take this situation and make the most out of it. But, isn’t that what we hope to teach the children in our lives to do with every situation?
If he is high functioning I think he will dandy. I am fairly sure that had they had these guidelines in place when I was 8 young I’d have been tagged as well. I think Hawke is onto something. Some folks just think differently. All my acid taking friends have told me that I don’t need to take LSD. People take it to think the way I do without it.
Thank you for sharing. If your nephew’s bright and your sister is determined, he will persevere. They’re lucky to have you in their lives to help them.
Aspergers ain’t retardation except maybe in a social sense. He’ll learn just fine.
My brother has dyspraxia and I know its no where near the same but I know that I was mean to him and used to call him stupid because he wasn’t as quick as I was when it came to picking stuff up. Now my brother is in a job where he’s in charge of his little department and he can reel off information about products, and he’s trained other people. He Rocks!
Kids with Aspergers and Austism have a different way of processing stuff (as was said further up)
Me and four friends did a drama workshop at a school for kids with Behavourial Issues – it was hard work! There was one lad who had austism and he wouldn’t even talk to us when we first started but by the end of the 4th session he’d started saying everyones lines including his own – sometimes he got a bit confused with the order but what was most important is that he joined in and he rocked!
Your Nephew is going to find it hard because there are people in this world who are ignorant and mean but I can tell you he is going to come across some people who will stand shoulder to shoulder with him and fight the battle – I can say I’d be on his team fighting the battle if he needs me lol
I am sorry to hear that, but he does have you supporting him and his family. I have a friend whose son has Aspergers; he says it has been hardest on the siblings.
I really think sometimes that I have one of these clinical diagnoses. But, I don’t quite match up with Asperger’s.
I personally find I can relate better to children and adults who have these types of “disorders” which I don’t see as disorders, I see them as making people unique.
Enjoy your nephew’s quirks and he will too.
I worked with an adult man who I swore had asperger’s. He had shock treatments, had been on medication for 30 years, and was basically non-fuctioning. He got to me for some “trauma” work for trauma that didn’t exist – outside of 40+ shock treatments. That said…
He had this amazing life. He skied all winter, taught cross country skiing. He camped and backpacked all summer. His father gave him a huge inheritance (1/3 of family business) so he lived off that.
I think this guy is the worst case scenario.
My guess is that your nephew is going to be just fine.
I’m glad to hear they caught this before he entered school. From what I’ve heard, early intervention is so critical. He’s truly blessed to have family near and far who love him so much and care so deeply for him.
@ perpstu ~ He’s a bright crayon. I just hope the system does right by him.
@ thehawke ~ I am a firm believer in the mindset that people are “not disabled but differently abled.”
@ Starrlight ~ I am one of those “different” thinkers too. No wonder we are related.
@ Miss Attitude ~ If not, he can be obsessive about having a clean Thomas the Train collection until he is 21.
@ KC ~ Jebus already knows that we have plenty of freaks in the family. Bullhead might be the normal one.
@ Hannah ~ Our entire family will stand together for his battle with the ignoramuses of society. I am sure of it.
@ Saintseester ~ He’s an only child (for now), so my single-mom sister has her hands full as it is.
@ Poppy ~ Quirky is the new black.
@ Claudia ~ Would you be willing to administer shock treatments to Sybil?
@ fandpinlv ~ He is the Golden Child.