<p>That’s good news, NM!</p>
<p>I suppose this is a question for the other threads but I rarely read the others. does it matter what classes you take in HS if you want to apply to a college for biology or premed? or just what you take in college to get into med school? Or at his level is it your overall GPA?</p>
<p>Our Kids’ school was pretty concrete about their curriculum and son really didn’t discover a real love of science until his senior year in AP Bio. When you looked at his transcript I don’t think you could discern where his future study was going. He didn’t take AP Chem because he didn’t feel he did well enough in honors chem and every one who was “good at science” and taking Honors physics AND AP Chem the year ahead of him still seemed stressed. So… now… in hindsight, however, had he taken AP Chem, this would have been one of the few classes that his school would have accepted as an equivalent college level class. The other was math. Beyond that it’s credit, but it doesn’t get you “ahead” of the game.</p>
<p>OK… So is anyone watching Parenthood? I think a show like this with a kid with Asperger’s is going to do really positive things for the masses to understand or at least have compassion for kids with Aspergers. But was curious what others thought where the subject touches a little closer to home.</p>
<p>DTE, unless a university has different areas that you apply in (e.g., you have to apply to the school of science rather than the school of art), I think you only have to get in. However, if you say you want to be pre-med in your application, you probably should have done well in bio, chem, etc. so that the schools would believe you could handle a pre-med courseload.</p>
<p>Remember, pre-med is not a separate major; it isn’t “declared;” but designates a set of courses required by med schools for admission (not colleges for graduation). Pre-med students can major in just about anything, but they have to take a fair number of science courses, some math and, for some med schools, English and/or composition.</p>
<p>I don’t know if it’s been mentioned yet, but the PBS cartoon “Arthur” has just introduced a character with Asperger’s.</p>
<p>Today H and I go in to the new psychologist for the parent interview…makes me nervous, as I’m sure she’ll be sizing us up as well as listing to our answers.</p>
<p>That’s okay missy, we all know you’ll be your charming self. Just make sure you size her up while she’s sizing you up ;)</p>
<p>Shawbridge, you are always light years ahead on these things, but in reference to:
- I realize the issue is more the essay style exams etc. but a) does he have a mac and b) has he tried the latest MacSpeech Scribe (transcribes audio notes) or Dictate (full dictation system) for writing his essays? I am getting very positive feedback about these programs for McSon - although Scribe only runs on SnowLeopard operating system and McSon has not upgraded because his music composition software has a known conflict with SL (which hopefully Siebelius is remedying…) Just thought since your son is a forensic debater that he might have the kind of mind that can “write” aloud with flawless results. From what I am hearing, this software is finally evolved enough to facilitate that. Much faster on the essay front, as I understand it, and very “smart” as in it learns your style very quickly. At any rate, that might free up some of his time (so that he has more for the reading end).</p>
<p>If you haven’t tried it, we’ll be implementing same by next semester and will let you know if it’s as good as they say!</p>
<p>kmc, he has dragon loaded on the PC part of his Mac but doesn’t use it much. He has Snow Leopard (I bought the 5 user family pack). I got MacSpeech Dictate for his dyslexic mother, though she isn’t using it either. Ah well, you can bring an artist to water but you can’t make her drink (though she may paint if). I’ll take a look at Scribe. What didn’t work on earlier Mac software was that there was no way to play back what you’d dictated. You had to read it. And if you didn’t, your text was likely doomed because it is predictive software. If you said “grave” and it heard “grape,” you could find that it hears “wine” when you said “fine” etc. And if ShawSon has to read it, he feels like he could just type it instead. So, he types the shorter pieces. Dragon will read it back from Word. But, he’s not really using it enough as it takes longer for him and he feels under the gun. Some stuff he calls and dictates to me – I’m actually learning a lot about subjects I didn’t know much about and am perhaps the world’s most expensive late night dictation service. </p>
<p>He does use Ghostreader to listen to short pieces. Someone records longer pieces for him to listen to. And, he reads a lot. I do think the answer is for him to find a field he is interested and become the quantitative guru in that area. He and his advisor actually chose a schedule for next fall that has minimal reading [statistics, an upper level microeconomics (the track for mathematically strong kids), a philosophy course on logic (likely a fair bit of simple math), and drawing or painting (he’s inherited real talent in this from his mother)]. I think he’ll enjoy the advanced micro – not an easy course but it will be easier for him than for most kids. I don’t know if he’ll find logic dry. It is devoid of the juicer topics he took this year (happiness, con law, creativity, …) so I hope it sustains his interest.</p>
<p>Ah, you had the first release, I suspect, of MacSpeech. (Never fair to punish early adopters, is it, but nonetheless, they release these things sometimes without a lot of forethought.) Then again, maybe the programs still aren’t intuitive enough to be useful, and regardless, sounds like Shawson is well in hand.</p>
<p>With Scribe, as I understand it, you can take notes (verbally) on iphone, (or most other digital devices) jack the recording in or transfer file, and away it goes – which in McSon’s case, should help on the auditory processing/notetaking problem. But still have to use the recordings to set up profiles of diff. profs, especially gender/pitch of voice, etc., and it maxes out at 6.</p>
<p>McSon has never tried to get me to transcribe, but then again, being the procrastinator he is, McSon also knows better than to call me at 4 a.m. ;)</p>
<p>thank you for your answers. D2 wants to do premed doesnt want to take AP chem. loves bio. I just dont know if she should. i was so clueless the first time around. She is in honors chem now.
I would be interested from the Aspergers parents if Parenthood is an accurate portrayal.</p>
<p>I just watched the pilot of Parenthood and had the kid diagnosed before the parents did - poor baseball skills, wears costume to school, can’t cut with scissors…they made the diagnosis much too easy! Was sort of blown away that the parents were shocked and acted like there was something horribly wrong. Don’t know how the character has developed since then.</p>
<p>Well… I really like the show. And I think his mom (don’t know the actresses name off the cuff) does a really fantastic job of saying little and showing the emotion of what I know it is like when you are worried sick about your kid and just know how great they truly are. So… I am liking this show. But I do have to TIVO so I can watch the Good Wife. Sort of splitting the demographic in my mind, so thank you TIVO (or cable’s equivalent).</p>
<p>I guess if you have a kid with aspergers, its obvious to you, I just hope it gives an accurate portrayal as it could do alot to bring this to the forefront. From reading all of the posts it has made me more aware.</p>
<p>Wow, wow, wow! D2 just got an answer to her email to compliance office on campus. In very strong language it stated she was NOT required to play in games and that there would be NO ramifications regarding her scholarship. Those coaches lied and were trying to bully and intimidate! I have absolutely no respect for these men. Oh…and the compliance guy said he talked with the coaches. Wonder if there will be ramifications for them???Can I restate that I will be glad when she is absolutely free from this program!!!</p>
<p>Sigh. Fang Jr’s therapist hinted today that he won’t be ready to go back to his college in the fall. So it looks like UC Santa Cruz in 2011 is more likely. Or something.</p>
<p>NM, great to hear your daughter will soon be free of that dreadful program.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, CF. I know that is disappointing to hear. </p>
<p>I just finished writing possibly the most awkward letter of my life to D’s school- as part of the aid process they request additional information regarding other students in the family. When I finished the form I realized I could not say with certainty where S would be attending or even if he would start in the fall or if he would start in January or if he would not start at all. So I did write them a letter that I will fax off tomorrow. They have been very helpful over the phone but I like to have all of my ducks in a row in if I send a letter at least I will be able to say “I told you all of this!” Who knows if any of it will even matter. </p>
<p>Son has been hired back at his job from last summer. Going to meetings, doing a great deal of journaling, reading. Reading. No video games, no computer, no facebook. And it’s not as if we told him he couldn’t. He just hasn’t. </p>
<p>D applied for four jobs on Sunday- it’s Wednesday and she’s already had three interviews. So let’s cross our fingers that one of those three works out!</p>
<p>NMN… so sorry you D has faced such icky behavior by seeming adults. However, that she wrote a note to the compliance office and the coaches have been “spoken to” should make her feel that she was no completely alone. Horrible of the coaches to put her in that position, especially since so many parents look to coaches for leadership, but a life lesson that will serve her well. If you don’t like the answer, if there is someone else to ask, do so.</p>
<p>CF - so sorry to hear that son might not be ready to return to school, but as I am here to attest, sometimes just that little bit of maturity that years of living can provide is really helpful. Combine that with some therapy and setting some other goals in the short term might very well be just the things to assure you son the success he is sure to achieve. There are valuable experiences for him to have in the meantime.</p>
<p>Missy… how did the initial meeting go today? Do you feel they will be helpful or… ?</p>
<p>Sabaray… seems to me your son is doing what he needs to do to stay healthy. And it’s not like rehab and halfway house living is free, which I am sure you explained in your letter to the school. Were there conditions that needed to be met by his school for his return? Would he try to attend another school if that one is no longer a possibility? Fall is still a fairly long way off. And … was just curious if you were getting help for yourself throughout all of this?</p>
<p>Son has asked us to not make any plans for him June 10 through something like July 4 as some of his friends want to come out to MN to go camping up north. Nothing would make me happier than getting to meet and get to know some of his friends. Fortunately they just want a week, but just aren’t sure when it might work for all of them. As long as he knows he has got to work for his dad to replenish his bank account, he should be fine. But truth is, he hasn’t been paying for much gas or food this year, so he’ll also have to balance saving with having cash to live this summer. Reality is probably still somewhat blurry to him at this point.</p>
<p>NM - so glad that your D stood up for herself. What a great outcome!</p>
<p>CF - Disappointing I’m sure but your support of your S is just wonderful. </p>
<p>Sabaray - So glad that your son is doing what needs to be done. Hopefully all will work out for your D.</p>
<p>Modadunn - How nice to be able to see some of your S friends.</p>
<p>I’ll be driving to Maine to pick up D and one of her friends for their spring break and then driving them back for short term a week later. Long drive. H is not going so it will be quiet in the car. I will be able to play what ever music I want!!! Still about a week to go before I go but I am looking forward to it.</p>
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<p>Are you serious? That was/is McSon to a t. Perhaps that hugely expensive neuropscyh eval was a waste of $ and the dx wrong 
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<p>I mean, he STILL wears costumes to school. Built a robot costume with led lights and robotic sound/music effects, voice modulator and wore it all over campus before, during and after Halloween. Yes, I mean TO UNIVERSITY. Also managed to get a date with a girl he’d never met before while wearing same, so thank god geeks are cool at his school!</p>
<p>And can’t be trusted with scissors, truly, nor packing knives or small hand saws etc. Just an abomination at it – his upper extremity motor skills were in the 1%. To make matters worse, he mostly dead-faints if he is punctured or cut in any way – a bad combination given the lack of skill with tools… When we went for our immigration TB shots five years ago I heard a loud thud in the room across the hall (I was getting my own shot.) Walked across the hall and there was McSon, flat on the floor, three nurses flustering over him. I think they thought I was mean b/c I was laughing so hard, but I swear, this kid is hilarious.</p>
<p>I will have to check out that show and get tivoing. Thanks for the heads up.</p>
<p>BTW, awesome news, MN, and CF, feelin’ for you but am hoping for whatever both he and you need for the long haul will unfold sooner rather than later. Hugs!</p>