Its been a long time since I wrote in this blog.
I think I have been grieving and coming to terms with the aspergers condition.
I have been busy the past year or so... trying to understand my son, and this will be an ongoing process.
Now I am back and ready to write, and relate how I feel and what we have learned, a sort of online diary used for both therapy and sharing.
So today's topic for me is ... should I define aspergers as a disability? Or an impairment?
I am currently reading "Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents".
The book quotes Lorna Wing's impairment criteria, and a few of them are "odd speech often coupled with pedantic forms of address and response" and "resistance to change" and "selective intense interests".
I can relate to those criteria, and definately identify them in my own son's behaviour. But I think that impairment is a strong word. Perhaps it depends on your point of view, and what coloured glasses you wear. Probably depends on who you are and your relationship to the Aspie, and what level of understanding there is.
I view my own son as "eccentric", "creative" and "special". I see his behaviour (well the good behaviour anyway) as just a different view to the world.
When he says or does inappropriate things, I feel embarrassed sometimes.
Perhaps I should learn how to explain it to others, and help Anton to be able to explain his behaviour to others as well, so they can in turn, help him to avoid the hurdles and obstacles that arise.
Anyways I better go, till next time.
