Stop Blocking

Don't block those handicapped spots!
Numerous times when I have been in a parking lot I see that cars are parked in the spaces between handicapped spaces. These are not legal parking spaces. These spaces are painted with white or blue stripes and are reserved for people who use wheelchairs. The spaces are intended to enable these people to have enough room to get in and out of their cars.

Please have respect for our disabled friends and don't park there.

"Don't allow your disABILITY to shut you out of life; your request for Access has been Granted"

Be on the lookout for my new highly anticipated book; “Don’t Let the 4 Wheels F.O.O.L. You”!!! If you have ever felt as though society has counted you out! You won’t want to miss this inspirational road map to success!

Asperger's Syndrome

This article serves as a quick guide to help you understand the various aspects on the treatment for Asperger's syndrome which, by some estimates is known to affect two out of every 10,000 children.

There is this group of neurological disorders that affect a person's ability to interact socially, and his communication skills. This group is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD). And Asperger's syndrome, or simply known as Asperger's, is known to be rated as a milder disorder amongst this group. People with this disorder, suffer from a difficulty in socializing and impaired communication skills, and also by a pattern of thoughts and behavior that are restrictive and repetitive. Although, doctors may associate the nature of a person suffering from Asperger's syndrome with an autistic person, the former is typically in a better state than the latter. Unlike an autistic person, the person with Asperger's has normal intelligence, and some degree of language development. However, with age, these might get affected. According to most experts, better results can be obtained if the treatment for Asperger's syndrome begins early. With the help of appropriate treatment, the patient can be helped to avoid undesirable behavior, and function successfully in social situations. Let us learn more about the treatment plan for Asperger's syndrome, from the below compilation.

Treatment for Aperger's Syndrome: Facts

Asperger's syndrome begins in childhood and parents are most likely to be the first to notice its symptoms. The main goal of the treatment is to address and to improve the main symptoms of this disorder. Although the core symptoms cannot be cured, as I said, early, specialized, and proper medical intervention has been able to help many children grow into adults who are no different than other normal people. With the help of treatment, affected children may improve their poor communication skills, avoid routines that are obsessive or repetitive, and also get a hold on physical clumsiness and other occupational issues. The different plans set up for the treatment for Asperger's syndrome include:

• Training for improving and grooming communication and social skills. Here, affected children are provided with specialized training that help them learn the basic aspects of socialization and communicating in an explicit manner and with the help of memorizing techniques. When the training is structured to meet the special needs of such children, it helps them speak in a normal rhythm, and also make proper use of gestures such as eye contact, voice tone, humor and in some cases, even sarcasm.
• Another module of the natural treatment for Asperger's syndrome is to work on the behavioral aspects of the patients. It is basically a therapy that educates children about how to cope with situations that may cause stress. Such situations may be a new event, or something which may require more social interaction. So the therapist helps the children to learn specific strategies for coping with all such situations. The therapy also aids in decreasing difficult behavior, and in realizing the importance of adhering to the feelings of others.
• Physical clumsiness, speech problem, and the like, can also be addressed with the treatment program.
• In some cases, the treatment may also make off-label use of medications. Meaning, there are no dedicated medications for this neurological disorder. However, some drugs may be used to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inattention, agitation, and similar problems.

And this is how the treatment for the disorder is designed and undertaken by medical experts. If we speak of the treatment for Asperger's syndrome in adults that is initiated in adulthood, then it might not produce desired results as one would get if treatment was administered in early childhood. But continuous support and encouragement, together with the treatment, does make life better. As far as prognosis is concerned, it varies with individuals and how early they receive treatment. As I said, the earlier the treatment is planned, the better is its prognosis.

Famous People with Asperger's

A disorder that left them socially impaired, gave them an ability that none could match. Find out about famous people with Asperger's and what they achieved.

Asperger's syndrome (AS) is mild autism, which results in low social capacity, but a high intellectual one. Thus, many who have been diagnosed with AS have made a name for themselves in their fields of expertise. Asperger Syndrome Disorder is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder, which is why they seem similar. It causes repetitive patterns of behavior and impaired social interaction. The disorder has been named after Hans Asperger, who first recognized it in 1944. According to him many of the parents, especially fathers showed the same signs of behavior as that of the child suffering from it. He said that the disorder was genetic in nature and more prevalent in males. Let's take a look at some of the famous people with Asperger's syndrome.

Albert Einstein
One of the greatest scientists who went on to prove theory of relativity could not speak fluently till the age of nine. Language delays are commonly seen in children with AS, which was an emphasized impairment for Albert Einstein. He was also thrown out of school for displaying odd behavior and being a social misfit. However, he challenged his condition and went on to do some of the revolutionary work. He was awarded Nobel Prize in Physics for his work.

Benjamin Franklin
One of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was a theorist, author, politician, scientist, activist, and diplomat. He was the first head of post office, which indicates his obsession with order. Extreme behavior is another sign.

Isaac Newton
His arrogance and hatred towards his mother for marrying another man, his disobedience towards school rules and his defiance towards authority all indicate a pronounced AS condition. However, his sheer intelligence and his unwavering focus led him on a path to be one of the noted physicists, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist and theologian. The world owes understanding of gravity on earth to his theory.

Bill Gates
One of the wealthiest businessman in the world today, a philanthropist, founder of Microsoft and the author of several books, Bill Gates has been long suspected to be one of the famous people with asperger's. His failed peer relationships, single minded pursuits, general lack of dressing or fashion (this is also noted as a symptom of AS) are all indicative of his AS condition.

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock
An iconic director, producer and the Master of Suspense, Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock created a unique style of film making. In his career spanning over six decades, he directed 50 films that cover the genre of silent movies, black and white feature films and colored movies. The trend of fear, anxiety, escape and twisted endings to every story reflect his innate human spirit dominated by AS.

Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Emma are some of Jane Austen's noted works. Her 'risqué experiments in writing' which are seen through her bashing of the then societal practices, aristocratic hypocrisy and conformity to conventions without questioning show that Austen must have had AS. Irrespective of that, she still remains one of the influential and noted authors of all time.

Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen, who created the make-believe land with morals that hold true even today, never learned to spell correctly! An unbelievable truth, but it can only be attributed to his AS condition, as language difficulties are not new to this disorder. His love life which records his 'refusal to have sexual relations' and often falling in love with unattainable women are also suggestive of his AS condition.

Michelangelo
The Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer, excelled at every discipline he chose to experiment with. Surprisingly, Michelangelo held a low opinion about painting, but went on to create the most remarkable work in the history of world art.

Wolfgang Mozart
The symphonies composed by Mozart remain a wonder to every musician and every listener. His inexplicable music, which became his only form of expression is believed to be a result of his AS condition.

Woody Allen
The quirky three-time Academy Award-winning film director, writer, actor, jazz musician, comedian and playwright, Woody Allen owes much of his success to his Asperger's syndrome. His satirical films and sardonic humor have made him a world favorite. In an interview with Reuters, Woody Allen said, "I am a neurotic in a more benign way. I mean I have a lot of neurotic habits."

Michael Jackson
The King of Pop who made the world moonwalk to his music, was most definitely living with an AS. He justifies his abnormal behavior by stating his troubled childhood. However, his siblings who received the same upbringing, are absolutely normal. He made friends with few people who harbored interests similar to his. This made relating to them easy, as compared to those who didn't have an acumen for rhythm.

Many children, who are diagnosed at a very young age with Asperger's Syndrome have above average intelligence, but poor social skills. Their abnormalcy in behavior makes them antisocial. Probably it is this disadvantage of the disorder that has been an asset to the world. Though these children suffer at the altar of friendship, they find their true calling easier than normal contemporaries do. Children with AS need parental support, encouragement and guidance to materialize their intelligence.

"Don't allow your disABILITY to shut you out of life; your request for Access has been Granted"

Be on the lookout for my new highly anticipated book; “Don’t Let the 4 Wheels F.O.O.L. You”!!!  If you have ever felt as though society has counted you out!  You won’t want to miss this inspirational road map to success!

Pervasive Developmental Disorder

The pervasive developmental disorder symptoms aren't hard to decipher, should you witness any of these in your child. We take a broader look into this disorder...

PDD in short for pervasive developmental disorder, which is an umbrella term for developmental problems that arise when it comes to one's behavioral and mental abilities. If a child is suffering from one of the many PDDs he/she is likely to go through some tough times while growing up, since these can only be detected as they age. These problems tend to arise around the age of 3, where skills and learning capabilities are hampered due to delayed response, loss of imagination and difficulty in communicating. Due to their ineffectiveness to understand the things that happen around them, they can't keep up with normal kids and often have problems in a foreign environment and school setting.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder Causes

There are no known causes for these disorders except that the problems lie in the nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord in particular. These are diagnosed through a series of tests and x-rays to determine if whether the child suffers from a PDD or not. The child is then introduced to a psychiatrist or developmental pediatrician, to oversee speech and social skills, as well how he/she responds to play time. There are five main kinds of PDDs, namely Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, autism, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. They all showcase similar symptoms, and depending on different features of the disorder like in social or behavioral terms, they are then determined as to which disorder is to be diagnosed.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder Symptoms

The symptoms of this disorder can be identified as the child ages, making it easier for parents and doctors to gage whether it is something to worry about or easily work on. The symptoms can range from not so troubling to quite problematic depending on how far the disorder has progressed.

1.    Not able to play with toys and other objects in a way that is known to normal kids.

2.    Behavior is aggressive.

3.    Not able to adapt to new places or changes in routine.

4.    Not able to understand facial expressions and gestures.

5.    Constantly on edge, showcasing signs of being nervous at times.

6.    Odd behavioral patterns like spinning continuously, flapping his/her hands, banging their heads on the wall or bumping into things.

7.    Not able to fall asleep easily.

8.    Not responding to sounds immediately or sometimes even reacting to sounds that haven't even been made.

9.    Not easy for him/her to interact with other kids and adults in a social setting.

10.  Constant tantrums with anger flare ups.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder Treatment

The treatment options available for kids who suffer from PDDs, can lessen the intensity of the symptoms and can help them cope better with other kids, adults and in school. Learning and speech classes, and counseling is available for these kids, to help them deal with their disorders.

Medication
For problems like hyperactivity, behavior that may cause harm to the child and anxiety, medication can be administered to help treat these different problems.

Behavior Counseling
Speech therapists and counselors can step in to help your child work on their problem areas, to increase their efficiency and capabilities in their communication skills. Support is given to them as they grow into young adults, to help cope with this.

Special Education
The outline of the child's educational needs are first planned in a way where he/she is able to take it all in without hindrances. Exploring one's options here would prove beneficial, so feel free to look up places that specialize in taking care of kids with special needs.

The pervasive developmental disorder symptoms can be worked on, should a child receive help much earlier than later. Parents need to pay attention to how their children behave and react to instances, since these can easily be ignored as childlike behavior.

"Don't allow your disABILITY to shut you out of life; your request for Access has been Granted"

Sex While Disabled

Sex despite disabilities: an oxymoron?

To many people: yes. The mention of 'disabled' people having sex is guaranteed to raise a lot of eyebrows. An individual in a wheelchair is seen as an object of pity, not of desire. Being 'ugly' or overweight doesn't make a person asexual, but having a physical disability does. And the worst part of this is that many people with disabilities believe this myth themselves. To many men, a spinal injury that results in impotence is seen as the end of their sex-lives. My own Muscular Dystrophy has had an effect on my motor skills. But even less dramatic disabilities often cause people to shut themselves off sexually out of feelings of inadequacy, or out of a fear of rejection.

It would be easy to say that the problem is worse for men, as even moderate dysfunction is immediately evident and sexual potency and functioning cannot be simulated, but the truth is that the problem can be just as devastating for men and for women; just in different ways. The problem may not be as obvious in women, but cultural demands to be "perfect" are so overwhelming that any disability just adds to the already impossible task of living up to the unrealistic ideals all media perpetually assault women with.

And men are just as conditioned by those images as women. We try to live up to what we are expected to be (admittedly, much easier), but disabilities do not enter into that picture. Or if they do, the images of men in wheelchairs that are shown use men in sport-chairs who have the bodies of Olympic athletes and who are casually whizzing around with the greatest of ease. And of course, men are conditioned to desire that unrealistically perfect woman -- who naturally must not have any disabilities.

So, for each gender, disabilities often cause people to either shut themselves off sexually in order to avoid rejection and embarrassment, or we are shut out, out of fear and lack of understanding.

Wake up everybody!
"Don't allow your disABILITY to shut you out of life; your request for Access has been Granted"