L.A. Asperger Syndrome Parents' Support Group Home Page

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Announcement: Our new home phone number is 310 636-0101. Please don’t call our old number.

To skip directly to our meeting announcement, click here.

For announcement about our e-blast, click here.

LAASPSG goes international!

To see our website in Belarusian, click here! (дзякуй (thanks) to Nadejda Dobkina)

Our page has also been translated into German, Russian, and Polish.

There’s no way to verify the accuracy of the translations, which are of old versions (and have old dates).

Unfortunately, our meetings are still in English. No translations are available as yet.

The Official ^* Home Page of the

Los Angeles Asperger Syndrome Parents’ Support Group.

We – the Los Angeles Asperger Syndrome Parents’ Support Group – are a group of parents, relatives, guardians, and care-givers interested in helping our children, relatives, and others having Asperger Syndrome (AS), because of the way in which it affects our children, parents, spouses, siblings, and our own lives. The “children” have been of ages from 2 to above 60. AS is a lifetime issue, though it need not be a disability.

We meet monthly to discuss these issues, either for general discussions or discussions with invited experts. Our meetings are always on the second Wednesday of each month, always from 7 to 9 p.m. It’s moved away from the old Julia Ann Singer center, but not far away (it’s just across the grass) at the new Julia Ann Singer center. Please join us!

For more on our group, see below.

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Stop the Presses! Name Change? As you’ve heard, the category of Asperger Syndrome is going to be abolished and made part of the larger category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Even though the leaders of this group are going to continue to use the phrase “Asperger Syndrome,” it’s useful to know the proposed “official” definition of ASD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-V). See below the line.

By the way, we’re thinking of referring to our kids’ issues as “ASDberger syndrome.”

Autism Spectrum Disorders must meet criteria A, B, C, and D:

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across contexts, not accounted for by general developmental delays, and manifest by all 3 of the following:

1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity; ranging from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back and forth conversation through reduced sharing of interests, emotions, and affect and response to total lack of initiation of social interaction,

2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction; ranging from poorly integrated- verbal and nonverbal communication, through abnormalities in eye contact and body-language, or deficits in understanding and use of nonverbal communication, to total lack of facial expression or gestures.

3. Deficits in developing and maintaining relationships, appropriate to developmental level (beyond those with caregivers); ranging from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit different social contexts through difficulties in sharing imaginative play and in making friends to an apparent absence of interest in people

B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects; (such as simple motor stereotypies, echolalia, repetitive use of objects, or idiosyncratic phrases).

2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior, or excessive resistance to change; (such as motoric rituals, insistence on same route or food, repetitive questioning or extreme distress at small changes).

3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus; (such as strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).

4. Hyper-or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment; (such as apparent indifference to pain/heat/cold, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, fascination with lights or spinning objects).

C. Symptoms must be present in early childhood (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities).

D. Symptoms together limit and impair everyday functioning.

The above is from http://www.dsm5.org/proposedrevisions/pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94, a page of the American Psychiatric Association website.

More about our group: We also talk about similar issues, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as defined in the past, high-functioning autism (HFA), Pervasive Development Disorder-NOS, Sensory Processing Disorder, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Hyperlexia, Mild Autism, Autism-like, Actively Odd, and (last but not least) Asperger Syndrome Lite.** Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj are still relevant, too.

⇒ Because the issues are usually very different, our group is really not the best place for the parents and other supporters of those with “hard-core” or “classical” (Kanner’s) autism, even though many professionals see Asperger Syndrome as a “mild” version of hard-core autism. The issues can be very different.

⇒ This group is also not aimed at those with AS themselves, though they are welcome to attend. There are two groups in Los Angeles for adults with AS: AGUA Classic and the local branch of GRASP. For more information, see our FAQs page.

For more information, see our short FAQ list below or our long FAQ list.

Important E-Blast Announcement: If you want to join our “e-blast” group (which broadcasts news and views on AS to its members) our system has completely changed. Fran has set up a Yahoo group, which has already replaced the old system. You must be a member of the LA Asperger E-blast Yahoo group to continue receiving e-blasts. (It is not the same as Aspies_LA.)

To become a member of the e-Blast, go to the listserve at http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42879/*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LA_Asperger_Eblast. (You don't need any approval to join.) The email address is LA_Asperger_Eblast@yahoogroups.com [with “_” where the blanks appear on the left, so that the prefix of this e-mail address is “LA_Asperger_Eblast” without the quotation marks]. When you join this group, you can also send out announcements, but please limit them to those related to Asperger Syndrome. If you join, you will also be able to see archived announcements.

ASPIES_LA is an on-line discussion group under the aegis of Yahoo. If you want to join, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspies_LA/ and go through the process there. (There’s a blue button at the top right that can get you in.) The discussion has finally taken off and is quite lively. Members have organized get-togethers. Please join and contribute! (Please, please, please, no advertising.) Ask questions, please!

Monthly Meeting

Speaker: the group as a whole.

Topic: whatever people want to discuss.

When: Wednesday, May 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. (We meet on the second Wednesday of each month, come rain or shine, snow or sleet, hail or non-local disaster. In case I forget to edit this page, our next meeting after that is on June 12.)

Where: the Community Room in the new Julia Ann Singer center, which is in the “Taper Building” westward across the grass from the old Julia Ann Singer Center (now the Baron School) within the Vista del Mar campus: if you’re at the front door of the old place (the Baron school), turn 180 degrees and look for glass big doors near a basketball hoop and the Barbecue to find our current meeting place.

Making matters confusing, the old building where we used to meet still has the words “Julia Ann Singer” above the front door. But there is a free-standing sign in front of the main entrance to the Taper building that says “Julia Ann Singer / Reiss Davis.” Unfortunately, it is only visible from the South.

The Vista del Mar campus is at 3200 Motor Ave. (Los Angeles, 90064) between National and Pico, 1/2 block North of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway underpass.

For directions, click this link to see maps. For an alternative set of directions to Vista del Mar, click on this link.

Why: Because we love you!

Mark your calendars and hire a child-care engineer! Our meetings after the next one are in 2013: June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, and last but not least, December 11.

FAQs: (just the faqs, ma’am)

⇒ All parents, relatives, guardians, and care-givers are welcome. Drop-ins are welcome. This is not a members-only group. In fact, there is no membership list – and no fees. [We are, however, considering instituting a secret door-knock to get into our meetings.]

⇒ Unfortunately (alack and alas!), we cannot provide childcare. Please do not bring your children and immature teens to the meeting (unless it’s noted otherwise in our announcements), since it may interfere with the ability of adults to talk to each other. (Adult children and mature teens are of course welcome.)

⇒ Teachers and mental-health professionals are also welcome. (Reporters & researchers: please click here .)

⇒ Everything said at our meetings is kept in confidence, while our e-mailing lists are totally secret.

⇒ The organizers of the group are Jim Devine and Fran Goldfarb. Call us for information about Asperger Syndrome or about our support group at 310 636-0101. Note that this number has changed. [This is our home phone. Call only after 7 a.m. and before 9 p.m., please. Also, we sleep late on weekends.]

⇒ We have e-mail at: laasperger@gmail.com, jdevine@lmu.edu (Jim), and beadsme@verizon.net (Fran). For e-mails, please use the word “Asperger” in the subject line, so that it’s easier to separate your wheat from the chaff of spam.

⇒ For more FAQs, click here.

Crucial Disclaimers: This web-page and all of its sub-pages are designed for educational purposes only. The contents of this web-site are not medical, legal, technical or therapeutic advice and must not be construed as such. The information contained herein is not intended to substitute for informed professional diagnosis, advice or therapy. Visitors should not use this information to diagnose or treat Asperger Syndrome or related disorders without also consulting a qualified medical, psychological, or educational professional.

However, it’s better than astrology.

Announcements: see a separate page.

ARTICLES:

Fran’s Articles.

⇒ Fran wrote a short book for our son Guthrie (when he was about 15) on how to fly on an airplane by himself. It may be a useful template for others (and for other activities). Click here if you have Adobe Reader. If you can read Microsoft Publisher files, click here.

⇒ She also wrote an article “How to speak Asperger’s” published in the book Our Journey Through Asperger’s Syndrome and High Functioning Autism: A Roadmap, edited by Linda Andron (Jessica Kingsley Publ.) It appears along with a small book written by our son, when he was very young (age 7). If you want the original book, go to Jessica Kingsley’s page here. [We receive no royalties, but it’s a really good book.]

⇒ A Letter to a camp counselor or teacher about a child with Asperger Syndrome. This one’s a widely-recognized classic!

⇒ from the Village Glen Voice: A book report on Medications.

On the California Department of Education .

On the Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled.

On IEPs (Individualized Education Plans).

Jim’s Articles. [that’s your humble web-meister!]

⇒ the “Asperger Chronicles” (about our son’s experiences – and my own – with AS).

⇒ A revised (and thankfully shorter!) version of this essay appeared in the book Our Journey Through Asperger’s Syndrome and High Functioning Autism: A Roadmap, edited by Linda Andron (Jessica Kingsley Publ.) Here’s a link to it. If you want the original book, go to Jessica Kingsley’s page here. [There is no financial incentive for us to advertise that book, but it’s very good nonetheless. If they actually paid us, the book would be even better!]

More Articles.

⇒ An article on social skills by Dan Coulter. For more of his articles, see his web-site.

An interesting article on AS, by Michael McCroskery, complete with links: “Asperger’s Syndrome: A Developmental Puzzle” (click here ).

Also, here’s a short discussion of Michael’s symptoms. (He is an adult with AS. He currently is working as an online advocator in trying to promote the awareness of AS. Michael can be reached at MrPolisci@aol.com.)

⇒ More articles are welcome!

Please e-mail me at laasperger@gmail.com or jdevine@lmu.edu if you have any questions or comments – or if you want to be put on either

1. our e-mailing list for monthly meeting announcements and nothing else (out-of-town folks won’t be interested); or

2. our e-blast list for other announcements, current articles, etc., more than enough to fill your in-box.

Neither of these is a discussion group list-server. For this, join the Aspies_LA discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspies_LA/summary.

If you want to add something to our web pages, please send them to Jim at jdevine@lmu.edu.

* Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations!

** We are not responsible for the content of the pages at the other ends of these links. The decision about which links were chosen was made somewhat at random. The order is also somewhat random.

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Announcements

This page revised by Jim Devine, on 12 April 2013. It was deliberately kept simple (no Java, etc.) so that anyone’s browser can read it – and, more importantly, because I lack the skills to allow me to add bells and whistles.