J is for: Judging

Judging others: others who are different, who make you nervous, who don't make sense to you sometimes. People with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, know only too well how it feels to be on the other end of this. Especially the Aspie kids.

April is National Autism Awareness Month. Take a few minutes to learn on www.autismspeaks.org. You'll most likely understand at least one adult or child you know a lot better.

Taken from the Autism Speaks website:

The following behaviors are often associated with Asperger syndrome. However, they are seldom all present in any one individual and vary widely in degree:

• limited or inappropriate social interactions
• "robotic" or repetitive speech
• challenges with nonverbal communication (gestures, facial expression, etc.) coupled with average to above average verbal skills
• tendency to discuss self rather than others
• inability to understand social/emotional issues or nonliteral phrases
• lack of eye contact or reciprocal conversation
• obsession with specific, often unusual, topics
• one-sided conversations
• awkward movements and/or mannerisms

Writing Along the Spectrum

I'm currently working on a novel for young adults about a fifteen-year-old girl with Asperger's Syndrome. I know males with this syndrome but not females. This is a subject near and dear to me, and I've immersed myself in research on the girls and women with AS who have so far been much less discussed than their male counterparts.

The information I'm finding is fascinating to me. Asperger's place on the spectrum of autism is of more interest to the world as an increased number of cases are being diagnosed. So, what is AS?

Definition By Mayo Clinic staff :

"Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Children with Asperger's syndrome typically exhibit social awkwardness and an all-absorbing interest in specific topics. Doctors group Asperger's syndrome with other conditions that are called autistic spectrum disorders or pervasive developmental disorders. These disorders all involve problems with social skills and communication. Asperger's syndrome is generally thought to be at the milder end of this spectrum. While there's no cure for Asperger's syndrome, if your child has the condition treatment can help him or her learn how to interact more successfully in social situations."

As we all know, the high school years are difficult enough to navigate for most kids without extra considerations. When my fictional protagonist, Cammie, came to my mind, I knew telling her story was something I would love and need to do.

Stay tuned for more about my work in progress:
A LIFE ANOMALOUS.