Our Aspergers Teenage Boy

Mom reports: Our schools have never known what to do with Tommy. Smart but unwilling to work, clueless to peer interactions and lacking in impulse control, traditional behavioral management methods have always failed. This year they decided to put him with a child almost identical in personality. Two Aspergers teens and a teacher who had a few hours of training on Aspergers over the summer. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Mom – “Tommy! How was your first day of school?”
Tommy – “They didn’t feed us.”
Mom – “It was only a half day. You’ll have lunch there tomorrow.”
Tommy – “They didn’t feed us.” grumble grumble gripe
Mom – “Xan you tell me something other than that you didn’t get lunch at school today?”
Tommy – “I need a lunch check tomorrow.”

Dad reports:

Tommy’s first day of school apparently went well. It was a half day and his teacher walked him through what will become his routine. He had a great time. Tommy’s only gripe was "They didn’t feed us!" and when we pointed out that it was only a half day of school he groused "they didn’t feed us. I need a lunch check tomorrow."

This morning, despite having a check in his bag, Tommy went on and on about needing a lunch check. I finally had to open his bag and show him exactly where it was so that he could relax. Food is important to Tommy.