Adam, who is nine, explains what it is like for him to have a sibling with Aspergers. I think he is both compassionate and honest, and I would recommend this video for kids learning about Aspergers.

Devine Farrier, an eleven-year-old boy with autism, has died after being hit by a truck on Saturday:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010040773_boytruckaccid...

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/my-life-aspergers/200910/the-cure-au...

This is really essential reading. John Elder Robison is the author of Look Me in the Eye and one of the most influential and vocal people with Aperger's Syndrome. In this post from his blog for Psychology Today, Robison discusses the unique nature of autism:

Unfortunately, each person who's touched by autism thinks his autism experience is representative of everyone else's. And why wouldn't he? That's how it is with most other medical conditions. Within reason, my broken leg is like yours. So's my flu, or even my bypass operation, should I ever have one. Some of us have complications and we do better or worse, but there is indeed a common shared experience.

He also makes some excellent recommendations about language: we should stop talking about getting rid of "autism" of start talking more about cures and assistance for "specific components of autistic disability, like speech impairment."

And we should all learn to work with and respect each other.

The Amazing Race lost its first contestant with Aspergers when Zev lost his passport. His friend and partner Justin performed heroically throughout the episode, charming the locals and supporting Zev through a meltdown.

Zev did well through the first two parts of a challenge where he had to imitate a Cambodian performer in a monkey costume. The third part, however, proved to be very difficult for him and he became so frustrated that he had to lay on the ground and tell Justin to back off.

I plan to ask friends who may have to deal with my meltdowns to watch this segment. Justin is very supportive, and Zev apologizes as soon as he is able to. They still manage to come in first-- Zev and Justin both deal with his frustration as a manageable obstacle. It's a good model.

You can watch the episode here:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/video/

What better place to begin posting again? I'm always looking for characters in literature who show signs of Aspergers or autism. Ramin Karimloo, the Iranian actor who has played The Phantom of the Opera in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical for two years in London, says his character has Aspergers:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6275077/Andrew-...

The Phantom is the well-loved title character of the most lucrative property in show business history, so I guess I should be happy to add him to the club, but I am dubious. First of all, people with Aspergers are not hideously disfigured. The Phantom is, which causes him to be rejected by his mother in infancy. I think it is the fact that people run away from in fear, not Aspergers, that makes him have difficulty relating to others.

Also, although Aspergers might explain the Phantom's musical gifts, especially his ability to discover twentieth century atonal music in nineteeth century Paris, it would not explain his magical ability to throw fireballs or his homicidal tendencies.

If you watch Karimloo's performance of "Music of the Night" above, I think this "diagnosis" does actually inform his performance: most Phantoms move Christine with balletic elegance. Check out Karimloo's awkwardness at 1:07. Oh, my.