A Web resource page of the National Dissemination
Center for Children with Disabilities
NICHCY Connections...
to Asperger Syndrome
Launched April 1, 2004
Approx. 11 pages when printed
NICHCY's Connections pages are designed to put you in quick contact
with information that's readily available on the Internet. We're pleased to
offer this particular resource page to connect you with sources of information
about children and youth with Asperger Syndrome. This page is part
of a "suite" of pages on disorders along the autism spectrum. The
suite includes:
Why a Suite of Different Pages?
Why are we designing these resources pages as part of a suite? How and why
are they connected to one other? The answer lies in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM is the guide typically used by
physicians and mental health professionals to diagnose the five disorders listed
above. Published by the American Psychiatric Association, the latest edition
of the DSM came out in 2000 and is known as the DSM-IV-TR (meaning the fourth
edition, text revision). It lists the symptoms associated with each of the five
disorders. Most importantly, it also groups all five disorders under the
"umbrella" category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDD.
Why? Because these disorders share in common the following characteristics:
impairments in social interaction, imaginative activity, verbal and nonverbal
communication skills, and a limited number of interests and activities that
tend to be repetitive.
The Umbrella Category: PDD
The term Pervasive Developmental Disorders was first used in the 1980s
to describe a class of disorders with similar symptoms or characteristics. The
term occasionally causes some confusion, because one of the disorders underneath
the umbrella has a very similar name---PDDNOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Not Otherwise Specified). As a result, PDD and PDDNOS are sometimes used interchangeably.
A doctor, for example, may tell a parent that his or her child has PDD. This
may stir up confusion further down the diagnostic and treatment road, because
PDD actually refers to the overall category of disorders. It's not a
diagnostic label. Some doctors, however, are hesitant to diagnose very young
children with a specific type of PDD, such as Autistic Disorder or Asperger's
Syndrome, and therefore only use the general category label of PDD. In other
cases, the doctor may say PDD as a shorter way of talking about PDDNOS.
To avoid this confusion, our suite of pages will use the term PDD to refer
to the overall category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders and the term PDDNOS
to refer to the specific disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise
Specified.
This particular page connects you with resources on Asperger Syndrome.
Asperger Syndrome v. Asperger's Disorder v. Asperger's Syndrome?
In the DSM-IV-TR, the manual used to diagnose mental conditions, "Asperger's
Disorder" is the term used for this disorder (American Psychiatric Association,
2000). However, it is also known as Asperger Syndrome and Asperger's Syndrome,
as you will see when you visit the various Web sites and read materials on
this disability. Therefore, you will see all three terms used throughout the
remainder of this resource page.
The resources we've listed aren't intended to be exhaustive of those available.
We'll be adding to this page throughout the year, so you may wish to check back
every now and again to see what's new!
What is Asperger Syndrome?
- The plain diagnostic criteria for AS.
www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/generalinfo/aspergercha.html
Without explanation or elaboration, here's the criteria for AS from the DSM-IV-TR.
- Contrast the DSM criteria for Asperger Syndrome with the other PDD disorders.
www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs20txt.htm
We offer a briefing paper on PDD that includes an overview to the umbrella
category under which mental health professionals have placed Asperger Syndrome.
This includes the DSM criteria that are used to diagnose the syndrome. You
may also find it helpful to see these criteria contrasted with those used
to diagnose the four other disorders under the PDD umbrella.
- Visit OASIS.
www.aspergersyndrome.org/
OASIS stands for Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support. This group
offers "What is AS?" at the link above. Part of that online article
is the diagnostic criteria for Asperger Syndrome, taken directly from the
DSM.
- All about autism, Asperger Syndrome, and related developmental disorders.
www.maapservices.org/MAAP_Sub_Find_It_-_About_Autism_Aspergers.htm
Read all about it at MAAP Services for the Autism and Asperger Syndrome, a
nonprofit organization providing information and advice to families of More
advanced individuals with Autism, Asperger's syndrome,
and Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD).
- Asperger's Syndrome.
http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/aspergers.html
At this page of the Yale Child Study Center, you can pick up two lengthy publications
focused on Asperger Syndrome, specifically Guidelines for Assessment and
Diagnosis and Guidelines for Treatment and Intervention.
- What are the warning signs for Asperger Syndrome? Visit First Signs.
www.firstsigns.org/index.html
First Signs, Inc. is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating
parents and physicians about the early warning signs of autism and other developmental
disorders.
- What the Autism Society of America has to say about Aspergers.
www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Aspergers
- Want to know more about the DSM-VI-TR, and how it was compiled?
www.appi.org/dsm.cfx
Visit the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV-TR Library, located at
the link above.
- Is there a difference between Asperger and high functioning autism?
www.tonyattwood.com.au/
Tony Attwood is a guru in the Asperger field and offers several commercially
available books on the subject (available through amazon.com).
He generously makes a number of useful articles online, including but certainly
not limited to:
- The Profile of Friendship Skills in Asperger’s Syndrome
- A Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Intervention for Anxiety in Children with
Asperger's Syndrome
- Asperger's Syndrome and Adults. Is Anyone Listening? (Essays and poems
by partrners, parents, and family members of adults with AS, collected
by Karen E. Rodman)
- Strategies for Improving the Social Integration of Children with Asperger's
Syndrome
- Why does Chris do that? Some suggestions regarding the cause and management
of the unusual behaviour of children and adults with autism and Asperger's
Syndrome.
- Here's another "read all about it" site full of info.
www.autismweb.com/
Billed as "a parents' guide to the diagnosis, treatment and education
of children with autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder ( PDD ) and related
disorders," AutismWeb branches into separate areas about the definitions
of each autism spectrum disorder, warning signs, education, diet, recommended
readings, news, conferences, and how to find resources within your community.
- Adults with AS.
www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aspergers_adult
Online courtesy of the Autism Society of America, this article talks about
transition issues, such as postsecondary education, employment, and living
arrangements.
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Research Info
- What does the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
have to say about Asperger Syndrome?
www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/asperger.htm
The link above will lead you to NINDS' Asperger page, where you can read a
brief overview of the syndrome, find links to helpful organizations, and connect
with research studies being conducted by NINDS, including ones seeking participants.
The goals of these studies are to increase understanding of disease mechanisms
and to find ways to treat, prevent, and ultimately cure the disorder.
- Current research projects and national research organizations.
www.aspergersyndrome.org/
For descriptions of research projects being conducted, scroll down the main
menu of OASIS---Online Asperger Syndrome Support and Information---and click
on "Research Projects."
- Autism and Asperger research at the Yale Child Study Center.
http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/research.html
- Autism and Asperger Research Reports, at Stanford Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
http://aarr.stanford.edu/
This site provides info on six categories of research on autism: Diagnosis/Classification,
Therapy, Neuroscience, Genetics, and Immunology and Virology.
- Lots of research is being done on autism.
While not precisely the same thing as research being conducted on Asperger
Syndrome, the research being done on autism is obviously related, given that
the two disorders are located under the same diagnostic umbrella (see explanation
at the beginning of this resource page). So you may find it helpful to know
what research is being conducted on autism and what it's revealing. Check
out these resources:
- NICHD (the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, at
the National Institutes of Health), at: www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm
This link takes you to a page where you can search NICHD publications by
subject or keyword. They've kindly provided a drop-down menu you can use
to select autism, autism research, or autism spectrum disorders.
- National Institute of Mental Health, at:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/autismmenu.cfm
- National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), at:
www.naar.org/naar.asp
- Child Development Institute, at:
www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/disorders/
current_research_on_autism.shtml
- Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT), at:
www.asatonline.org/index.html
- For parents looking for research on autism.
www.researchautism.org/uploads/parents%20guide.pdf
This site offers a guide, entitled Life Journey Through Autism: A Parent's
Guide to Research, to help parents become "savvy" about finding and consuming
information on autism, with special emphasis upon examining the research.
Sources of this information are presented. The science model is then explained,
along with a framework for evaluating research studies and the current state
of autism research.
- Check out Tony Attwood's research list.
www.tonyattwood.com.au/
Tony Attwood is well-known in the autism field and offers several commercially
available books on the subject (available through amazon.com).
His Web site offers "Recent Research Links" on the main menu.
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Organizations That Can Help
The organizations that offer the above publications are the same ones that
offer a wide range of other information, assistance, and services. But, to make
life a little easier, here's a quick, consolidated list. We've also included organizations
whose predominant focus is on autism, because their work often overlaps with and
benefits individuals concerned with Asperger Syndrome as well.
- OASIS---Online Asperger Syndrome Support and Information.
www.aspergersyndrome.org/
- MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Spectrum.
www.maapservices.org/index.html
- Asperger's Connection.
www.ddleadership.org/aspergers/index.html
This interactive Web site allows individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, their
families, and anyone with an interest in Asperger's to interact and support
one another as well as share ideas and problem solving strategies and suggestions.
The Web site is also intended to create access for professionals and public
policy makers so they can learn directly from primary and secondary consumers.
- Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/
The Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary
evaluations for children with social disabilities, usually focusing on the
issues of diagnosis and intervention.
- Autism-related groups of renown.
You may find a great deal of worthwhile information and connections within
any of these autism-related groups.
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Educating Students with Asperger Syndrome
- Educating students with Asperger Syndrome.
www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aspergers_individual
"Working with an Individual with Asperger Syndrome," which is about
educational issues, appears online courtesy of the Autism Society of America.
- Specially Designed Instructions for Educators: IEP Modification/Adaptations/Support
Checklist.
www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/IEP_Modif_Checklist.html
Courtesy of OASIS, Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support.
- If you want to know about more about special education, IEPs, and educational
rights under the law, be sure to take a look at NICHCY's materials.
www.nichcy.org
All our publications are available for free on our Web site. You can also
call us at 1.800.695.0285 for copies or to talk over personal questions and
concerns.
- Understanding the Student With Asperger's Syndrome: Guidelines for Teachers.
www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/karen_williams_guidelines.html
Courtesy of OASIS, Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support.
- Tips for Teaching High-Functioning People with Autism.
www.maapservices.org/MAAP_Sub_Find_It_-_Tips_For_Teaching.htm
Courtesy of MAAP Services for the Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
- Asperger's Syndrome: Useful Information for Teachers.
www.kusd.edu/students/research-links/bookmarks/asperger.html
Short list of helpful tips, longer list of helpful links.
- Educating Children with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
www.autismweb.com/education.htm
Courtesy of Autism Web.
- Educating Children with Autism.
www.nap.edu/catalog/10017.html
The Committee on Educational Inverventions for Children with Autism, National
Research Council, offers Educating Students with Autism, which examines
the scientific knowledge underlying educational practices, programs, and strategies
for children with this disability.
Read the book online, order online, or call 1.888.624.8373.
- Learning and Behavior Problems in Asperger Syndrome.
www.guilford.com
Commercially available from Guilford Publishers. Order online or call 1.800.365.7006.
- Asperger Syndrome--What Teachers Need to Know.
www.jkp.com/
Commercially available from Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Order online or call
1.800.797.3803, ext. 7856.
- A special resource: The Professional Development in Autism Center (PDA).
http://depts.washington.edu/pdacent/
The Professional Development in Autism Center (PDA) provides training and
support for school districts, families and communities to ensure that students
with ASD have access to high quality, evidence-based educational services
in his or her local school district. Visit online or call 206.543.4011.
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Spanish Materials
- Medical info in Spanish about Asperger Syndrome.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/ency/article/001549.htm
From the Medical Library of the United States, courtesy of Medline Plus in
Spanish, "Enfermedad de Asperger" briefly discusses, from a medical
perspective, definition of AS, and its characteristics, alternate names, diagnostic
exams, treatment, prognosis, and prevention.
- Fact sheet on AS in Spanish.
www.aacap.org/publications/apntsfam/fff69.htm
This fact sheet, called Desorden de Asperger, is courtesy of the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- A treasure chest of Spanish materials on Asperger Syndrome.
www.autismo.com
Visit Asociación Nuevo Horizonte and find piles of information in Spanish
on the disorders under the umbrella of PDD. Because it can be a little difficult
to find what you're looking for on the site, we've listed and linked below
some of the major titles you'll find on AS.
- The Spanish version of "When your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum
disorder."
www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/fspanish.html
"Cuando su niño/niña es diagnosticado con alguno de los
desórdenes en la gama del autismo" is the Spanish title of this
publication from the Indiana Resource Center for Autism.
- El Síndrome de Asperger.
www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=espanol_asperger
This description is courtesy of the Autism Society of America.
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From Commercial Publishers
This is just a short list of what's out there, and as more emerge, we'll
add 'em!
- The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration.
www.amazon.com
Produced by OASIS, Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support, 2001.
Order from amazon.com, at the link above.
- Autism-Asperger's Digest.
www.autismdigest.com/
Featuring original articles and material from sources around the world, each
52-page issue of this magazine covers the latest people, products, research,
news, and viewpoints emerging in the autism field. Available from Future Horizons.
Order online or call 1.800.489.0727.
- Asperger Syndrome series.
www.jkp.com/
Jessica Kingsley Publishers offers a very long list of books related to Asperger
Syndrome---both for families and for teachers. Find out more and order online
or via JKP's distributor in the United States, Special Sales Department, Taylor
& Francis / Routledge Books, Inc, at 1.800.797.3803, ext. 7856.
- A wide range of Asperger Syndrome materials.
www.asperger.net/index.htm
The mission of the Autism Asperger Publishing Company (AAPC) is to "be
your first source for practical solutions related to autism, Asperger Syndrome,
and other pervasive developmental disorders." Browse the collection of
theirs and other people's books online at the link above, or call 1.913.897.1004.
- Still more materials from a specialist in AS, autism, and PDD.
www.futurehorizons-autism.com/
Future Horizons claims to have become a leading publisher in the world in
autism and AS primarily because the publisher's son, Alex, was diagnosed with
autism. Browse and order online, or call 1.800.489.0727.
- A Parent's Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism: How
to Meet the Challenges and Help Your Child Thrive.
www.guilford.com
Available from Guilford Publishers, 2002, which also publishes five other
books on AS. Order online or call 1.800.365.7006.
- Asperger Syndrome and Your Child: A Parent's Guide.
www.amazon.com
Published by HarperResource, 2003. Order from amazon.com, at the link above.
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
www.kluweronline.com/issn/0162-3257/
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information is copyright free.
Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National
Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). |
NICHCY Connections pages are
published in response to questions from individuals and organizations
that contact us. We encourage you to share
your ideas and feedback with us!
Project Director:
Suzanne Ripley
Research Specialists: Sarah Escowitz & Yojanna Cuenca, NICHCY
Author/Editor: Lisa Küpper, NICHCY
NICHCY thanks our Project Officer, Dr. Peggy Cvach, at the Office of Special
Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education. |
| Publication
of this Web resource page is made possible through Cooperative Agreement
#H326N030003 between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office
of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The
contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies
of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. |
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