Aspies For Freedom

First off, I'm not so sure that would be in your best interest... How about telling them that being taken out of class is making you do worse in that class? Or... ask them what they are looking for in your behavior for you to be able to 'graduate' or pass out of the program you are in?

My son is in special reading, speech, and is entering occupational therapy. There are goals he must reach in order to get out of these special programs. Once I explained to him what the goals were he understood why he's there and what he has to do to not be taken out of class. (To him it's more of a social thing than academic)  

The teachers are very careful to not take him out of something that he's going to miss - if that's not the case in your situation, maybe you should talk to your parents and try to get them on your side about it. Maybe something can be worked out to get you the info you need.  To get my son even more help, and out of the program faster, he goes to reading in the morning now as well.

My son is smart enough to 'fake' being able to read - but that wouldn't help him in the long run... the same may be true about the 'aspie' help you're getting.

However, that said, coming from a 37 year old who was never diagnosed but managed to cope. It's only looking back now that I believe I am aspie - I just don't act like it anymore.

This is the major difference: Be yourself + confident and happy.

My suspicians are that aspie is only seen as a 'disorder' in need of intervention if you behave insecure and act out in coping ways that look unnatural to others. If you can find ways to cope that 'fit in' ie, don't make others uncomfortable, and actually work for you, I'm going to take a guess that you can be and stay yourself as much as you want and not have to fake anything.

I read the posts of matt_t a week or so ago and I got very suspicous of his agenda. He wrote about a 12-step program that he had developed and used in order to cure himself from Aspergers. It seemed very much like the Minnessota 12-step program to become a sober alcoholic. I really wonder what he is up to.

And meiloyn! All I can say is that You Are Already Miles Ahead.

If you can intellectualise this situation, you may be able to resolve it for yourself.

It is important not to be offensive because you may find that you need the aide at some point in the future, but the simplest thing would be to explain that you want to experiment with some things alone. You might want to suggest that you only need the aide at certain times or for certain activities. If you can show yourself to be coping AND participating, they may be willing to accede you some independence.

If you are rude or abrupt, they will most likely see that as a sign or symptom rather than a teenage need for privacy and autonomy.

Also, if you refuse the assistance provided by the aide, you may be jeopardising that service for other Aspies/Auties in the future.

My recomendation is to take it slowly, show that you know the right things to say and do at the right times. Spend some time listening to other kids. No matter what they say, NTs don't actually WANT you to tell them that they suck at something, so if you try to find something good in what they have done, and then focus on the ways to improve it, you don't ever get accused of being rude or 'negative'.

If you are up to it, perhaps you could startup a Manga/Anime Club at school. Showing the other kids a drawing in class, IS a disruption as far as the teacher is concerned. So is making a noise when you put your hand up to answer a question.

While your papers look to be in a mess, all teachers will consider you abnormal, but this one carries on into the so-called 'real' world too. Can you find a container of some description that will allow you to carry your books and papers between classes? If bags or backpacks are not allowed, you might be able to find a transparent or translucent plastic attache case. As soon as they think your stuff is controlled, you will find that they begin to perceive YOU as controlled.

If you try to tell social workers anything, they hear the opposite. For some reason, they think that anyone who is smarter than them must be up to no good. Learn to smile a lot - practice in the mirror, if you need to, but make sure that it doesn't look forced. Learn to listen to what NTs have to say - it is as important to them that they be heard as it is to you. Learn when the 'whole truth' is more than they can handle. Learn the expressions that you are using when you are conveying information - I have only recently realised that my scared and headache face is being read by others as rage, and my 'haven't got a clue what the hell they are on about' face is anger. Oh and my 'you're wrong' face is rude and defiant.

Basically, you can't afford to give them any reason to think that you don't know and respect their rules.

• On the days that you are tired or unwell, keep a low profile, don't stim and don't tell other people what you think of them even if they ask you.
  
• On the days that you are feeling good, keep a low profile, don't stim and don't tell other people what you think of them even if they ask you.
  

Yep, they are the same. NTs don't cope well with someone who appears to be different, unless it is for sporting or musical talent. They might need us to save the world for them, but they don't want to know that it is us who do it. Nor do they want to know that we were the ones they picked on in school. If all they have going for them is a pretty face, or a place on the basketball team, they tend to hate nerds who make it big (eg. Bill Gates).

On rereading this diatribe, all of these seems to me to be above and beyond what you had in mind or were trying to achieve, but I have typed it now (and I am dyslexic so it took a while), so you can read it or ignore it according to your preference.

ZZzz.....

and that my friends is the point of self diagnosis

And if its detrimental then make them drag you to your appointments kicking and screaming. At the least dont make it easy for them.

If I had an aide I'd probably end up murdering him/her...
Yes I'm serious...
Thank god for the If...

Meh... the yes I'm serious was uncalled for... and very stupid of me... I say things I dont mean at times... I'm to used to talking to nt's all of the time... still thank god for the if...

Thank you so much for the advice.  Once I'm finished college in September 2009 I intend to get the diagnosis removed forever so that it can't hurt my chances of getting a good job.

I spoke to my dad last night about my plan to remove my diagnosis, and he doesn't approve of it. I guess that makes him a hypocrite, considering that he refuses to get an official diagnosis for himself.  Oh well, that's not going to stop me from getting my diagnosis removed.