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Helping Kids on the Spectrum to Understand Nuances and Subtexts of Language

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"Is there a way to teach a child with high functioning autism to not take the things a parent says so literally? My daughter’s literal mind is completely baffled by sarcasm. She will try to dissect and understand common phrases and end up with some very bizarre ideas about the world. I try to keep my sarcasm to a minimum, but no matter how hard I try to account for her literalism, there are always things that I miss. I end up saying something that confuses the hell out of her, and when I try to explain, it just confuses her even more. As just one example, we were running late getting out the door and on to a doctor’s appointment a few days ago. She was stalling, so I barked, ‘Get those shoes on your feet right now!’ So, she literally picked up her shoes and placed them ON TOP of her feet (I had to laugh). Anyway… how can I help with this issue?" All kids have a "blind spot" in understanding various concepts. For example, some students don't "get" ...

Women in Relationships with Asperger's Men

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JOIN our Facebook Support Group  specifically for women who are in relationships with men on the autism spectrum (i.e., Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism). Ladies only please!

Learn How To Get Reluctant Asperger's Children To Attend School Regularly

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"School refusal" warning signs -- and what parents can do to help:  Aspergers Children and School Refusal

Dishonesty or Fantasy: Which One Is Your ASD Child Engaging In?

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“I catch my son (age 4, level 1 autistic) in a lie quite often. But when I confront him and try to get to the truth of the matter, he will vehemently insist that he is NOT lying. Arguing with him over the particular issue at the time is both exhausting and pointless. So, when he gets punished for lying, it has no lasting benefit (since he evidently doesn’t believe he has lied). So here we go again with yet another lie. I’m lost on what to do here. He’s either an expert at deceit, or blind to what the truth is and what fiction is. Any suggestions on how to handle this will be greatly appreciated.” Children with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and Asperger’s (AS) often confuse their parent by the quantity/quality of their dishonesty and by the fact that traditional disciplinary methods don't change the behavior. For young people on the spectrum, it will be helpful for parents to think less in terms of “dishonesty” and more in terms of "fantasizing" (i.e., the child will...

How to Handle Non-Compliant Children on the Autism Spectrum

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Learn 9 crucial interventions that are especially helpful for resolving non-compliance in Asperger's and High-Functioning Autistic children... Click here for the article: Noncompliant Behavior in Children with Asperger's and HFA