We are a support and socializing group for people diagnosed with or who suspect they have Asperger’s syndrome and their parents. All aspies and parents of aspies living in the St. Louis area who want to enjoy each other’s company are more than welcome to attend our meetings and join! We look forward to seeing new faces and will be pleased to get to know you.
Asperger’s Syndrome Defined
Asperger’s syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder—a condition on the autism spectrum—indicated by deficient social skills, unusual and often intense interests, and overly formal language use. Aspies, an affectionate nickname of Tony Attwood’s devising, have normal to superior intelligence accompanied by what may best be called a lack of common sense. Unlike a classically autistic person, aspies do not show delayed speech; in fact, they frequently have gifted verbal intelligence, often with a corresponding weakness in performance (i.e., nonverbal) intelligence. Aspies have some social quirks: They sometimes might come into the room and join a conversation without first saying hello. They do not mean to be rude by this, but rather the subtleties of socialization are often lost on them. Also, aspies have a tendency to speak at length about something of interest to them, not realizing that their interlocutors may have become bored or have even stopped paying attention entirely. This is why Hans Asperger called them “little professors” in his research on autistic children and adolescents.
Asperger’s syndrome may merely be the extreme manifestation of normal analysis-oriented traits found dispersed in the population. This is not to say AS does not lead to problems. Whether it is an innate tendency stemming from their preference for the familiar instead of the unfamiliar, aspies are at increased risk for internalizing psychopathology: anxiety disorders and depression. The autistic mind has its benefits, too, though. Aspies usually have a nuanced vocabulary and enhanced analytical skills. In addition, their intense focus on their “stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest” (DSM-IV-TR, 2000) can lead to a successful career. One must not forget that it is the single-minded dedication to an idea that leads to great leaps in science and technology; the spark of inspiration is only the beginning of intellectual and creative achievement.
Meeting Information
We will hold our next meeting Monday, October 17, 2005, from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. C.D.T. at the Judevine Center for Autism, located at 1101 Olivette Executive Parkway, St. Louis, MO 63132. The Judevine Center’s telephone number is (314) 432-6200.
SLAM meetings are regularly scheduled for the third Monday of each month from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Young Adults (BONS@AI)
Young adults and young adults at heart who have Asperger’s syndrome are welcome to join BONS@AI (Becoming Our Natural Selves as Autistic Individuals). We plan fun meetings in addition to the regular meetings for parents and people with AS. Previous meeting locations have been T.G.I. Friday’s, the Delmar/University City Loop, historic St. Charles, and the Powder Valley nature reserve.
The next BONS@AI is scheduled to meet Friday, August 26, 2005, at 5:00 P.M. C.D.T. in the lobby of the Sverdrup Bus/Tech Complex on the Webster University campus. Please have a look at the Webster University campus map (it is Building No. 8). There is also a Google Map of Webster University and vicinity. Webster’s own campus map has confusingly placed south at the top and north at the bottom.