All cats have aspergers syndrome ...

[frazzledbutcalm]

Bought this lovely book after reading good reviews on here. Found it very cute but don't understand how it can help - probably as I've been understanding for 8 years now while waiting for dx
I said we'd bought the book to help understand how dd see things and thinks.

But, dd (asd) has read it - she just said the pictures were cute, just a shrug of the shoulders when I asked what she thought of the messages/meanings. Am going to talk to her properly when we've got more time.

Ds2 age 10 (hypermobility, SPD, poss asd - not sure yet) - he read the book and said "so do all cats have this thing then ... cool" When seeing the cat curled up on the squishy bedding, he said "ah so that's why Alfie curls up on our beds" ... I think he's taking the book literally to mean only cats, every single cat. Nothing to do with autism/aspergers in his sister or possibly him and his other sister. He's just relating it completely to cats.

Have I done something wrong? How can I explain the book better?

Thanks polter, will take a look at the thread. I wasn't sure ds take on the book was entirely 'normal'?

Ha ha .. same her polter

He's just only connecting it to cats and think it's amazing all cats have aspergers ... I just thought that was unusual. He's reading it like an insight into the cat brain. At least he'll understand our lovely cat now

I thought it was a bit stereotypical, but for those children who fit the stereotype it would be ideal. A lot of books about 'children with Asperger's' were along the same lines - didn't engage ds because he's so atypical. I always suggest to people that they read (an analyse suitability) any books before using them with their children. They don't all inspire the response you'd want.

I have long said that my cat has ASC: he loves routine, eats only certain foods, has limited tolerance for being touched, etc.

I suspect that all dogs have ADHD, too.

Ah thanks polter ... ds has hypermobility, SPD, and recently been referred for assessment wrt anything else. He just took the book so literally, just all about cats.
streaky ... I too found it very stereotypical, but can understand how it can help some children, younger especially, and also those who maybe don't know anything about asd/aspergers.
croc ... I think all cats are on the spectrum, everything is on their terms .. wouldn't have it any other way

Yes bb ... dd is 11, 12 in June! I thought dd would relate to the cat book as she's a young 11. I'll look into the Curly Hair Project - the book seemed expensive but I'll give it a go now. I'll look into your books also, thank you.

It's ds reaction that's surprised me the most

polter I've read the old thread you mentioned - I'm shocked that others had the same reaction as my ds about the book, it made me feel better! We don't have dx for ds yet (other than hyeprmobility and SPD). I didn't think he was on the spectrum as we stupidly compare to dd who is much worse socially than ds. Now though we wonder about ds, school nurse has referred for us. He's so emotional, cries a lot because of school, talks to other kids but doesn't like being with other kids iyswim. He'd rather be by himself and seems to alienate himself at school more and more. Can you have ASD even though you have eye contact and can talk to others ok?

Thanks polter. I feel like we're just muddling through most days. I have 4 dc. Ds1 (age 21) NT, dd1 (age 15) hypermobility, SPD, also been referred for asd assessment, dd2 (age 11) severe hypermobility, SPD, ASD, ds2 severe hypermobility, SPD also been referred for asd assessment. My days just seem a constant battle with getting their needs recognised/dealt with and trying to do my best for each of them. dd1 doesn't like eye contact, won't talk to doctors, strangers etc but not in the way dd2 won't. dd1 seems to wilfully refuse whereas dd2 seems like she can't. dd1 has 1 friend and talks to a few more in school but that's it. She always says she has no friends, no-one likes her and this really bothers her now. She hates touch, I'm not allowed to lightly touch nor hug her. This makes me really sad Both dd1 and ds2 are waiting for their initial appointment with CYPS. The more time goes on the more I'm convinced they're both on the spectrum but I think I'll have an even tougher time getting these 2 dx than dd2

Thanks polter
My life is just normal to me now. It's only when I see other families with children taking everything in their stride, doing something that would cause a meltdown in my dc but their dc don't even bat an eyelid! That's when I realise how tough it is here. I feel like I'm on a roller coaster most days and can't get off. Things came to a head a couple of months ago and I felt like I just couldn't go on anymore ... but then you pick yourself back up and get back on track. Whatever roller coaster track that may be
I feel like we get by but that's all. I want to feel like we're getting somewhere, settled a bit, have time for everyone, giving/getting everyone what they deserve.

Wow, four on the spectrum, you're a supermum

The only other person I've heard of in similar circumstances is jacqui Jackson, she's written a couple of books but I've no idea if they would be any good for you to compare your life to how she manages?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqui_Jackson

I think he's taking the book literally to mean only cats, every single cat. Nothing to do with autism/aspergers in his sister or possibly him and his other sister. He's just relating it completely to cats.

I think that's pretty much par for the course, why should he extrapolate the information and think it may apply to his sister? It's a book about cats. At that age, dd would have done exactly what your ds did.

dd is a young adult and the other day I came across this image online i.imgur.com/YIS9f.jpg
I had it fullscreen and was knocked out how such a simple graphic can convey such a profound message about perception. I should really know better, but in my enthusiasm, I called her over and asked her what she thought about it.
'It's a circle and a square on different coloured backgrounds, so what?'
I tried to explain that it illustrated one object seen from two opposing viewpoints, people looking at the yellowygreeny background will see the shadow of the object as a circle whereas people looking at the purple background will see the shadow of the object as a square BUT the profound point is, that all the people are seeing the same object, it's only their viewpoint which is making them see either a circle or square. They are all really looking at the same thing. That elicited a look that said 'are you quite mad' So then I gave endless examples of how people can see the same thing and have very oppositional views about it and tried to explain how cleverly the artist had conveyed that message but she still didn't see the relevance of the image besides its literal interpretation.

bb ... good job your OT was so on the ball! Dd2 (and dd1) mask tremendously! Ds2 masks a bit but is starting to cry at school and tell the teacher he's feeling stressed so I'm hoping he'll get help quicker.

blank ... thank you for your kind compliment
I have 1 dx on the spectrum, 2 very probable - just starting the assessment process, 1 NT.
I've clicked your link, I'm hoping I can view the documentary and drama somewhere, very interested. You're right about ds view of the book - I was just so taken aback that he couldn't/didn't relate it at all. That picture is amazing! I've shown ds1 (NT) - 'nothing special about that, what else would you expect to see?' dd1 (poss asd) - similar to your dd reaction. dd2 (asd) - genuine wide eyed amazement 'that's mint!' Not shown ds2 yet as he's in bed.