The Chicago Tribune has a great story on how DAN! and other organizations use valid science to justify their “treatments” for autism. The sad fact that parents trust these quacks worries me. It’s also why I am not going to continue down the autism research path after I complete the…
Month: November 2009
The research for my dissertation indicates many individuals with autism disorders and/or savant abilities view language in terms of patterns and rules. This results in the “stilted” usage, the “little professor” forms of writing and speech. I’m wondering how this also challenges basic assumptions of learning and language. I love…
I’ll be speaking at the St. Cloud, MN, public library December 3, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. The topic will be adults with autism spectrum disorders. The sponsor is the Asperger’s Support Network, online at: http://www.aspergerssupportnetwork.org/ The event is free and the ASN meets on a regular basis to support individuals…
While working on the research for my dissertation, I have read page after page on writing pedagogy asserting that the goal of a university writing course should be to teach students that knowledge is socially constructed and that “truth” is relative to culture and community. The problem with this assertion…
Survey to Assess Needs for Improved Course Designs As colleges and universities offer more courses online, it is important that we consider how students with autism spectrum disorders approach online communities, especially online classes. My experiences as a diagnosed high-functioning autistic student and instructor have led me to question how…
Hunting for work is never easy, but for individuals with disabilities, the question of “disclosure” arises. Do you tell an employer you are disabled? Do you assume certain group memberships or activities reveal the disability? What if people offering letters of reference mention the disability? Honestly, I don’t have any…