I really think my son's confidence level has gone up since he/school accepted his autism spectrum disorder/AS.
He talks about it openly, and it's great.
He's only eight-years old! I feel like it's given him a reason for his own independent way of thinking and maybe it makes him feel more at ease. He doesn't call himself "dumb" anymore, I've noticed.
Strange thing is, I was thinking last night, that over the past few years, I've worked with kids with Aspergers as a teacher's aide one time during a summer program, and during my student teaching. Two different varieties--one more low functioning and one more like my son, actually. I loved the older student and thought he was amazingly blunt, funny, and right on the mark with his comments. He drove the cooperating teacher batty though. She was completely on the defense. I was very receptive and connected well to him--he was so brutally honest--I loved him. This was before I knew anything about it and my son was small. Now, I see many of those same traits in my own son. Question after question, know it all, lengthy explanations even if he doesn't know what he's talking about.
I digress once again--back to disclosure, confidence etc. Anyone else feel the same way with their youngsters and disclosure? I'd love to hear comments.
He did attribute his being afraid of things to his Aspergers, but other than this, he doesn't use it as an excuse. Overall, I feel comfortable with it and he seems to as well. I think since the team accepted it, he has felt more comfortable. Before this, it was the unspoken thing.
equinn
