To think that this boy does not have a disability?

[Upwind]

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/04/autism-asperger-s-education-society

I don't doubt he would, and did, benefit from special adjustments being made and an individual timetable. But so would most children. It is a shame that "a label", in this case an Asperger's diagnosis is necessary to get that.

I can't help but wonder whether changing schools so often, and allowing him to work on novels all night and sleep all day, has contributed to Alex's social isolation. I really hope that he can come into his own and thrive at Cambridge.

The boy himself seems to agree with me: "I don't think I've got a disability. I like being me." The diagnosis of Asperger's felt, he says, "like a label. I felt like a jam jar."

[wrinklytum]

YABVU

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

katiestar When ds1 was 2 years old we went to see a dietician. At the time I was seeking an autism diagnosis - not from her but she knew. At the end of the (useless) consultation I told ds1 to pick up the toys and he did. "WHO thinks this child is autistic?" she barked staring straight at me and followed up with a 'harumph'.

Well I did. And I was right. Aged 10 he has one word (Mummy), has very limited understanding (nouns and he guesses the rest) and severe learning disabilities (despite knowing his alphabet aged 2 and being able to read some words then- that's the thing about autism). His behaviour is extremely challenging and he will require 24 hour care for the rest of his life. He will never set foot in the street alone because he will never be able to understand road safety.

No doubt the dietician he saw aged 2 thought the same way as you, she got pretty pissed off with me when I said her suggestions for ds1 (which were sticker charts- he doesn't understand them now let alone then) wouldn't work, but well she was somewhere beyond ignorant, as I'm afraid you are. If you want to find out about the autism spectrum there is a lot of very easily accessible information out there.