I'm a mother of two boys, one of whom has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. I have an extensive collection of books and papers on Asperger syndrome and regularly attend workshops and seminars. I'm particularly interested in the works of Brenda Smith Myles, Jed Baker, and Tony Attwood, who are leading experts in teaching social skills to young people diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.
I strongly believe Asperger syndrome is not a "disorder" but a "difference". Having said that, the demands of our NT society are such that we must teach our children what Myles calls "The Hidden Curriculum" -- also known as the "unwritten rules of social conduct" (see Temple Grandin's new book). The goal of the endless SLP and OT sessions and social skills groups we subject our children to is to enable them to simply survive in a cruel society that does not tolerate neurodiversity. Conformity is not the goal; independence is.
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