Hi!
Are there any parents with children with Asperger’s syndrome on this list?
Would you mind telling me if you found any support in Taiwan for children with this syndrome (i.e. counselors or support groups or schools (international or local) that are specially attuned to the needs of kids with some degree of AS)?
Thank you!
Anchor
AS was, until recently, a very uncommon diagnosis even in the U.S., so there may be very little organized support in Taiwan. The internet is probably your best friend here, and that may be enough, if your child is generally high-functioning.
I used to be a teachers aid in Canada. I have seen kids here with AS, full HF Autism and/or FAS whose parents REFUSE to admit any problem at all.
Good luck getting help here. I know what your gong through.
[quote=“Chicken”]I used to be a teachers aid in Canada. I have seen kids here with AS, full HF Autism and/or FAS whose parents REFUSE to admit any problem at all.
Good luck getting help here. I know what your gong through.[/quote]
Same here. I’ve had 3 Autistic kids in my kindy classes over the past 3 years. All speech delayed (2 never learned how to speak Chinese let alone English) and all three had varying levels of what would be considered “functioning.” While all those parents knew their child had been diagnosed with Autism, they all refused to accept the severity of it and their child’s special needs. Very unfair, I think. 2 of them were brother and sister and the mom refused to take them to special ed classes that were offered by one of the hospitals in Taipei. Instead, they were put in our kindy to wander around aimlessly day in and day out. However, I know there is a hospital in Taipei that works with Autistic kids cause one of the Dr’s came to our kindy, spoke fluent English, to observe said Autistic child’s behavior. I can ask my kindy principal the name of that hospital after Chinese New Year.
Anchor, I don’t know anything about Aspergers treatment in Taiwan, but I work with young adults who have aspergers in the UK. If your child has it, and you want to chat, please feel free to PM me. I have some understanding of what a parent might be going through, and what they will go through in the future.
Tom.
At Taipei American School there is a specialist who comes from time to time, although I believe she is based in Singapore or HK. There are plenty of resources and possibly a parent support group at the school since there are children with the syndrome who are mainstreamed into the classes there.
Also, the Taipei Times recently ran a very extensive article on AS, you might want to check that out online.
Hope this helps!
Back in my day they called it boys being boys.
Funny how many new “syndromes” they invented these past 20-30 years.
As far as I seen, it’s just a good excuse for parents to chop up Ritalin into powder and snort it as a cocaine substitute.
Quentin, you have the right to remain silent. I suggest you use it.
It would have been better to remain silent and seem a fool then to have opened you mouth and removed all doubt.
If you did not get the meaning if this post try this: You post is not only unnecessary and insensitive, but also ignorant. If you don’t even know what Asperger’s syndrome is then I suggest you educate yourself (a lot) before you post again, ever.
As I assume they did not have computers back in your day I will help you start:
udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome
I know what Asperbergers syndrome is.
Like most intelligent men with an IQ above 120, I have had it. Lack of social skills is a side-effect of excessive intelligence. Not much you can do about except make boys dumber by force-feeding them drugs. I shudder to think what Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton would have turned out like if they’d had rammed Ritalin down their throats. Been a lot more stupid and no genius.
Quentin, if you know what is is, why can’t you spell it? FYI, no one prescribes ritalin (or other drugs) for AS. Want to open your mouth a third time? We’re already doubting that allegedly above-average IQ.
[quote=“Quentin”]Back in my day they called it boys being boys.
Funny how many new “syndromes” they invented these past 20-30 years.
As far as I seen, it’s just a good excuse for parents to chop up Ritalin into powder and snort it as a cocaine substitute.[/quote]
I think you’re confusing Asperger’s/Autism with ADHD… for which Ritalin is used.
[quote=“Quentin”]I know what Asperbergers syndrome is.
Like most intelligent men with an IQ above 120, I have had it. Lack of social skills is a side-effect of excessive intelligence. Not much you can do about except make boys dumber by force-feeding them drugs. I shudder to think what Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton would have turned out like if they’d had rammed Ritalin down their throats. Been a lot more stupid and no genius.[/quote]
You HAD autism? How did you beat it?
Again, as others have said, Ritalin is prescribed for ADHD, and it works. How about people with below average intelligence with Adhd? There is more of that type about than your unnoticed dreamer/achiever. And they are a lot more violent and aggressive without Ritalin rammed down their throats. Lack of social skills is not a side-effect of intelligence only.
Anyway, the issue I want to address is the ‘make-boys dumber by force feeding them drugs,’ idea. The main reason children present themselves as having certain conditions is that they display frustration and anger. It is not simply a case of people needling child geniuses. Infact, there are organizations where children of high intelligence can study. (C.H.I.) Children who are eventually diagnosed with autism/ aspergers/ hyperactivity have all displayed levels of frustration or anger at school or in the home. So the point is that they are not functioning normally. And they are not learning properly. And that can be either academic or social skills.
The purpose of medication is to get a student to the point where they can learn these other social skills. So that they can find time in their day to concentrate on the skills that they do need to develop. This is especially true with Ritalin. These sufferers need to learn how to manage their conditions, because society won’t be helping them once they are 18, and they will be cut off from all the support they receive from the state up until that point. And if they don’t get home help, and they can’t control their condition enough to go out into society, then you are looking at secured accommodation for the rest of their life.
So medication like ritalin is important, both for the patient, who gets to calm down and focus for a while, and for society at large, as it gives the patient the chance to contribute something to society.
And as far as I know, Autistic kids don’t take any daily medication for their condition. They just have severe (and sometimes behavioural and emotional) learning difficulties.
[quote=“bushibanned”][quote=“Quentin”]Back in my day they called it boys being boys.
Funny how many new “syndromes” they invented these past 20-30 years.
As far as I seen, it’s just a good excuse for parents to chop up Ritalin into powder and snort it as a cocaine substitute.[/quote]
I think you’re confusing Asperger’s/Autism with ADHD… for which Ritalin is used.[/quote]
Let’s not be exclusive now… the two students I’ve known in Taiwan who have been diagnosed with AS have been girls.
Since it’s considered to be a very mild form of autism, medication is not always necessary. Parents and teachers of kids with AS are often looking for ways to deal with the social/emotional needs of these kids to help them achieve their greatest potential.
And although this may be somewhat controversial, some parents may feel comforted and empowered by the fact that there is a name for their child’s condition, that their child is not just “bad” or “stupid” as other people may think they are. It’s also important for parents/caregivers/teachers be able to identify with and support each other in dealing with these special needs kids, since it can be a very alienating experience to deal with this kind of child.
[quote=“Quentin”]Back in my day they called it boys being boys.
Funny how many new “syndromes” they invented these past 20-30 years.
As far as I seen, it’s just a good excuse for parents to chop up Ritalin into powder and snort it as a cocaine substitute.[/quote]
That is the most misinformed idiotic post I’ve seen lately. Ritalin is prescribed for children with hyperactivity disorders. Asperger’s Syndrome, also known as the little professor sydrome, describes children with who are intelligent and high-functioning, but who lack the ability to understand/respond to social cues appropriately.
[quote][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger%27s_syndrome]Asperger syndrome — also referred to as Asperger’s syndrome, Asperger’s, or just AS — is a pervasive developmental condition related to autism. It manifests in highly individual ways and can have both positive and negative effects on a person. It is recognized by the medical community as one of five neurobiological pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) considered to be part of the autistic spectrum. It is typically characterized by issues with social and communication skills. Due to the mixed nature of its effects, it remains controversial among researchers, physicians, and people who are diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Asperger syndrome is differentiated from other PDDs and from high functioning autism (HFA) in that early development is normal and there is no language delay. It is possible for people with AS to have learning disabilities concurrently with Asperger syndrome. In these cases, differential diagnosis is essential to identify subsequent support requirements. Conversely, IQ tests may show normal or superior intelligence,[1][2] and standard language development compared with the delays typical of classic autism. The diagnosis of AS is complicated by the lack of adoption of a standardized diagnostic screen, and, instead, the use of several different screening instruments and sets of diagnostic criteria. The exact cause of AS is unknown and the prevalence is not firmly established, due partly to the use of differing sets of diagnostic criteria.
Asperger syndrome was named in honor of Hans Asperger (1906-1980), an Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician, by researcher Lorna Wing, who first used the eponym in a 1981 paper.[3] In 1994, AS was recognized in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as Asperger’s Disorder.[4]
AS is often not identified in early childhood, and many individuals do not receive diagnosis until they are adults. Assistance for core symptoms of AS consists of therapies that apply behavior management strategies and address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. Many individuals with AS can adopt strategies for coping and do lead fulfilling lives - being gainfully employed, getting married or having successful relationships, and having families. In most cases, they are aware of their differences and recognize when they need support to maintain an independent life[/url].[5][/quote]
Please don’t post, Quentin, if you are going to post like this - the OP asked for info on support groups. You didn’t offer anything helpful/useful to the thread. Just misinformed hogwash.
Bodo
[quote=“Quentin”]I know what Asperbergers syndrome is.
Like most intelligent men with an IQ above 120, I have had it. Lack of social skills is a side-effect of excessive intelligence. Not much you can do about except make boys dumber by force-feeding them drugs. I shudder to think what Albert Einstein, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton would have turned out like if they’d had rammed Ritalin down their throats. Been a lot more stupid and no genius.[/quote]
Q,
I think your confusing Asperger’s syndrome with ASSHOLE syndrome. I’m not sure that you’ve gotten over it yet 
Please try to learn something about the subjct before posting on serious topics.
OK, you win. That was a stupid thing to say. My apologies.
I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond.
I have not found any resources in terms of schools or counselors yet, but if I do, I will certainly post them here.
AS has been discussed in the Chinese press recently, so that is a step in the right direction.
Best,
Anchor
I had a very close friend as a kid who has ADHD… though we have drifted apart, our families are close friends, so I still keep tabs on him… Yes, Ritalin works… but only if they take it… which is a problem, usually - someone with ADHD won’t remember to take the Ritalin~ which causes problems…
unfortunately, my friend is of the violent type… so when he doesn’t take his medication, he’s likely to hit someone or something. So he is still living with his parents (26yo) who try their best to make sure he takes his medication, dropped out of highschool when he kinda lost it (his sister got killed in a car accident), and spends most of his life behind his computer screen playing online games etc. etc.
The Dore Center at Xin Yi Rd. and Fu Xing Rd(MRT Bldg. 17th floor) helps kids and adults with ADHD, Dyslexia and Aspergers. We use an individually tailored exercise based program that uses eye tracking techniques, balance and coordination exercises and mental stimulation tasks. It’s part of the Dore Program www.dore.com.tw, It’s in Chinese, so go to the UK website first if you want English. All of our specialists are either doctors, registered therapists or special education M.A. holders. They all speak great English. Glad to be of help! -Dan[/quote][/u]
You might also want to contact the Autism Society Taiwan. They have a long list of educational and treatment centers in Chinese. They also have information about special centers and vocational training. All in all, there seem to be a lot of resources out there but not in English. I’m sure they would try to help the best they can though and that at least some of their members speak enough English to help.