Dinosaurs 24/7: Understanding The Special Interests of Children with Asperger's Syndrome - Part 1Mary Ann Winter-Messiers, Maitrise (Universite de Paris-IV, La Sorbonne) Date First Published: April 2, 2007 
What do a quirky lawyer, a child lost during a museum field trip, a family who needs a new home, a boy who witnessed the murder of his parents, a doctor who bonds with a mysterious young patient, an 18 year old woman dealing with the sensory chaos of New York City, and an out-of-control toddler have in common? All were featured in prime time television programs in 2006, fictional or reality-based, which centered on a character with Asperger's Syndrome. Boston Legal, Without a Trace, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Cold Case, House, All My Children, and Supernanny each ran episodes in 2006 focusing on Asperger's Syndrome. The Apprentice, Numb3rs, the Discovery Channel, the Jane Pauley Show, ER, and The Closer also featured programs on this syndrome. Christian Clemenson, the actor who plays a gifted lawyer with Asperger's Syndrome on Boston Legal, won an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series this year. In October, comedian Jon Stewart hosted a Comedy Central Benefit for Autism Education at New York's Beacon Theatre. Clearly, the media and the prime time public are spellbound by Asperger's Syndrome. Some programs presented factual representations, others wildly fictional, but the theme draws viewers, especially when the story line includes the unusual special interest of the central character. While television producers benefit from this attractive topic, however, thousands of real families live every minute of their lives caring for their children with Asperger's Syndrome. One of the most fascinating aspects of Asperger's Syndrome is the special interest areas in which over 90% of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome engage. 1 Little research has been conducted into the special interests of children and youth with Asperger's Syndrome. Although parents, educators, and experts in the field of Asperger's seem well aware of the existence of these special interests, our review of the literature indicates that no one has researched the origin and development of such interests in children and youth with the Syndrome. 2,3,4,5,6,7 Nor has anyone explored the effect of special interests on the social, communication, and emotional skills and deficits of children and youth with Asperger's, or how special interests might be integrated most effectively into school, home, and community. The purpose of our exploratory study was to evaluate the impact of special interest areas (SIAs) on children and youth with Asperger's, as well as on their families. 8 The lead author and her graduate students began this study in January, 2005 with a methodical search of the existing literature on the special interests individuals with Asperger's. The research team then identified a research question, designed an appropriate study, and obtained university and school district approval to conduct the study. We defined SIAs as those passions that capture the mind, heart, time, and attention of individuals with Asperger's, providing the lens through which they view the world. 9 During the summer of 2005, the research team conducted the study and gathered both qualitative and quantitative data from the study participants and their parents/guardians. The research team then spent the fall and winter of 2005 analyzing the data they had obtained. Various members of the research team presented the results of the study at two national conferences: the National Council for Exceptional Children conference in Salt Lake City, Utah in April, 2006 and the National Autism Society of America conference in Providence, Rhode Island in July, 2006. Continued in the Sections Below:
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