Desperate - how can I tell my 13 year old he has ASD?

[pinksugarmice]

I have to do it, he came home today saying 'get these TA's off my back' He just wants to be 'normal' but as his IQ is low and he has slow processing he definitely needs support. (we have only recently had a diagnosis and then a statement after years of uncertainty)

All the books seem to be of the Freaks Geeks sort. He is clesrly not clever enough to fit an Aspergers profile so the Bill Gates stuff won't wash. We'll need to look at GCSE options soon so have got to find some words. I've already done the 'we're all different' and 'everyone has strengths and weaknesses'

Thanks for reading, any ideas really welcome!

Thanks for the book suggestions , I have ordered them. We've got parents evening coming up and I am worried something will be said by one of the teachers so it really must be tackled soon.

Anyone else with experience of breaking this news to a teenager who doesn't want to be helped?
Thanks

If his priorities are get these TA's off my back and just wants to be 'normal' then, as well as the suggestions above, you may want to link the ASD diagnosis to targetted strategies helping him to tame the TAs and feel/ act more 'normal'.

It's possible that non-ASD trained TAs really are a hindrance to him. Or that he's being bullied for being 'not normal'. The we're all different / strengths and weaknesses works best when self-esteem isn't too bad. If it's rock-bottom, and he's being picked on, then a ballsy, fighting approach on the lines of 'racism is wrong, ASD-ism is just as bad' might help a bit.

All cats have aspergers syndrome is simple and funny.

I remember worrying about telling DS1 about this when he was around the same age. We went for a walk and chatted about lots of things, particularly his main obsessions of the time. Then I took a deep breath and told him he was autistic. He said nothing. When we got home, he ran to DH and said, "Daddy, I'm artistic!"

After talking about it with him over and over, gently of course, he came to the conclusion that he was happy to have ASD as it makes him what he is. He can't imagine not being obsessed with certain things and is pleased that he has these interests. Of course over the years since he has sometimes been sad that he struggles with ASD and learning difficulties, but we emphasise how hard he has worked to overcome so many of his issues and that we, his family and friends love him for who he is, not who he might have been IYSWIM.

I can't recall if the narrator in the London eye mystery is v intelligent, he is certainly weather obsessed..and has no friends. It's a good story though.