Josie Santomauro - A Special Book About Me: A Book for Children Diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome

Remember, everybody has a challenge of some kind, It might be big or small, They might need lots of help Or none at all. A disability might be if someone cant swim, cant read, Needs help with maths or if they have a big mole on their nose! Were all special people in this world.Nobody is perfect! (Not even the Prime Minister or the President!) Shhh!! Dont tell them I said that! Visit Josies website: www.booksbyjosie.com.au The Case Theres a kid at school who gets help from a special teacher. Maybe they also visit a speech therapist. They may go to some sort of special classes to learn how to cope with teasing. This kid has even been to a special school to learn how to improve their behaviour in class. One day this kid starts to ask questions: Why do I have to go to that special school, when other kids in my class dont? Why do I need a special teacher to help me? Why do I have to go to different types of doctors? Why do I feel different Im not like other kids? This kid might be a little different from others in some waysbut this kid is not stupid! Why do you think this kid needs all this help? Lets dig up some clues and find out Four Clues Found This kid needs extra help in four areas: Social skills practising being a friend Communication talking with people Behaviour Sensory stimulation.

When a person needs help so they can get on with everyday life, they may have a disability. Look at these different types of help others need: a person who needs a wheelchair to move around a person who needs glasses to see a person who needs a puffer for asthma a person who needs to use a cane to walk a person who needs help to speak clearly a person who needs a hearing aid to hear. Solve the Mystery When you add up these four clues: needs help with practising to be a friend needs help with talking with people needs help with improving their behaviour needs help with sensory stimulation, as they can find bright lights or noise, for example, very stressful they equal a disability called Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome might make life seem a little hard for this kid but Asperger Syndrome also makes this kid extra special in some ways. Do you think you know someone who has Asperger Syndrome? Congratulations! You have solved the mystery of the special kid. You are that special kid. You have Asperger Syndrome.

Do you know anyone else who has Asperger Syndrome? Write their names here: Mystery Word Identified A nger and frustration S tress and anxiety P roblems with speech and language E asily distracted R eality/Fiction confusion G ross motor skills E ccentric or odd behaviours R igid and doesnt like change S ocial skills Y ou are intelligent N o eye contact D ont like loud noises and crowds R ote memory O bsessional M aking friends is hard E mpathy Lets Take a Closer Look at Asperger Syndrome Anger and frustration I may have temper tantrums when Im angry. I might find it hard to ask for help when I feel confused or frustrated. Stress and anxiety I dont like to be teased. I can sometimes get anxious over changes. I can sometimes get stressed at school. I need help to learn how to relax and to keep calm.

I need help to ignore teasing and bullying. Problems with speech and language Sometimes I dont realize that my voice is too loud, or that is sounds different. Sometimes I cant express what I am thinking or what I am feeling. Sometimes I cant understand what people are trying to tell me. Easily distracted Sometimes my room and school desk is untidy. Sometimes I forget what someone said to me.

Sometimes its hard to pay attention, especially in a busy classroom. Reality/Fiction confusion Sometimes I dont understand jokes or stories. I might sometimes believe my dreams are real. I can get confused if people say things like, Pull your socks up. Gross motor skills Sometimes I can be clumsy. Eccentric or odd behaviours I may have different behaviours to other kids. Eccentric or odd behaviours I may have different behaviours to other kids.

Other kids may think Im a bit weird. I might do everyday things differently to everyone else. Rigid and doesnt like change I like it better when things dont change. I really like things to stay the same. I like to know what is going to happen next. Social skills I might find it hard to understand peoples body language, like if theyre bored when Im talking.

I like to talk about my hobbies all the time. I may not understand social rules and may sometimes seem rude. You are intelligent I may be very intelligent especially at maths, science and computers. Some doctors call me little professor. I may go to university when I grow up. No eye contact I dont like to look at peoples eyes when I talk to them.

I might look at the ground instead of their face, but I am still listening to them. Dont like loud noises and crowds Loud noises can hurt my ears, and bright light may hurt my eyes. I dont like noisy or crowded places, like shopping centres or parties. Rote memory I might remember things that happened a long time ago. I have a good memory for facts and figures. Obsessional If I really like something I can talk on and onand onabout it.

Sometimes I do or say something over and over like flapping my hands, touching my face or repeating a word. Making friends is hard I might not have a lot of friends. Maybe Id like to have more friends. I might not be interested in friends. I sometimes find it hard to make friends. Empathy Sometimes I cant understand how other people are feeling like if they are happy or sad.

But here are some other features of Asperger Syndrome: A rtistic S mart P unctual E ngaging R epetitive movements G ood natured E xtraordinary R ules S ignificant Y why? Asks lots of questions