Symptoms

For years my family always thought that my son had quite the interesting and quirky personality. We always thought that it was a result of being blind, moving around every couple of years,or later the divorce. My son had always had a temper, but when he didn't grow out of them I started to wonder what was going on. My son started to see a therapist at eight years old. He was telling strange stories that he thought really happened, he was constantly getting in trouble at the School for the Blind for fighting, arguing, and tantrums, and he was arguing with teacher about what was right information, fair, or just for arguments sake. I also wondered if depression and anxiety were a problem, after all it did run in the family, even though most of us were in Junior High before it showed.

So, for many years the therapists and myself were focusing on these symptoms, thinking he was just immature and had a terrible temper. From birth to about 12 years old, it was extremely difficult to determine how much of my son's problems or characteristics were from being blind and how many were from his environment.

Symptoms:
1. Depression
2. Anxiety
3. Tantrums
4. Story telling / difficulty determining reality vs. imaginery
5. Strong sense of right vs. wrong (EVERYONE should be following the rules)
6. Immaturity
7. More adult friends than children his own age
8. Does not particularly get along with children his own age
9. Loves playing with children much younger
10. Obsession with Legos
11. Obsession with school bus numbers (the part and not the whole)
12. Difficulty transitioning between classes, subjects, and activities
13. Attention to detail
14. Lack of personal hygiene
15. Gets frustrated with multiple step tasks
16. Can only handle one direction at a time
17. Difficulty trying new things, food, or meeting new people
18. Talking non-stop

Legos. I have yet to figure out the obsession that I have heard Asperger's children have with Legos. My son makes the greatest school buses, trucks, and fire trucks without instructions! But then he will come tell you in detail what he did and why he chose the color or piece that he did. No one else can touch or be close to his collection, which is spread out in the front room of our tiny apartment. However, I do love watching him at work, especially with his visual impairment. it's so fascinating to see what he comes up with.

Introduction

In October of 2011, I had my sister create this blog for me as an option to a Publications class in Graduate School. I was so excited that I could have a place to write about the adventures my kids and I take on the weekends throughout Utah. But, of course, life gets in the way and over a year and a half has gone by and I am just beginning to blog. As a single mom and full-time graduate student there has been little time to explore with my kids. But last fall my son, and oldest child, was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, part of the Autism Spectrum. So above and beyond his Albinism and legal blindness, I was learning to understand another disability and how to work with him. I have learned quite a bit, but I know there is so much more to learn and understand. So with this new diagnoses and the need to learn more and possibly help other parents with what has worked for us, I begin to write this blog. I hope it can help and maybe there are parents out there who can help me and give me advice. So here's our story.