I'd be careful about telling your kid he's 'high-functioning'---he may feel bad about struggling with things since he's been told he's [arbitrary functioning label].

But Steve jobs wasn't autistic! Jesus Christ. Just love your kids. Not only if they are ASD and can be like Steve jobs.

If you go on Amazon, there are several books in this exact category. Some story books for younger kids and a more detailed book for older kids (in kid-friendly language)for older kids. My dc read the one for older kids and it helped him understand the diagnosis. It also helps him when I explain that it's a spectrum and everyone is different. There are also books that profile famous and not so famous (but accomplished) people with autism.

Anonymous wrote:What OP stated with. That everyone has strengthens and growth areas. That we all need things to help us be our best. From things as simple as glasses to lap buddies.

Reassure them that they will have challenges- like all of us do. And that because of the way the brain works we can anticipate some of those challenges and help navigate.

This is what OP started with.
But no 9 year old cares about being Steve jobs. Their parents do. Because then, the kid is really not SN after all.
I have a SN kid and two NT kids. I am also a teacher. Telling a 9 year old (4th grade, right?) that they can be Steve jobs is more about the giver of the message than the receiver.
Your (our) kids can be whatever they want to be- provided they have the skills and resources.

I disagree. The OP wasn't telling her kid he could be the next Steve Jobs but giving him some identifiable examples of people with Aspergers. (BTW, Darryl Hannah has Aspergers and supposedly so did Jane Austen.)

My kid has dyslexia and is a struggling reader. He finds encouragement learning about people who have faced the same situation.

What OP stated with. That everyone has strengthens and growth areas. That we all need things to help us be our best. From things as simple as glasses to lap buddies.

Reassure them that they will have challenges- like all of us do. And that because of the way the brain works we can anticipate some of those challenges and help navigate.

This is what OP started with.
But no 9 year old cares about being Steve jobs. Their parents do. Because then, the kid is really not SN after all.
I have a SN kid and two NT kids. I am also a teacher. Telling a 9 year old (4th grade, right?) that they can be Steve jobs is more about the giver of the message than the receiver.
Your (our) kids can be whatever they want to be- provided they have the skills and resources.

Anonymous wrote:This board is so disappointing. I feel like it's become a place for parents to convince themselves that their SN is not as SN as those 'other' kids.

That's a terrible talk to have with any kid. That you want them to be the next Bill gates/Steve jobs!??

How about just a 9 year old. Sheesh.

What, if anything, would you tell a 9 year old about his ASD diagnosis? Not being snarky -- I am considering having some sort of conversation with my 9 year old and am getting ideas of what to say.

This board is so disappointing. I feel like it's become a place for parents to convince themselves that their SN is not as SN as those 'other' kids.

That's a terrible talk to have with any kid. That you want them to be the next Bill gates/Steve jobs!??

How about just a 9 year old. Sheesh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here: we started with all his strengths, showed him very high testing scores he wasn't privy to, then began explaining he has an iep and that it is due to aspergers. How that meant some things came easily some were more difficult but that sky is the limit for him. Did mention the bill gates' of the world, Steve jobs, Einstein not to say he had to be like that but he likes bios of these people and to say they all likely fell under spectrum and were able to accomplish great things so it's nothing to be ashamed of an not a deterrent to a life of passion for learning and happiness. He handled it well, though said it was "a lot to process"

None of those people are on the spectrum. Stop lying to your child!

You don't understand what "on the spectrum" means. Jobs and Einstein are at least within the broad autism phenotype, if not diagnosable with an ASD. I don't know enough about Gates to say.

I really like "All Cats Have Aspergers" for kids 12 and under. It's super-cute.

Anonymous wrote:Op here: we started with all his strengths, showed him very high testing scores he wasn't privy to, then began explaining he has an iep and that it is due to aspergers. How that meant some things came easily some were more difficult but that sky is the limit for him. Did mention the bill gates' of the world, Steve jobs, Einstein not to say he had to be like that but he likes bios of these people and to say they all likely fell under spectrum and were able to accomplish great things so it's nothing to be ashamed of an not a deterrent to a life of passion for learning and happiness. He handled it well, though said it was "a lot to process"

None of those people are on the spectrum. Stop lying to your child!

There's a book called "All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome" that our school counselor uses to talk to classes about kids with AS. It may look a little babyish but as an adult, I find it amusing and the kid-friendly language is helpful. I'm a teacher and I applaud the steps you are taking. It's important for kids to be able to advocate for themselves and for that they must know what they need. I've had kids tell me they don't like it when the schedule changes or they don't like to be touched, and knowing these things allows me to create a more comfortable learning environment for them. It's also helpful in building a classroom community if other students understand how to communicate with a student with special needs and a book like this helps start a dialogue. I think giving it a name or diagnosis depends on the age but it sounds like you are doing everything right.

We were told to have small conversations when it comes up naturally about how people's brains work differently--about both strengths and weaknesses. We didn't get into specific diagnoses until DC was 11 when he understood and could better understand what dysgraphia meant for example.

Also, a lot of kids have IEPs not just kids on the spectrum. I think it's important to not get wrapped up in a label or diagnosis. The IEP is to help them strengthen certain skills not b/c they have X, Y, Z diagnosis.

Op here: we started with all his strengths, showed him very high testing scores he wasn't privy to, then began explaining he has an iep and that it is due to aspergers. How that meant some things came easily some were more difficult but that sky is the limit for him. Did mention the bill gates' of the world, Steve jobs, Einstein not to say he had to be like that but he likes bios of these people and to say they all likely fell under spectrum and were able to accomplish great things so it's nothing to be ashamed of an not a deterrent to a life of passion for learning and happiness. He handled it well, though said it was "a lot to process"

No recommendations, but I think we will need to have a similar conversation with our child soon. Could you share what you said/how it went?

Hi,
We sat our 9 yr old down today to tell him about his long standing asd (aspergers) diagnosis. He is
pretty high functioning. Do you know of any books on having asd that are appropriate for kids this age?
Thanks for any titles.