stupid question about telling kid | Autism PDD

That is not a stupid question.  I bought a book in Norwegian for introducing kids to their diagnosis, and they used Norwegian word for "autism spectrum disorder" which absolutely does not roll off the tongue.  I decided to just go with autism, not even "atypical autism" which is his official diagnosis.  For one thing, I don't like using the word "disorder" with a child.  I think it's a scary word with negative connotations.

Anyhow, to convey the concept of the spectrum, and that not everyone with autism has the same symptoms, strengths and weaknesses that he has, I just included this section in my social story:

"You’re going to learn some things that people with autism have in common, but it’s important to remember that each person is different.  In the whole wide world, there’s never been anyone quite like you.  You’re our very own special edition, more precious than gold.

 

Everyone's different, whether they have autism or not.

No one in the world is quite like me.

I'm worth more than gold!"

The rest of the story can be read here.

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16063&am p;KW=finally+told+him

I liked the clip I saw from the Rory Hoy video, but he made a comment about how his parents must really have had a terrible time with him when he was younger, and I wanted to shield my son from that, just in case he'd leap to the conclusion that he's a burden.

Good luck with everything.

Like Norway stated above...I like the term "autism spectrum disorder" and using a rainbow to explain while explaining the core deficits and how people are either on the "lower" left side or at the extreme right "higher" side but most are somewhere in the middle and that people with ASD move up and down the rainbow throughout life and have certain skills that place them up and down as well...

 This was how a doctor explained it to us and it made sense for us since our daughter didnt seem to fit anywhere as far as labels go but this "Rainbow analogy" just clicked:) Good luck!

My ds has been coming home this year and saying that he feels he is
really different from other kids. We have also been talking with him how
some things are really easy for his brain and some things are hard and
that every person's brain works different.
So I think now is the right time to give my ds a name for what he has. The
problems is that he has pdd-nos. I can just see his face go 'HUH'.
Couldn't they come up with a different name for that? I could tell him that
he has autism but many of his sx would be considered fairly atypical from
classic autism. I could say Asperger but it is not really his dx. Any
explanation I can come up with for him is either short but inaccurate or
accurate but way to long and involved for his level of understanding.
What word did you use and how did you keep it from getting too
complicated?
P.S.I just ordered Rory Hoy's 'autism and me' DVD (through amazon)
which might be a helpful explanation for my ds. Rory Hoy is a British 18
year old filmaker with autism who made a 20 minute dvd about what
autism means for everyday functioning. Might be a good introduction ?
Copyright Autism-PDD.net