G’s Place

The panel at AANE about Asperger’s Syndrome and college went pretty well. There were two moms on the panel (I was one of them), two students (one a MLS candidate yay!!), two college representatives, and two social coaches.

Larry Welkowitz, one of the college reps gave a very thorough wrap-up over on his blog. Larry’s been working with the topic of Aspies and college for several years, and it was great to meet him in person!

I talked about using technology to help your kid when they call you freaking out. If they text you instead, you can help them figure out that next step they need to take. They won’t have to leave the room, deal with language, etc. They can just text back and forth with you, and look like any other normal college kid.

Maybe I need to write a short course on Texting for parents.

This semester is over in two weeks, so I have two huge papers looming. I think I can write on close to the same subject, so hopefully that will help.

My big pre-GA project at work is almost over - my last deliverables are next week. Then the fun of turning it into steady-state training happens. Since I have been managing the project from the start, I have tried to make the learning objects as reusable as I could. It’s a little difficult since the pre-GA training is only differences training, and of course some things in pre-GA may get resolved. I think the assets I created for each learning module (there are 2) are pretty reusable…so hopefully the development effort won’t be too painful. Also, there may be a trip to ATL which means I’ll get to see my bigmama.

This summer I am taking a class called “Designing Content for Online Collaborative Learning”. I am really excited for that !! In the fall I am taking the last of my core classes: “Intro to  Distance Learning” and “Intro to Systematic Instructional Design”. I actually think I have  one more intro class - an Inquiry and Measurement course. At any rate, I need 12 classes, and after this semester I will have 3 done. Turtle’s pace, but I’m getting there!

Brianna got a letter that she’s graduating with honors in May. YES!!! Now she needs to find a job. If you are in Boston and looking for a quiet, smart, hardworking research assistant, I have a great candidate for you.

Kenny is in a frat. Still not sure what I think about that. But he has to keep a 3.0 to stay in, and they make him perform community service. I like that. The two guys I met that are his “brothers” seemed very nice. It’s just weird to me.

We had our first Parents of teens and young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome meeting - didn’t get a huge turnout but we’ll keep trying.

I read a good post about how to blog, and that post recommended asking questions. So here goes - is anyone else out there in a very demanding job and in grad school at the same time? Do you feel like you are insane at the end of the semester? Do you just break down and clean because you have to let things go in order to get your work and school work done?

Here are my blurbs for autism month:

We are having our first parent support meeting in Hopedale MA. It’s for parents of teens and young adults with Asperger’s. We are affiliated with the Asperger’s Association of New England. Our first meeting is April 2 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Hopedale library. Feel free to email me if you have any questions - or just show up!

There is an awesome article written by a woman who is a manager at CNN, and also aspie.

Bev has posted a great awareness video.

And my (not-so) little aspie will be graduating from college with honors.

!!!!

This post is from a psychology professor who is making his students blog (cool). The prof also focuses on Asperger’s Syndrome.

So he makes is abnormal psych (WHY IS IT CALLED THAT!!) read John Elder Robison’s book, and also blog about it. Well, John has been responding to some of the blog posts. How cool - you are in college, evaluating a book, and the author responds to what you think of his work.

In a bigger sense, you have an aspie responding to what future psychologists (who will no doubt work with other “aspergians”) think about his idea of how the world is. THAT is way cool.

I should be working on my needs analysis paper (it’s for AANE…) but I just don’t wanna……bleh!!!

I am going to write a paper based on AANE, so I am getting info from their site, and it has been redone..and it looks really nice. They have a great video about the organization here.

Check out their online support groups, look for a social skills or support group, or  consider becoming a member (well worth it!).

Or just donate!