Karen,
The good news is in the long run, it doesn't matter.  Asperger's is in the
Autism range and many folks with Asperger's have Autism written down
because, in most states and most agencies, Austism will automatically get
you into programs.  There is still much debate about Asperger's and it's
relationship and differential diagnosis  from high functioning Autism and
Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Beth the OT

> -----Original Message-----
> From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Karen K. Perlow
> Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2000 2:45 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: The slow wheels of government
>
>
>     I've been meaning to write this for awhile.I can understand the
> frustration with government redtape.During my daughter's last IEP we
> discussed her reevaluation results.Based on testing, observation &
> questionnaires I filled out, I was told that she has Asperger's
> syndrome.She
> is very different from my son who is "classic autistic".Asperger's has its
> own set of unique behaviors.There are specific interventions parents &
> teachers can use to deal with them..(I will find out in great
> detail soon but
> that's another story..& another email.)
>
>     I was dumbstruck with this barrage of new information & upset
> by the fact
> that she has been misdiagnosed for 10 years.Nothing could have prepared me
> for the frustration I felt when the final bomb was dropped
> though..It seems
> the Missouri Department of Education won't allow Asperger's syndrome to be
> written as the official educational diagnosis.They don't feel they have
> enough criteria on it to warrant giving the syndrome a label of
> its own.Her
> teachers had to write "Autism" as her diagnosis. I already know the stigma
> that is attached to that word. I hate the fact that she will be instantly
> judged by some people based on one word.
>
>     I expressed my frustration about all this to our neurologist ( who
> confirmed the Asperger's diagnosis on a medical level , by the
> way.) He said,
> "It's all politics.If they call it autism, she's eligible for
> more services."
> Asperger's has been around for more than 50 years.I wonder how
> long it will
> take the government to give it the respect & attention it deserves ???
>
> A former federal employee,
> Karen
>