Help for the Child with Asperger's Syndrome

Gretchen Mertz has a son with Asperger's Syndrome. She researched many of the legal and medical issues surrounding this condition to deal with government officials, school administrators, insurance company representatives and medical and therapeutic professionals to create and implement an appropriate program for her son. Her professional experience includes working as an educator and a legal assistant. She lives with her husband and two children in Philadelphia, where she works all day and writes all night.

Foreword by Tony Attwood. Introduction. Part I. Diagnosis: How to Make the Most of It. Chapter 1. Finding a Diagnosis. Chapter 2. Be Aware of Similar and Overlapping Diagnoses. Chapter 3. The Usefulness of Diagnosis. Part II. Further Down The Maze: Starting Intervention. Chapter 4. Finding The Right Program. Chapter 5. Speech Therapy. Chapter 6. Occupational Therapy. Chapter 7. Related Therapies. Part III. The Education Machine: The Maze to End All Mazes. Chapter 8. What's Needed for Students with Asperger's Syndrome. Chapter 10. How to Get It? Part IV. Daily Life: Progressing in The Maze. Chapter 11. Coordinating Therapy for Healthcare System, School, and Home. Chapter 12. Home Front Hints Appendix I. DSM-IV Definitions of Asperger's Syndrome and Related Disorders. Appendix II. Sample IEPs, BIPs and FBAs. Appendix III. Sample Blank Section 504 Service Plan. Appendix IV. Key Sections of IDEA Regulations. Appendix V. Key Sections of Section 504 Regulations. Appendix VI: When and How to Hire a Lawyer. Appendix VII: State Government Numbers for Information on Medical Assistance. References. Index.