Advice on how to explain low Autism to my 10 year old son who has just been disgnosed

  • Does anyone have any advice on how to explain what high functioning autism is to my keen to know 10 year old boy? 
  • His school has set homework this weekend to describe a syndrome, condition or disease. My son wants to describe what Autism is.
  • I need help myself as his mum to understand. 
  • Are there other ways you know of describing Autism rather than calling it a disability or disorder?

Thank you 

Parents
  • The correct "D" word is DIFFERENCE. It is true that having Autism is a "disorder or disabilty" in THIS sort of society.

    I'd tell my child:

    "You/We have a difference in the way that we think that makes us outstanding. We tend to do things a bit differently and sometimes that is wrong, but also quite often we are right, but everyone thinks we are wrong anyway. It's like being the "ugly duckling".The important thing to remember is that we/you are in the minority, which means in order to get along, we have to be nicer than them, and put  up with a lot more than they have to.  Being nice (even when they are not) is parrt of growing up to be a swan..

    -And if that does not work, kill them quickly & mercifully!

    (Perhaps best to omit the last line if your kid is as "literal" in his autism as I am....)   

Reply
  • The correct "D" word is DIFFERENCE. It is true that having Autism is a "disorder or disabilty" in THIS sort of society.

    I'd tell my child:

    "You/We have a difference in the way that we think that makes us outstanding. We tend to do things a bit differently and sometimes that is wrong, but also quite often we are right, but everyone thinks we are wrong anyway. It's like being the "ugly duckling".The important thing to remember is that we/you are in the minority, which means in order to get along, we have to be nicer than them, and put  up with a lot more than they have to.  Being nice (even when they are not) is parrt of growing up to be a swan..

    -And if that does not work, kill them quickly & mercifully!

    (Perhaps best to omit the last line if your kid is as "literal" in his autism as I am....)   

Children
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