Seminar explores Asperger’s Syndrome
A seminar exploring and explaining Asperger’s Syndrome, a severe developmental disorder, will be held next week at the Warren County Schools central office.
The seminar, “Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome,” is being sponsored by the Warren County Schools Special Education Department and the Warren County Autism Support Group as part of Autism Awareness Month, as the syndrome is one of several upper-end Autism disorders. The presentation will be made by school psychologists Kelly Eckenrod and Renee Anderson, who will share information they received at a recent seminar given by Dr. Fred Volkmar, the foremost researcher of Asperger’s Syndrome at Yale University.
A severe, brain-based developmental disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome is characterized by major difficulties in social interaction and unusual patterns of interest and behavior. While similar to Autism in its social deficits, Asperger’s is somewhat different in that those affected are usually within the normal or near-normal range of cognitive and communicative development in the first years of life, and have strong verbal skills.
Asperger’s Syndrome has long been thought to be a form of higher functioning Autism (Autism without mental retardation), a theory which, as research becomes more refined, is coming under increasing scrutiny. The differences between the two will be one of the issues highlighted during the seminar.
Another highlighted issue will be the alarming rate of increase in the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism in recent years.
Eckenrod said the free seminar is geared toward parents, friends and relatives of children with disabilities in the Autism spectrum, but is also open to anyone who wishes to raise his or her awareness of the disorder. It’s scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 10 at the central office, located at 2548 Morrison Street. For more information call the special education department at 668-1728.