Guest guest Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 " So what is the key difference that causes increased impairment? Inability to come of themselves? " If you look at the DSM description of autism and of Asperger's, you'll find that the only real difference is in expressive communication (ability to speak). It's an outward symptom, not a statement of the person within. The smartest person I've ever met in my life was a young man (now a teen) who I started working with when he was 5. He never walked, only ran. He had a host of unattractive stims like spitting. He giggled when someone was upset. And he couldn't make even the simplest sounds in imitation. But these were only due to the physical/neurological issues that impeded his ability to coordinate his body properly. He also was doing math problems like 428 + 713 + 129 = in his head in about 2 seconds flat. He listened to the stock market reports and watched McNeil Lehrer (when he was 7). Anything you told or showed him just once, he knew forever. I thought of him as my own J. Hawkins. He communicated using a keyboard. Although he needed help (pressure on his wrist, towards his shoulder), we knew everything he said was his own words. How could we be so sure? His vocabulary was much better than those who facilitated. One lovely, young tutor who was not so bright often had no idea what the words he used were! He was a child who definitely came into himself, had high intelligence, but had severe impairments that prevented him from resting on his laurels and simply embracing life.I have other wonderful stories of lovely, well-rounded kids who were severely impaired, but no one else in my life was as smart as he! Dena Page, M.Ed., CBAwww.listenbetterwithAIT.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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