As a reminder, ice moved last week’s support group meeting to tonight. Details including directions to new location here.
Category: Aspergers
Asperger’s Disorder is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder. … In Asperger’s Disorder, individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. …Clumsiness is prominent both in their articulation and gross motor behavior. … leaves no space for age appropriate, common interests. … *http://www.aspergers.com We will document our trials, tribulations, good times and efforts to give our son a normal life and perhaps help other Asperger parents in the process.
New Location for Asperger Support Group (tonight!)
UPDATE! Due to the icy conditions, Lake Shore has canceled meetings tonight! They have moved the Asperger Support Group meeting to next Tuesday, January 29th. Starting in February, the meeting will return to the 4th Tuesday of each month.
The Knoxville Asperger Support Group has a new location and date!
We meet the fourth Tuesday of every month Next meeting:
Tuesday, January22nd29th from 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Lakeshore’s Peach Cottage
Corner of Northshore & Lyons ViewLiving with or caring for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome can be challenging. The primary objective of the group will be to provide support for each other through discussion and the sharing of experiences at the monthly meetings. Please join us for an exchange of information, ideas and resources.
Aspie fired over a soft drink
Jackie Lang, with Asperger’s syndrome, was fired from Subway after trying to console an upset friend. On her break, she brought her friend a drink without paying for it and ended up spending 2 hours in a jail cell, got fired, and faces criminal charges. The story is here.
Knoxville Asperger Support Group
The upcoming meeting dates for the Knoxville Asperger Support Group are:
- January 22, 2007 (Please note this is the 4th Monday, not the 3rd, as the library is closed on January 15th)
- February 19, 2007
- March 19, 2007
- April 16, 2007
- May 21, 2007
The support group has a Yahoo Group which can be found on http://groups.yahoo.com/ by searching for Knoxville_Aspie_Support. It meets the third Monday of every month unless there is a conflict or holiday (such as this month) at the West Branch of the Knoxville Public Library (map) at 100 Golfclub Rd from 6pm to 7:30pm.
Tommy brought home 3 blue ribbons!
Dad reports:
Two Wednesday’s ago I dropped Tommy of at STAR and ran off to do an errand. Upon my return I am stunned, and unfortunately cameraless, seeing Tommy riding off lead! 
For the past 5 years (maybe 6) that Tommy has participated in the STAR program he has ridden on lead. That means one, sometimes two, people walk beside the horse holding a tether and they have equal, if not more, control of the horse as the rider. On that Wednesday, Tommy’s sidewalker was near by Tommy was in complete control of the horse.
Last Wednesday I stayed the whole class. Tommy mounted his horse and rode into the ring before anyone else. I mean before anyone else! He took his horse into the ring and brought it to a complete stop. The next student came out with two volunteers helping him. One of the volunteers asked Tommy to start around the ring and he confidently made his horse walk. He rode the entire class without a volunteer or staff member anywhere near! It was incredible. I had goosebumps!
This past Saturday, Tommy rode at the annual Star horse show at Roane State Community College in Rockwood, TN (Harmond). In the Intermediate Futures he rode against 2 other rides and took first place. See his performance below.
Tommy was thrilled. This was the first time he had ever ridden in a show without an assistant. The horse he rode, Dandy, was skiddish and would have reacted badly to applause. Tommy rode with confidence and poise.
He tied for first place against 4 other riders in the Intermediate Obstacle English/Western. See his performance below.
Tommy also rode Intermediate Western Equitation against 2 other riders and received first place!
The folks at Shangri-la Therapuetic Academy of Riding have seen Tommy grow from an out of control child, who spoke harshly with insults to the volunteers 
and who was almost removed from the program when his actions and increasing weight threatened harm to the animals, grow into a calm, controlled young adult with a sense of humor and the ability to chat correctly and politely with the staff and volunteers. He has gained their confidence enough to earn the privilege of solo riding. Lynn Petr, founder of STAR, prior to the show, but in ring, gave Tommy a pep talk and asked him if he was up to this. She reminded him that not only was he in charge of his safety and the safety of the horse but for all others that were in the ring. Tommy responded non-chalantly, "No problem." After the show multiple staff members, volunteers, and parents remarked at Tommy’s achievement! Thank you Star! Tommy did great!
Tommy has his own blog. Cathy and I blog about Asperger Syndrome from a parent’s point of view at Aspergerteen.com.
Aspergers – Learning to function
Tommy is really doing well!
David Baldinger is blogging again
A while back David Baldinger returned to the blog scene. David is a talented artist cartooning for People’s Weekly World newspaper. He has some very interesting writings also!
The Frenzy is on!
Blingo is giving away $100 gift cards in a frenzy right now!
It lasted 30 minutes. I watched it but had done my 10 blingo searches already.
Student project: Mood-phone for Aspergers patients
Motorola has given an award to John Finan, who created a conceptual “mood-phone” that would help Asperger’s Syndrome patients determine the mood of the people they’re addressing. Asperger’s Syndrome famously afflicts sufferers by impairing their ability to pick up on social cues, and the mood-phone would makes those cues explicit, thus enabling Asperger’s patients to communicate more readily.
