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        <![CDATA[Messages posted by "CAMmom" recent IAN discussions]]>
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		<link>http://kki.qorvis.com/forum/posts/listByUser/3079.page</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Messages posted by "CAMmom"]]></description>
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				<title>Re:Learning to Drive with ASD</title>
				<description><![CDATA[ My son is 26.  He developed in interest in driving at age 18.  One day he said, "I'm ready to take my driving test".  He passed, he said, "If you know the rules, you can drive, and pay close attention to what is around you."  He has a car and is now living not to far from campus in student housing (not a dorm, kind of like townhouses for college students).  I believe he is enjoying his independence.  He can cook and cooks most of his own meals.  He has a room-mate...but "he comes and goes" and "he is just a room-mate".  I don't have to worry about "parties", "drugs", "drinking".  He is so focused on getting his degree...despite was goes around him.

He also has a card in his wallet in case he stopped by the police.  It reads that he has Aspergers Syndrome and to please not shine the light or look him directly in the eyes and only ask "yes" or "no" questions.  Our phone number is also on the card.  He was stopped only once.  He showed the officer the card.  The officer was very nice and asked my son to go to Auto Zone and pick up a bulb for his back brake light and the employee at Auto Zone will install it for him.  The officer gave him back his card and sent him on his way.]]></description>
				<guid isPermaLink="true">http://kki.qorvis.com/forum/posts/preList/350/1913.page#1913</guid>
				<link>http://kki.qorvis.com/forum/posts/preList/350/1913.page#1913</link>
				<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, March 16, 2010]]> GMT</pubDate>
				<author><![CDATA[ CAMmom]]></author>
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				<title>Re:Experiences with Schools: The Good and The Bad</title>
				<description><![CDATA[ Good Morning All.
Been there, done that, got the battle scars to prove it.  I am in Eastern NC, just to show you the distinction from the rest of the state, Raleigh/Charlotte (where all the networking goes on).  An Autism Convention in the east would be a welcome sight. 

My son was diagnosed at age 14.  From then on my husband and I were very active in the IEP process.  We requested quarterly meetings with all of his teachers, not just the ones where he wasn't doing well.  He was mainstreamed a good chunk of the day throughout middle school and high school.  English Literature, writing, poetry were his downfall.  Math, Science, Physics, Architectural Drafting are is strong suites.  His handwriting would make your physcian's a scholar in penmanship.  As for bullying in school....he could care less what anyone said about him.  "I don't live with them, their words are meaningless."  The other kids wouldn't touch him (he is the size of Ray Liotta in Good Fellas, big Irish/Italian boy).  He is heavy into video games and could tell you which Final Fantasy series was the best (VI or VII).  He appears aloof, apathetic and can be snobbish.  I realized after all these years, that is AS.  He is messy to a fault. (not like Monk at all).  

He is now attending a well known Eastern NC university and is the only self advocating AS person.  Imagine that.  To my knowledge there aren't any programs like Marshall has in NC at the college level. (btw, you have to "pay" extra for those services at Marshall, upwards to 5K additional). He takes no medication nor accepts any SSI because to him it is "not logical" to take money you haven't worked for.  My husband and I have access to all of his college transcripts and access to all of his teachers and professors.  The Disabilities Offices at the University has been big help, but lacks the funding to reach out to AS students.

I have been on several websites for Autism and Aspergers.  All seem to address children under the age of 10.  Please keep in mind, these children, do "grow up".  What you do now, depends on whether they are college bound or in employment training.  I have searched the entire internet for Grant, Scholarships for young adults seeking higher education who have Autism/Aspergers.  They don't exist.  If my son was under the age of 17, he could get help with education.  College, you are on your own.  I have contacted the AS of NC and the National...as well as Autism speaks.  I found nothing in the way of higher education, and very little info on AS as whole working with colleges/universities (with the execption of Marshall) Disability Offices.  At my son's school, the "student" has to "self advocate".  Ok, how do you get someone with "slim to none" social skills to "self advocate"?

As a parent, I encourage all of you, this is just the beginning.  You have to fight and advocate for your child from dawn to dusk.  It doesn't end at high school.  If there are grants and scholarships out there for kids on the Autism spectrum...please let me know what I missed.  My son got the Pell Grant, NC lottery fund and the Stafford Loan.  

Word to the wise.  Send your child to Community College for the first two years.  Declare him/her independent and have them work part time, claim their own taxes.  When it is time to transfer to university....the grant money will be higher, as it will be based on "the child's" income, not yours.  We learned the hard way.

Yes I know about TEACHH in Greenville. During our son's middle and high school years, we worked full time...which made it impossible to drive 50 miles for him to get services.  Ironically, he lives in Greenville now and is about 3 miles from the Children with Autism office.  However, he is no longer a "child".]]></description>
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				<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, March 16, 2010]]> GMT</pubDate>
				<author><![CDATA[ CAMmom]]></author>
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