Urine Test for Autism?

Recent news stories about a urine test for autism caught my attention this week. Many studies have shown that individuals on the autism spectrum have difficulties with digestion. In many cases, although certainly not all, people on the spectrum tend to be very large or very thin. This tendency to cling to the extremes is curiously obvious at most Asperger social groups. Digestive "issues" are pervasive. Many aspies complain about these. I have noticed, for example, that under stress my stomach is easily upset and takes time to return to normal. Others can consume vast quantities of food without gaining a pound of weight for it. Yet others have difficulty losing weight despite diets and medicine. Aspies also tend to be picky eaters, betraying digestive sensitivity.

Researchers have homed in on these digestive problems and now believe they can detect autism, in some cases, with a urine test. Although it sounds ridiculous it just might work. No gene has been identified as "causing" autism and it has been noted that individuals on the autism spectrum almost always have a series of neurological and physical difficulties. The fact that these other problems accompany autism is to me a clue that there is more than one cause. It may be a series of genetic, environmental, and developmental causes that lead to autism. Whatever the case, the prospect of better diagnosis offers an opportunity to improve conditions for those on the spectrum. Perhaps children will not have to be terrorized in kindergarten, as I was, and spend many years suffering from symptoms of a condition they have never even heard of.

The availability of a detection method only underscores the growing need to spread neurodiversity and educate the general public about Asperger's and Autism.

~Isaac Kight, President

The Asperger Society

Asperger's and the Law

I have always been a strong advocate for neurodiversity. Far too many people have been mistreated due to their neurological condition. People with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) do know the difference between right and wrong, or can be taught, and cannot use their condition as an excuse. In the case of John Patrick Rogers of Huntington Beach, California, AS can neither explain nor defend his actions. This man has two convictions, to both which he plead guilty, of assault with a deadly weapon. He is terrorizing his neighbors, and he is now facing a third felony conviction. NA third strike felony conviction could mean a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

While the three strikes law has had the benefit of lowering crime, it also has some drawbacks. I personally oppose laws that remove discretion from juries because juries should have the right to determine how the law is applied, a power that for the last century has been usurped by judges. For a while judges were too lenient and more people fell victim to serious crimes by repeat offenders. This has led to a series of laws supported by victims advocates like the three strikes law. I can understand the reasons for these laws although on principal I do not support them.

I cannot see any reason why John Rogers should serve a life term. Such a sentence would be a serious miscarriage of justice. The most serious crime he has committed this time seems to be causing $400 worth of damage to a car and a long series of similar small incidents. In this news report we can see that the media is not favorable to neurodiversity:

1 While Asperger's Syndrome is reported as being a form of autism, the media continues to use the word autism afterward instead of Asperger's.

2 One man interviewed said that Rogers was "close to going over the edge." Over the edge of what? He seems to be implying that Rogers is somehow insane and will soon "lose it." This is a common problem, many people do not understand the difference between neurological challenges and mental challenges.

3 Toward the end of the report a second interviewee refers to mental issues. Again, Asperger's Syndrome is not a mental disorder, it is a neurological one. The reporters should have made some effort to clarify this point.

I do agree with the District Attorney that Rogers does know right from wrong. I disagree with his being prosecuted this way. Clearly he needs treatment and support to change his habits, but he does not need a 25 year jail sentence. Once again, Aspies find ourselves being punished for having AS.

Finally, I wonder if this story would have made the news if Mr. Rogers did not live in a gated community in an upscale part of southern California...

Think About Thursday: Count DiMonet (Di Monayy!)

Think About Thursday is a new series that will bring up a weekly topic as food for thought.

To pilot Think About Thursday we will discuss teaching children about spending, saving and budgeting. To start off, Family Mint is an excellent website that serves as a bank that helps to teach children these valuable lessons.

Children on the autism spectrum often have difficulty grasping simple financial concepts. Many arrive at adulthood completely unaware of money and how it works. They certainly know how to spend it, but few will understand how to save, budget, and prioritize. Family Mint will help to teach these basic concepts but there are several little things parents can do on a daily basis that will help.

In helping my younger brother with these tricky matters my father would give him the money to pay at a restaurant, make him earn and save up money for new video games and toys, and would show him the bills and describe the household budget. My father would even "loan" money to him occasionally so my brother could understand how interest works. My brother thus learned about spending money physically, the numerical value of money, and finally how to make sure that you pay the rent/mortgage, utility bills, and buy food before buying entertainment items; and most importantly, eventually you have to pay those magic credit cards back through the nose!

Understanding currency is among the most important life skills every child must learn. Here is an easy activity that can help.

Personally, I would use excel or another spreadsheet program and the Internet but any method will achieve the desired results.

Asperger's is About to Be Merged With Autism

When I began helping my younger brother about 12 years ago, Asperger's Syndrome (AS) was a new condition. I found that there were very few resources available for children and almost none for adults with the condition. Eventually, I founded the Asperger Society because, while a great deal of attention was being paid to Autism, the greater part of that attention was focused on lower functioning autism. Individuals with Asperger's, I believe, have a very different set of needs from those with Autism. The largest issues are those of function and dependency: an individual with AS can build their social skills and eventually become self-sufficient. In fact, individuals with AS have a great deal to contribute to the world.

As I began working in education I realized that the Asperger's diagnosis had a few drawbacks. Under the IDEA 2004 special education law, students with "autism" are entitled to services that students with Asperger's (note the absence of the word Autism) do not have access to. As a result medical professionals began to use the diagnosis of "High Functioning Autism" (HFA) in order to give some children access to these services.

As Asperger's is about to find itself merged into "Autism Spectrum Disorders" (ASD) I find I have mixed feelings. On the one hand it will help to end the political strife that has surrounded the Asperger's diagnosis, on the other it once again lumps all individuals on the spectrum into one category. I do believe, however, that a greater understanding of what Autism really is has resulted from the increased attention drawn to it in recent years, and I do not think that any stigma will be attached to this the diagnosis. The old mental image of children rocking back and forth grunting has given way in large part to a deeper understanding of the condition.

Nevertheless, the world of mild-Autism, including AS, must remain separate as those with AS continue to have needs that are vastly different from those with Autism. Unfortunately, politics seem to be interfering with this reality.