03-11-2005, 02:10 PM
How much do most middle or high school students know, or care, about Asperger syndrome?
Probably very little, even though they may share classes with someone diagnosed with the autism-spectrum disorder, according to Lori S. Shery, president and founder of Edison-based ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Education Network Inc.)
In the eight years since the organization was formed, "we've done a pretty good job of educating the educators, the parents and the medical professionals," she said. "But we never tried to target the typically developing peers."
Unfortunately, children with Asperger syndrome -- who generally have normal to very high IQs coupled with naivete and significant deficiencies in social and communication skills -- are particularly vulnerable to taunts and rejection from nondisabled classmates.
"Children with Aspergers are in every New Jersey school district," Shery said. "If they're getting bullied, at worst or ignored, at best, then we are not doing our job."
So this month, ASPEN is mailing a 12-minute video, "Intricate Minds: Understanding Classmates with Asperger Syndrome" to every public middle and high school in the state. The film features 10 teenagers talking about their interests, what it's like to have Asperger syndrome and how they'd like to be treated by others.
Among the teens interviewed is Shery's 18-year-old son. Even the narrator -- the 20-year-old son of the film's North Carolina creators, Dan and Julie Coulter -- has Asperger syndrome.
The video was created to promote understanding and reduce the "harassment and isolation that many students, especially those with disabilities, experience," the organization tells educators in an accompanying letter.
And since all public schools are under a state mandate to conduct anti-bullying programs, Shery suggests "Intricate Minds" be shown as part of those programs.
ASPEN also plans to follow up in about six months with a survey gathering feedback on the film's impact.
"It's terrible to see how these kids are being shunned," Shery said. "If we can bring understanding to just one of every 25 students who watches this, it will be worthwhile."
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...09001/1006
Probably very little, even though they may share classes with someone diagnosed with the autism-spectrum disorder, according to Lori S. Shery, president and founder of Edison-based ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Education Network Inc.)
In the eight years since the organization was formed, "we've done a pretty good job of educating the educators, the parents and the medical professionals," she said. "But we never tried to target the typically developing peers."
Unfortunately, children with Asperger syndrome -- who generally have normal to very high IQs coupled with naivete and significant deficiencies in social and communication skills -- are particularly vulnerable to taunts and rejection from nondisabled classmates.
"Children with Aspergers are in every New Jersey school district," Shery said. "If they're getting bullied, at worst or ignored, at best, then we are not doing our job."
So this month, ASPEN is mailing a 12-minute video, "Intricate Minds: Understanding Classmates with Asperger Syndrome" to every public middle and high school in the state. The film features 10 teenagers talking about their interests, what it's like to have Asperger syndrome and how they'd like to be treated by others.
Among the teens interviewed is Shery's 18-year-old son. Even the narrator -- the 20-year-old son of the film's North Carolina creators, Dan and Julie Coulter -- has Asperger syndrome.
The video was created to promote understanding and reduce the "harassment and isolation that many students, especially those with disabilities, experience," the organization tells educators in an accompanying letter.
And since all public schools are under a state mandate to conduct anti-bullying programs, Shery suggests "Intricate Minds" be shown as part of those programs.
ASPEN also plans to follow up in about six months with a survey gathering feedback on the film's impact.
"It's terrible to see how these kids are being shunned," Shery said. "If we can bring understanding to just one of every 25 students who watches this, it will be worthwhile."
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...09001/1006