DinoBoyTravel Bug for Asperger's Syndrome

Hi, my name is DinoBoy and I have Asperger's Syndrome. It is a form of Autism that makes it hard for me to deal with certain situations that most kids don't worry about.

Traveling is very hard for me, so can you help me see cool, exciting places. I would like pictures of dinosaurs, dino bones, footprints, anything dino and any other cool places you might think of. Please take pictures and post them with your log.

Thanks a lot.

DinoBoy

a member of Team teymay02

the Young family from Des Moines, IA.

Individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (A.S.) can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with A.S. show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with A.S. has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the person with A.S. may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that the person with A.S. perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".

By definition, those with A.S. have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with A.S. are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, individuals with A.S. often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with A.S. can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.

DinoBoy has struggled with A.S. for a long time. He is now 14 years old (March of 2008). Change is a very big issue with him. The ability to travel around the country and see new places is limited for him. Please help this very bright and loveable young boy see the world through your eyes and with your pictures.

Thank You

Team "teymay02"