My ASD Child

The Learning Camp Vail, Colorado, USA Camp Type: Residential Phone: 970-524-2706 The Learning Camp delivers twelve years of building confidence and academic success in males and females 7-14 with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and other learning differences. Located in the Vail Valley of CO… Camp Kodiak McKellar, Ontario, Canada Camp Type: Residential Toll-Free: 877-569-7595 Phone: 705-389-1910 Integrated, non-competitive camp for kids & adolescents with & without ADHD, LD, NLD, & AS. Social skills & academic programs, 50+ sports & activities, professional staff, 2-to-1 ratio, lakeside cabins... Camp Caglewood Suwanee, Georgia, USA Camp Type: Residential | Day | Adult Toll-Free: 800-979-2829 Phone: 678-405-9000 Camp Caglewood provides weekend camping and day trip programming for kids and adults with special needs... Camp Discovery Pacific Palisades, California, USA Camp Type: Day Phone: 818-501-5522 Camp Discovery is an outdoor day camp for kids ages 3

Sherman Oaks and Culver City, California Village Glen School— Sponsored by the The Help Group, the Village Glen School is a therapeutic day school program for kids with challenges in the areas of socialization, communication, language development, peer relations, learning disabilities, and academic performance without significant behavior problems. Many of the clients served at Village Glen experience special needs related to Aspergers and high functioning autism. Visit their web site at: www.villageglen.org East Bay, California The Springstone School— The Springstone School, located in Concord, California, is an independent middle school that promotes and develops academic, social and prevocational skills for clients with Aspergers and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. The professional and experienced staff fosters values of independence, responsibility and community in preparation for high school, and beyond through intensive, individualized instruction in small structure

“I have a very lonely and depressed 17 year old son with high functioning autism that spends all of his time (except for going to school) in his bedroom playing video games. I don’t totally understand why he is always so down in the dumps. I wish there was something I could do to help him find some friends and start enjoying life. Any suggestions?” Adolescence is probably the most miserable and complicated years for many young people with ASD level 1, or High-Functioning Autism (HFA). This is not true of everyone – some do extremely well. Their indifference to what peers think makes them indifferent to the intense peer pressure of adolescence. They can flourish within their specialty and become accomplished in their area of interest (e.g., music, history, etc.). Unfortunately, many HFA adolescents become more socially isolated during a period when they crave friendships and inclusion more than ever. In the rough-and-tough world of middle and high school, these adolescents of

Following the six-step plan, detailed below, will help prepare you for the entrance of a youngster with Aspergers (high functioning autism) in your classroom, as well as foster inclusion throughout the school. The steps are as follows: (1) educate yourself; (2) reach out to the moms and dads; (3) prepare the classroom; (4) educate peers and promote social goals; (5) collaborate on the implementation of an educational program; and (6) manage behavioral challenges. Step 1: Educate Yourself— As the person responsible for the education and behavior management of all your children, including a youngster with Aspergers, you must have a working understanding of Aspergers and its associated behaviors. Different behaviors are very much a part of Aspergers. When kids with Aspergers do not respond to the use of language or act out in class, it is typically not because they are ignoring you, trying to clown around, or waste class time. These behaviors may be more related to their Asper