Can corporate America accommodate people with social skills deficit?

Can corporate America accommodate people with social skills deficit? Well, yes, but how? Companies have cultures. Some may be easier for people with social skills deficits than others.  As the employee what is your role?  What is the managers role? There are no easy answers ,and it depends on the job. It’s a lot easier to …

Transitioning to College with Learning Disabilities

Post high school education can be challenging for students transitioning from high school with special education services on little or no transition planning.   Concerns about self-care, class preparation, and social interactions are ever-present for all freshman. However, especially for students with who have been fully supported with special education services through high school, the changes …

Discovering What Works: Managing homework battles

My daughter is now in the 8th grade. Our “homework battles” are primarily behind us, but not forgotten.  I wish I could say it just took time. That would negate all the wonderful help she’s received.  Managing homework battles takes a thoughtful, comprehensive approach.  It requires perseverance, patience, and sometimes skilled help to address the underlying …

Mindblindness vs Context blindness

Replacing the generic term of “mindblindness,” often used to refer to people on the autism spectrum, with a more specific term such as “context blindness” has been proposed by Peter Vermeulen, PhD.   Simon Baron-Cohen created the term “mindblindness,” to refer to the deficit  people on the autism spectrum have in reading others mental states. This term …

Social engineering to improve social deficits

In a recent article in Attitude magazine, a magazine that offers strategies and support for people and their families with ADHD and LD, a mom created a Facebook birthday event for her son with Asperger syndrome.  No one wanted to come to her son’s 13th birthday  and her son was upset.  She decided to with …

It’s a Two Way Street: Communicating with People with Asperger Syndrome

If you missed my webinar you can listen here.  “It’s a Two Way Street: Helping the World to Communicate with People with Asperger Syndrome” produced by AANE and presented by Kai Long, MS SLP CCC of Long on Language. This webinar will discuss society’s role in communicating with people with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Typical communication relies on …

Asperger Syndrome: Nonfiction vs Fiction

 Do people with Asperger Syndrome prefer fiction or non-fiction? It has been suggested that people with Asperger prefer nonfiction because it provides fact-based information related to their special interest. However, I have known people with Asperger syndrome who enjoyed fiction.   The lack of interest in reading fiction usually begins in childhood when children begin …

Words are not enough

Vocabulary Development and Asperger Syndrome “Mama!” screamed the toddler from his crib. Usually children say their first words by 12 months,  as do some children on the autism spectrum; however, children with Asperger’s syndrome first word are often more complex than typically developing children. For example, a child with Asperger’s syndrome may say “airplane” as …

10 Fruits in 60 seconds: The importance of categorization

“Quick, in 60 seconds name 10 items that go in the category, fruits.”  Generally, this task for typically developing children age 10 and older, can perform this task quickly.  Categorizing information into similar items is a task we often take for granted.  However, for children with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome, classifying and sorting like …

Facilitating Language Using Asperger Syndrome Special Interests

“I love video games and science, ” states the 11 year old with Asperger syndrome. A  characteristic of Asperger syndrome special interests can be used to facilitate language and provide career options.   Using special interests in speech-language therapy is a way to motivate clients to practice skills until mastered.This benefit is not limited only …