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Autism/leaving son for the first time

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Expert: - 4/28/2010


Question
Hello Valerie,
I will be leaving my son for about 1 month to take care of some special health needs. He is a very high functioning 10 year old boy with Aspergers. The problem is that he is very attached to me since I have been a "stay at home" mom for all of his life. Also, I know that it is indeed a character trait of Aspergers children to be extremely attached to "1" parent or the other. In my case it is myself.
Anyway - I am asking if you have any advice on how to best handle this situation. I haven't told him yet and I am leaving this friday!! I am so worried but my going away cannot be cancelled - it is extremely important for his health as well as mine. He can visit me and talk to me over the phone and will have plenty of supports here at home - grandmas, dad, babysitters, etc.

Answer
Hi Joanna

Are you familiar with social stories? They are used to prepare someone like your son for changes or new situations. since you are leaving today, there is not time to prepare one for him (I usually do them as a computer story), but you can maybe give him some pictures of where you are going and who will be with him while he is gone.

If you have someone who is with him, we can do some social stories through them. Just let me know.

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Valerie Herskowitz

Expertise

I am an autism expert and speech pathologist (for over 30 years). I am also the parent of a child with autism. I can answer any question on autism dealing with communication, education, behavior and diet. I cannot answer questions that are medical in nature or are dealing with medications.

Experience

I have run a therapy center for individuals with autism since 1981. I lecture all over the country. I also teach classes on autism on line.

Organizations
Vice President of Communications Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Member American Speech and Hearing Association, MembernAutism Society of America, President of the National Autism Registry, Vice President of the Association for Developmentally Disabled Adults and Adolescents.

Publications
Autism Society of America's national publication (September 2008). Advance Magazine, South Florida Parenting, Spectrum Magazine, I am the author of: Autism and Computers: Maximizing Independence Through Technology (available:www.valerieherskowitz.com)

Education/Credentials
I have a masters degree in speech pathology

Awards and Honors
I won a Stevie Award in 2004: Lifetime Achievement Award for my work with individuals with autism. My therapy center won, Judge's Choice Award Best Center in South Florida by South Florida Parenting magazine 2005.

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