But what do the teachers say? Your son is 8, so by now he should also be able to express himself about all this. His teachers should be able to tell you how he fits in and achieves in school.
He is doing fairly good in school. Has no problems keeping up, has stopped keeping to himself, and is sitting fairly still for an 8 year old boy 
This is of course attributed to the effects that an aide has had, it can not be of his own accord 
If you think your wife, your sister, the doctors, the government, the teachers, and the school system are secretly plotting to brand your son as AS even though he is "normal," I would suggest that the problem may well be with you. That's a pretty big conspiracy!
When you put it like that I have to agree. I just think that you are mixing the posts a bit. What happened to my nephew is not what happened to my son, it is just resembling in some instances. I accept that reality is a subjective thing. The schools reality is that they are under funded, and aides are financed by a different purse. The mothers reality is that I am arrogant and don't see Thomas's faults. The doctors reality is that they find what they are looking for, which is a sure way of missing essential points. My reality is that Thomas was diagnosed because of his reaction to external factors: Our marriage, our moving to a new home, rejection from peers, unsupportive grown ups. I do not believe that it is paranoid to accept this as a truth or even as a possibility.
If getting an AS diagnosis in DK (?) means having to live in a "protected environment," may I suggest moving to a different country? If Thomas has no problems whatsoever, as you say, and the government will still force him into assisted living or an institution, I'd be very afraid of that government!
I would love to move, but just as with the pets. It's a no-go with the misses.
Yes, in this instance I am afraid of the "government". I hope that does not make me paranoid 
DSM-IV is the Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of mental disorders; the 4th edition (1994). It's issued by the American Psychiatric Association. The current issue is the first that include Aspergers Syndrome. It's 5th edition is scheduled to be issued in 2011.
& welcome to the forums. I'm from Sweden.
Thank you. Do you know where I can find it?
DSM-IV is the Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of mental disorders;
Thank you. Do you know where I can find it?
Here it be:
http://www.inlv.demon.nl/irc.asperger/dsmasp.html
I always thought the descriptions were pretty vague, though...
Thank you. I will have a look, to see if it can enlighten me.
You and your woman should settle with aspie-like. Agree to disagree and call the way he is himness.
Keep him out of special classes & make sure he isn't being kidnapped by a school counselor when he should be in class.
The teacher should be aware of himness.
-2 cent borderline-aspie opinion.
You and your woman should settle with aspie-like. Agree to disagree and call the way he is himness.
Keep him out of special classes & make sure he isn't being kidnapped by a school counselor when he should be in class.
The teacher should be aware of himness.
-2 cent borderline-aspie opinion.
Thanks, that is actually pretty good advice. I will heed that 
Thomas dad, i really REALLY know what you are going thru. I was (wrongly) diagnosed with aspergers at age 10. I remember i felt really humiliated, because my mom would call me "special" even though I knew I wasn't. I was and am, just shy, occasionaly obsessive (who isnt?), phobic but thats about it. I was taken to dozens of psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists etc. all by my mom and had know idea what the hell was going on. One of them 'suggested' i have "AS". So I was forced to take some silly test at some county school disabilities testing center. I went to so many psychs and therapists that it's really vague, but I do remember doing coordination tests. By the way i have perfect balance.. I didn't learn to ride a bike until 10. Big deal.. And she took me to get an EEG for epilepsy. No epilepsy! She said my brain was "normal" recently when I asked about it. Hmmm. I admit I am sensitive to many things and phobic as well, but it's to normal things, like roaches and certain food textures that remind me of unpleasant bodily fluids. And I'm 100% introverted. But that's obviously a personality trait that's accumulated more and more over time.
My mom really takes this crap to heart. She bought TONS of books on it. As if she was completely obsessed with dealing with my "disorder" and preparing for everything she thinks I'll have a problem with (like finding my classes. for a mom who expects her kids to be successful in life she has low expectation for the simplest things). My dad doesnt say anything about this. I say I'm autistic to him he says Im not. I say Im autistic to my mom she says I have assburgers. Also I was forced to take 40mg prozac. I didnt have *nearly* enuf anxiety at the time to even have a reason for taking it.
Sorry for talking about myself so much. But theres a lot I have to sort out. I complain about this a lot to my mom because I am paranoid that she believes I am truly autistic, as well as being paranoid about others thinking I might be because of my shyness. My mom thinks me "obsessing" about it is because of autism too. I began getting really bad anxiety and starting to go very slowly into depression at around 8-9th grade. In 11th it got really bad so I completely shut my self out from everyone and everything around me. My mom thinks autism made me anxious and depressed.
I *really* feel like I am a victim here. I am very very angry at and psychiatry right now. Moms as well. There are obviously a LOT of criticisms of diagnostic tools like the DSM but psychiatrists and psychologists ive been to seem to ignore the generalizing, labelling and inclusion of nonsense disorders like AD/HD. Also no offense to people on this sight but I have a problem with people proudly identifying themselves as aspergers/autistic, or 'aspies', and calling everyone else 'NT'. It adds to the stigma and isolation in my opinion. and they dont seem to understand that.
OK so ive tried ignoring it for 7 years, since the dx. Now that Im getting less depressed and trying to get a little self-confidence, I'm denying it. My mom thinks I'm truly mentally disabled, and in denial about my disability. I feel like I'm trapped in one of those stereotypic mental health institutions where they hold you down and inject you as youre screaming "IM NOT INSANE IM NOT INSANE!". I tell my mom that I feel that this diagnosis on my records is holding me back, humiliating me, taking my self esteem. She says it's just a crutch.
Oh well I'm turning 18 in about a week and a half so I will *finally* be able to have some control over this. Also I'm going to my psych for a follow up for the antidepressants (also the same doc who dx'ed me with AS) so hopefully I will gather the courage to ask him to revoke the diagnosis. I will never settle for less on this issue. Especially when I know in my heart that I am not the lesser person I am accused of being. You can say you're proud of being an aspie, but I'm humiliated. I guess I take people's ignorant opinions too seriously ( i have told people on the internet about this disorder and they call me *** because of it). The ignorance isn't going to go away any time soon. Or ever for the matter, so why should I have so much anguish over this label, this feeling of persecution, when I don't even have it?
Sorry for the long rant. I'm very upset as you can see. I really have to get this out there because most people dont think twice about how theyre diagnosed or labeled like the original poster did. Good luck Thomas' dad. Thomas should have the right to be an individual, not placed in a group that he doesnt even belong in. Noone should have to suffer this way. Even if it's a 'medical' diagnosis it doesnt make it true or right, and just because theyre professionals doesnt make their opinion right. Even if youre a loner, completely shy, a little too interested in comic books or what ever, that doesnt mean they should label your ((normal)) behavior and make it a disorder or disease. Also in my opinion, because of the forest fire of diagnoses (especially self diagnosis) of aspergers, it makes it that much less credible as a supposed disorder. At least when it comes to the very mild 'aspies'. If you look at it closely and really think about it, disorders like AD/HD and aspergers are so generalized, and the symptom requirements are so broad and unspecific, they really shouldnt be listed as disorders at all.
Sorry if im offending anyone. but i encourage you to think about your 'aspie' label and wonder, if it is really true to yourself, especially if you are a self-diagnoser. Why not label yourself as an individual?
Wow man that sucks for you.. As an adult I ripped the tracks out from underneath that train before it gained any momentum: I don't let my mom even say Aspergers [or hint at it], hence the himness suggestion.