Navigating teen years a minefield for those with Asperger's

Laurie Monsebraaten  Social Justice Reporter 

thestar.com

Puberty is when the brain is closed for renovations, a Toronto conference on autism was reminded Friday.

That light-hearted truism from renowned clinical psychologist and author Tony Attwood drew chuckles from the audience of more than 200 parents, teachers and clinicians at the international gathering sponsored by the Geneva Centre for Autism.

But the serious truth for children with Asperger’s syndrome, a neurological disorder on the milder end of the autism spectrum, is that puberty and the teen years can be a minefield. READ MORE >>

Tony Attwood, clinical psychologist and author of several acclaimed books on Asperger's syndrome, says the hyper-social quality of the teen years leaves kids with Asperger's particularly adrift.

New Program Builds Social Skills in Autistic Teens

Psych Central  |  By RICK NAUERT PHD Senior News Editor

Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. 

Contemporary educational practice is usually to “mainstream” children with special needs, with those students getting as much of their education as possible in regular classes.

It has proven effective in minimizing stigmas and equalizing educational opportunities. But it can be a high bar for teens with an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in communication and social interaction. The level of impairment varies among individuals. Some teens may be severely impaired while others may be highly functional, more akin to Asperger’s syndrome.

But without the proper social skills, even mainstreamed, high-functioning teens don’t quite fit into the general social milieu of middle school or high school. Unfortunately, this may lead to ridicule and bullying, leading to a lowered self-esteem and self-worth.

Since 2006, however, the UCLA PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) clinic has assisted high-functioning teens with ASD by literally teaching them the strategies they need to fit in better with their peers.