I am special: Introducing children and young people to their autistic spectrum disorder

✍ Scribed by Douglas W. Walker

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 33 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0163-9641
• DOI: 10.1002/imhj.10038

✦ Synopsis

As our understanding of Autistic Spectrum Disorders increases so does our ability to provide treatment and intervention directed at the social, communicative, and related cognitive deficits associated with such diagnoses as autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Armed with various intervention techniques such as educational planning, behavioral management strategies, and social skills training, professionals working with these extraordinary children enter into a professional relationship, which is as unique as it is challenging. But as our work progresses with these young children, we often find it difficult to ignore the proverbial elephant crowding our therapeutic space. This elephant, by way of emerging self-awareness proclaims, with and for the child "I know I am different; why?" Prior to the creation of this carefully thought out workbook by Peter Vermeulen, the process of answering this very fundamental question has often been left to chance, with no clear guidelines for the professional who faces the very fragile task of educating the autistic child about his or her disability. This workbook possesses the exceptional ability to carefully guide professionals, families, and children through the process of understanding what autism is and how it manifests itself among each individual child's personal strengths and weaknesses.

This workbook is divided into two parts. Part I is entitled "The Manual," and comprises the first 78 pages of the workbook. In his introduction, the author points out quickly that this publication is a work in progress. He states that it will be revised and improved upon as the professional community continues to grow in its understanding of autistic spectrum disorders, as well as in the manner that it is used as an interactive tool that can only reach its final form when completed by the person with autism.

The target populations for this book are those individuals with autism who have arrived at a point in their life where they need to be informed about their disability. The author suggests that there may be four reasons for initiating the process contained within this workbook, which may include: (1) the possession of unrealistic expectations of themselves, (2) the move of the individual into more independent and "unprotected" social situations, (3) being confronted with difficult situations brought about by their disability, and (4) the initiation of questions about themselves and their challenges in negotiating their social environment. Mr. Vermeulen sets no minimum age for the use of the book, but recommends that it be considered for use with children age 10 and above with average intelligence, and children age 12 and above who possess below average intelligence.

Helping children and young people with autism understand autism is the subject of the