[Ohiogift] Gifted children with high-functioning autism

[Gifted and Talented in Ohio Discussion List]

Folks, I'm sorry to be persnickety but can we be more inclusive in our language?  Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are a varied group and while it may not seem offensive to use the term "high functioning" it means we also refer to others as "low functioning."  Are you prepared to look into the face of a child or the parent and tell them the child is "low functioning?"   We cannot have one without its reverse.  It denotes a pecking order, with one somehow better than the other. I encourage everyone to be more sensitive and use the diagnosis category (Aspergers or PDD-NOS).  After all, it should be obvious to us in gifted that a student with ASD who is twice exceptional meets the criteria for gifted.  Why demean the child with a qualification like "high functioning?" 

Thanks for listening.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 17, 2014, at 11:27 PM, Gifted and Talented in Ohio Discussion List <ohiogift at lists.osu.edu> wrote:
> 
> Hi Art,
> 
> I can offer some ideas to the family, based on a little more information.  Please invite the parents to contact me at this email address.
> 
> Thanks,
> Anne
> 
> From: Gifted and Talented in Ohio Discussion List <ohiogift at lists.osu.edu>
> To: Ohiogift at lists.service.ohio-state.edu 
> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 3:40 PM
> Subject: [Ohiogift] Gifted children with high-functioning autism
> 
> Everyone:
> 
> A parent moving to southwest Ohio asked me about various local districts' (mandated) services, IEPs and so forth for a gifted child with high-functioning autism. The child is in elementary school. The family also has other children in gifted programs in the family's current state, California, so service to those children also plays into the decision as to where to move and what to expect (or not) with whatever offerings might be available locally in Ohio.
> 
> If you have had any experience with any school system's handling of gifted children with high-functioning autism, or if you have any comments, observations or recommendations for the family, please post your message here on Ohiogift. Thanks.
> 
> Best wishes,
> Art Snyder
> artsnyder44 at cs.com
> 
> 
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