Great Aspie Presentation!

I attended the first part of Dr. Tony Atwood’s lecture on Asperger’s and high-functioning autism today in New York, presented by YAI. Though I could only attend the first part of the day-long talk, I’d highly recommend Dr. Atwood as a speaker: clear, humorous, and engaging. In announcing how he had to stop himself for the the morning break, for instance: “The longer you spend living with and working with those with ASDs, the more aspects of an ASD you pick up yourself!”

Dr. Tony Atwood (photo courtesy YAI)

Atwood, who has worked with Aspies for years and founded a clinic some 17 years ago to work specifically with those with the condition, spelled out many interesting aspects of Aspies, some well-known and some lesser-known: social awkwardness; obsessive interests and a desire to point out mistakes regardless of the feelings of others; a behavior as children more akin to “miniature adults.” He also noted that he never likes the term “suffers from Asperger’s.” “You suffer from other people’s ignorance,” he said.

Many Aspies seem to speak with American accents, noted the British-born Atwood, attributing this to TV and wide reading, “pronouncing words as they’re spelled rather than how they’re pronounced,” and seem to live in a constant state of anxiety, often brought on school years by the fear of being bullied. Sadly, he added, Aspies make inspiring, “alone and unsupported” targets for schoolyard “predators” who can destroy any social confidence that’s been laboriously built up.

Girls also tend to be better at hiding signs of Asperger’s during childhood, he added, though the condition often emerges as a secondary diagnosis during the teen years or after the adult women has had a child who is diagnosed.

Atwood’s PowerPoint was slated to be available on the YAI conference site by mid-week. I’d recommend him highly if anyone needs a top-flight presenter. A great mix of fact, theory, well-found research and personality.

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In New Jersey, Gov. Corzine ‘s latest proposal to strengthen services for people with autism has met with cheers from families and advocates, but some in the wider developmental-disabilities community fear the state may veer toward a two-tiered system favoring one diagnosis. Corzine’s administration plans to open an Office of Autism Services within the state Department of Human Services, and a task force will address improving housing, job training, education, transportation, and financial security for autistic people after 21, the “Close Sesame!” age for federal entitlements and school-based therapies. Other recommendations could include creating a tax-free savings account akin to a 529 higher-education plan.

The ARC of New Jersey, while praising the raising of the right issues, warned that this overall solution focuses “on one segment” of the problem, perhaps to the extent of overlooking those with such conditions as Down syndrome or CP.

“We want folks with autism to get all the services they need, but setting up a separate office like that sets up a two-tiered system,” he said. The task force counters that its recommendations are directed to adults with ASD, but could be applicable to other disabilities.