Expert: James Michael Roan - 9/9/2006

Question
Dear James,

My son is 14 and in the 8th grade.  He really strugles with written communication.  He has a laptop this year that he is using in all his classes.

We have co-writer, a word prediction program, on the computer.  It allows you to input your own dictionary of words.  

Do you know where I could get a list of feeling words to add to his dictionary?  Feeling are such a difficult thing for him to write about.  I know I'v seen a poster with different faces of emotions.  That would be start.  He is extremely bright and uses a large vocabulary, so I need some descriptive words for him to choose from.  

I would appreciate any advise on finding these words.

Thanks, Annelle

Answer
Hi Annelle;

Sorry this has taken me so long to get back to you. You can ask your speech and language therapist at your school for a catalogue and order some emotion cards. You want to make sure he understands the emotions in others and himself before you try and insert the words that describe  them into his narratives. As you know, many children with Asperger's or high functioning autism struggle with ability. You can order online through any speech and language catalogue.

Kind regards,
James