> I have a grandson who has been identified as having mild Asperger's disorder. From what I've learned, I'm sure I taught a number of kids with this problem over the years, but in those days we had no way of knowing. I know what the symotoms are, and I know that it is kin to autism, but the symptom are not the same. The worst thing about it is that they don't function well in a large group, and school is a large group. Does anybody have any experience with Asperger's?
> Howard

I saw a news program that had a segment on Asperger's. It was very informative and enlightening. The three kids they focused on were all boys, ages 5, 9, and 13, I think. For the most part they seemed normal until you looked closer. They did struggle in social situations and took things very literally and struggle when the perceived rules are broken. For example, the 5 year old's class was playing Hokey Pokey and the teacher said they'd play it once but meant once per child. When they finished with one child and went to the next, he had a fit because it was a broken rule. All three kids had intense fascinations with different things. The 5 year old was into all things having to do with trains and had a hard time leaving a real train that was parked and not moving. The 9 year old knew all the ins and outs of washers and dryers and took us on a tour of the washer and dryer area of a store. He definitely knew more than any salesperson.

An interesting thing was that they know that they have this disorder and that it alienates them. The 13 year old was able to explain his situation very well.

Ferrick