Talking to DS about his autism

[BiscuitsAreMyDownfall]

DS (8YO) has been diagnosed with autism and is statemented at school. During the last statement review we discussed about DS knowing about his autism. I said I would discuss it over Christmas with him, but with one thing or another we are suddenly nearly back to school. I have no idea how to bring it up with DS. Are there any good websites or books we could look at?

I have just told my nearly 7yo ds1 about his ADHD diagnosis as his behaviour was causing him a lot of distress, but wished I had had some books to read with him about it. He does also had a dx of asd but that is less secure and at the moment less disabling. I will be very interested to see what advice you get.

Thanks Polter I will have a look at the book. I'll see if I can get it from the library.

I feel bad for not telling him before, guess I just put it off for too long.

I've had that book in my amazon basket for ages polter. I haven't been sure about it because ds hates anything silly and I wondered if he would get cross about it. But if your ds liked the aspergers one then he would probably be okay with it

Durr sorry - anothe recommendation for the survival guide. My DS is the same age and has known for ages that he's different. Finding out it was a Thing helped a lot and the book is pitched just right.

All dogs and all cats are both good. Ds recently got an ASD and ADHD diagnosis and I bought those books. He loves them. Thinks the pictures are great!

I also need to have this conversation with my ds (nearly 7) who now has dxes of SPD, anxiety, and ASD (PDA). I'm wondering if the "all cats" book would work for him (if I change the words to ASD) - his presentation is very similar to AS in lots of ways, but not all. Maybe the survival guide would be better since it seems to be about ASDs more generally rather than just AS? But also looks to be aimed at an older age range.

Grateful for any thoughts and sorry for hijack.

My DS loved 'All cats have Asperger's syndrome' It's still on his bookshelf over 10 years later. Clarified some things without being patronising or overly funny. He took it into school as well.

Thanks Polter . Is the word aspergers used many times within the book? Only, knowing ds' tendency to be both pedantic and paranoid () it could potentially cause confusion/upset /a feeling of being tricked, if I'm using a different word or having to explain that the word aspergers doesn't quite apply to him! Or perhaps the exact terminology doesn't matter? I'm wildly overthinking this, I know!

You could tell him about the doctor, Hans Asperger, and make the link that he was the man who first studied and described the traits and symptoms.
So sometimes it's called Aspergers, sometimes HFA. Simplistic, and the dx of AS is now no longer given, I think? But something that a 7 year old might understand.
Some people dislike the way the book uses the term @Asperger's child' rather than 'Child with Asperger's' but for my DS it was the photos of cats, combined with a lot of positive points made that helped him understand and be comfortable with it.

Do you want the text of the book? It might take me a while to type.

Aw that's so kind of you silver, I've just found the full (I think) text online. Thanks so much though

There's a colour photo of a cat on every page, doing something relevant and often funny. It's 64 pages long, so I've given you the first 14. Some parents really dislike the book.

The first signs of Asperger's syndrome are usually picked up very young.
An Asperger's child looks at the world in his own unique way.
He likes to be near those he loves, but doesn't want them to hold him,
preferring squishy places to a hug.
Instead of coming to people for comfort, he may be overly attached to a toy, or a pet.
It's possible he's over-adventurous with no sense of danger, and he uses up some of his nine lives all too quickly.
An Asperger's child often has exceptionally good hearing, and loud sounds and sudden movements may scare him.
His other senses can be heightened too, such as touch and smell.
Yet things that bother other people may not bother him.
He's often fussy about what he eats, and wants the same food presented in the same way, day after day.

Told you I was a slow typist!
Not helped by DD wanting to tell me all about the pokemon Evie and the statistical probabilities of her catching one. Or something.

She's now pointing out that it's the most useful application of her further maths A level that she's found yet.

Silver, (good job you didn't type all 64 pages! . And Polter thanks too.

In case it's helpful to anyone else, here is the YouTube video of All Cats that I found.