Articles Related to Autism

Parenting an Autistic
Child

Synopsis:  I share my experience in raising a child with Asperger's Syndrome, and the two biggest lessons I have learned from it.  Also discussed are early diagnosis and treatment and dealing with defiance and meltdowns.

Excerpt:  In my observation, it is the home that is the number-one factor in helping the ASD child.  All other therapies are secondary--not optional--secondary, as shorts are secondary to a runner's shoes.  You shouldn't omit the shorts.  Shirt, maybe, but neither shorts nor shoes.

Spencer Gets a Pet

Synopsis:  I'm allergic to cats and dogs, but had them all my life.  For the first time in ages I've been able to live pet-free.  Spencer, however, wanted a pet at daddy's house, and my giving in to his wish invokes many truisms about autism, identity, individuality, and even polytheism.

Excerpt:  His guinea pig is actually his third, at least.  Like Darren Stevens on Bewitched, the original went away, and the producers brought in a replacement, acting like nothing had happened.  The only ones fooled, of course, would be viewers like Spencer who don't really look at faces.  Every few months Spencer would report that his guinea pig suddenly got a little bigger or smaller, or went from being hyper to very mellow.  Shape-shifting isn't enough to suggest to Spencer that a creature or person in the same role is actually a different person.

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