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Among the challenges of raising children with Asperger syndrome are the emotional ones placed upon the family. The collection of glaring social issues, mixed with subtle thinking variations and occasional unpredictable emotional swings, transforms parenting into a confusing trip of trial and error. When errors mount, family life is often mired in conflict, and the child’s issues are exacerbated. Parents may resort to blaming one another, leading to further downward spiraling.

MOSSAIC: Mentorship, Organization, and Social Support for Autism Inclusion on Campus MOSSAIC is support for people transitioning to the U of M who have autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, or other social/organizational challenges.  This program is offered by the RiteCare Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic.   MOSSAIC provides: Weekly time with experienced peers (U of M juniors or seniors) to address your individualized needs such as: Walk through your class schedule Organization of materials & time Self-advocacy & when to disclose Campus safety Shared living space Understanding academic expectations Problem solving opportunities Evening seminars to support student needs & provide social opportunities.  If interested, please contact:  Jennifer Closson at 406-243-5261 or jennifer.closson@mso.umt.edu  Bethany Rigles at 406-243-2208 or bethany.rigles@mso.umt.edu

Wrong Planet is the web community designed for individuals (and parents of those) with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs, and other neurological differences. We provide a discussion forum, where members communicate with each other, an article section, with exclusive articles and how-to guides, a blogging feature, and a chatroom for real-time communication with other Aspies. Asperger's Syndrome, a pervasive development disorder, is a form of autism. People with Asperger's Syndrome usually have normal or above normal IQs. Asperger's can be described as an inability to understand how to interact socially.  

Who can attend? Anyone whose life has been affected by Asperger's Syndrome Where: The meetings for the 2011-2012 Asperger Support Group are held at the Billings Clinic. All meetings are held in the Mary Alice Fortin Center, which is adjacent to the hospital cafeteria. If interested in attending, call Paula: 406-248-6186 or Sandy: 406-373-5057 to confirm meeting dates and location. Schedule 2011-2012 Thursday, September 8, 2011 7:00-9:00 PM Mary Alice Fortin Center - Room E Thursday, November 10, 2011 7:00-9:00 PM Mary Alice Fortin Center - Room E Thursday, January 12, 2012 7:00-9:00 PM Mary Alice Fortin Center - Room E Thursday, March 8, 2012 7:00-9:00 PM Mary Alice Fortin Center - Room E Thursday, May 10, 2012 7:00-9:00 PM Mary Alice Fortin Center - Room E

Rudy Simone says, "Just 'cause you have Asperger's doesn't mean you know what that means until somebody tells you."And it took well-known Simone 40 years to have someone tell her she too suffered from Asperger's syndrome. A condition on the autism spectrum, Asperger's is more commonly found in males and often affects social interactions.

Who can attend? Anyone whose life has been affected by AS The meetings for the 2010-2011 Asperger Support Group are held at the Billings Clinic. All meetings are held in the Mary Alice Fortin Center, which is adjacent to the hospital cafeteria.

What: Support Group for Adults with Asperger's Syndrome. When: First meeting will be Tuesday, September 13th 2011 6:00 p.m. Mountain Where: Atonement Lutheran Church 2205 34th Street Missoula, MT

What:Is Asperger's syndrome really less common in girls and women, or are females just better than males at masking autistic symptoms? Rudy Simone, a San Francisco singer, writer and stand-up comic, didn't learn that she was on the autism spectrum until her mid-40s. Simone has Asperger's syndrome - a high-functioning form of autism that leads to social problems but no intellectual disabilities - which, like all forms of autism, appear much more commonly in boys than in girls. Ten times more men are believed to reside on the spectrum than women. But some experts think the real prevalence of Asperger's in girls may be much higher than believed, because girls tend to be far better than boys at concealing its symptoms, masking social problems and hiding the repetitive behaviors often associated with autism. So, many women go undiagnosed until middle age, along the way given other labels and therapies that do not address their real issues. To help make up for the lack of resources available to girls with Asperger's and their families, Simone wrote Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger's Syndrome. Healthland spoke with her recently. Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/27/mind-reading-a-qa-with-the-author-of-aspergirls/#ixzz1hl7AHuDt Ms. Simone will be speaking in Montana this spring. More details will be provided in mid-March. All of her appearances will free and open to the public. Where and When:Billings (CEC Conference) - April 25, 2012Helena - April 26, 2012 Missoula - April 27, 2012Kalispell - April 28, 2012Contact: Doug Doty, Coordinator Website: www.opi.mt.gov/autism/maep Phone: (406) 444-0907

Variations of the term “Asperger’s syndrome” topped Google searches Wednesday, following the second episode of an NBC show featuring a character with the disorder.

no sooner has Asperger consciousness awakened than the disorder seems headed for psychiatric obsolescence. Though it became an official part of the medical lexicon only in 1994, the experts who are revising psychiatry’s diagnostic manual have proposed to eliminate it from the new edition, due out in 2012. If these experts have their way, Asperger’s syndrome and another mild form of autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (P.D.D.-N.O.S. for short), will be folded into a single broad diagnosis, autism spectrum disorder — a category that encompasses autism’s entire range, or spectrum, from high-functioning to profoundly disabling.

You can download the registration form here!What:The social communication and social thinking needs of individuals on the Autism Spectrum are often the most challenging aspects of parenting, treating, and teaching this population. This workshop will address numerous intervention strategies highlighting methods and materials available from leading experts in the area of social language. The presenters will provide detailed information, video demonstrations, and materials that will enhance the attendee's abilities to help children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome improve social interaction, perspective taking, and other Theory of Mind issues.When:March 17, 20129:00 am - 1:00 pmWhere:College of TechnologyGreat Room - Health and Sciences Building3803 Central AvenueBillings, MT 59102Contact:Nancy or VickiPhone: (406) 256-7148Email: vlandre@bresnan.netThis event is sponsored by Region III CSPD

Autism on the Seas has been in collaboration with Royal Caribbean International since 2007 in developing cruise vacation services to accommodate adults and families living with children with Special Needs, including, but not limited to, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and all Cognitive, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.  These services quickly expanded to other cruise lines.   We provide Cruises with our Staff (selected from regular cruises throughout the year) that assist adults and families in accommodating the typical cruise services, as well as providing specialized Respite and Private Activities/Sessions that allow our guests the use of the ships entertainment venues in an accommodated and assisted manner. Our professional Staff (educated, experienced, background checked and sanctioned by the cruise lines) accompanies you on your cruise to provide these amazing vacation and travel experiences onboard Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Disney and Carnival Cruise Lines. We also provide a "Cruise Assistance Package" (Cruises without our Staff) on all of the major Cruise Lines to help accommodate guests who wish to cruise on their own. 

Who Should Attend: • School Based Personnel • Physical Therapists • Psychologists • Occupational Therapists • Marriage & Family Therapists • Nurses • Educators • Counselors • Teacher Assistants • Speech Language Pathologists • Special Education Teachers • Social Workers This program is appropriate for all levels of knowledge regarding Asperger’s Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and High-Functioning Autism. 

MISSOULA ― Tony Attwood, a world-renowned autism and Asperger’s syndrome expert, will present “A Complete Look at the Autism Spectrum,” a daylong conference Monday, July 19, at The University of Montana.             The conference, sponsored by UM’s Neuro Networking Club, will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. It will cover many aspects of the autism spectrum, such as relationships, emotional management and social skills.