Asperger's Syndrome

Impairment in social interactions.

Repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities.
No delay in language.
No significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of ageappropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interactions), and
curiosity about the environment in childhood.
Positive Traits of Asperger's Syndrome
Trustworthy and reliable, free of prejudice, high integrity, extreme endurance,
intelligent, and talented.

Cogito, Ergo Sum: Asperger's Syndrome, A Life

Story...Ch. 1: The Little Professor
Yasmin Karanaskhawicz
Boouts: sellotape holders, old fashioned shoe horns, the boiler
room, dolls, mannequins, clowns, buttons, paintings in which
people stare at you, clothes irons, washing machines, polo
balls, anything pure white or pure black, drains and drain
covers (All things she finds threatening)
Sleeping Troubles
"Fun?"...
Independence
Special Interests..that sparkle (Stimming)
"Little Professor"
OCD, Depression, Comorbidity

Parallel Play - Tim Page

".. my life has been spent in a perpetual state of
parallel play, alongside, but distinctly apart from, the
rest of humanity."
Unconventional
Obsessions
Emotions Hard-won
The "Genius's" Struggle
"Not only did I not see the forest for the trees; I was
so intensely distracted that I missed the trees for the
species of lichen on their bark."

Adam
Mac n Cheese Please!
Take me to Space...
Literally
Loving vs. Needing

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the

Night-time
Christopher Boone

"Then she drew some pictures..."

"but I was unable to say what these meant."

Sherlock Holmes
Over-stimulation/ Obsessions
Struggle to Adapt
The world is full of obvious things which nobody by chance ever
observes.

Differences Between First and Second

Hand Accounts
Secondhand accounts portray...
Ignorance is bliss
Oblivious to differences
Relationship/Job troubles
Firsthand accounts portray...
Miserable as kids
Very informed/aware (as an adult)
Success!
Why?
The importance of education regarding one's
own exceptionality

Myths & Stereotypes

"You think you are so fucking clever, dont you. Dont you ever, ever think about other people for
one second, eh? Well, Ill bet youre really pleased with yourself now, arent you?

Emotionless
Unable to have successful careers
Only an issue of awkward social interaction
Rude, self-centered, unconcerned with etiquette, arrogant
Unable to form relationships
Childlike
Great in school / genius

Conclusions
The Extreme Importance of...
Understanding Asperger's Syndrome
Accommodating those with Asperger's Syndrome
Educating parents of those with Asperger's Syndrome about
not becoming angry with their child for displaying
symptoms, regardless of how frustrating or confusing they
may be for the parent
Learning not to view Asperger's Syndrome as a problem that
needs to be fixed

References
Copley, Jennifer. "Positive Traits of Aperger's Syndrome." Suite101. Suite101, 15 Aug
2008. Web. 29 Nov 2010. <http://www.suite101.com/content/positive-traits-ofaspergers-syndrome-a64523>.
"DSM-IV & DSM-IV-TR: Asperger's Disorder (AD)." BehaveNet Clinical Capsule.
BehaveNet, 2010. Web. 29 Nov 2010. <http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/
disorders/asperger.htm>.
Haddon, M. (2003). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. New York,
New York: Random House, Inc.
Karanaskhawicz, Y. (2001-2006). Cogito, Ergo Sum.Retrieved from
http://www.aspergerssyndrome.net/AutobioIntro.shtml
Miranda, De Pencier (Producer), & Mayer, Max (Director). (7 August 2009). Adam [Motion
picture]. United States: Olympus Pictures.
Page, T. (2007, August 20). Parallel play. The New Yorker, Retrieved from
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/20/070820fa_ fact_pagecurrentPage=all.