Counting by 7s - Social Awkwardness

Willow: Asperger Syndrome

�       Affects the child's ability to socialize and communicate with others.
     �       Herinability to reply to the acuzations of cheating.
     �       Silenceduring couseling sessions.
     �       Listprovided to the socal worker about her assets.
�       Difficultiescreating personal relationships.
     �       Inablity tomake an connection with others (Quang-ha).
     �       Herdecoration to Mia �You are my new best friend.� (Who showed her kindness andfriendship)
     �       The hug shereceives from Patti is the first time she breaths after the death of herparents.  The connection is not their,but she knows Patti cares.
�       Exhibit arestricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviors.
     �       Counting bymultiples of seven (beginning of the book)
     �       Counting toseven (end of the book)
     �       Horticulturist� Refers to herself as plants, Garden, Sunflower, and Acorn. (313-314)
�       Motordevelopment may be delayed, leading to clumsiness or uncoordinated motormovements.
     �       Gym Class (need I say more?)
     �       Inablity touse the pressure washer
     �       Difficultyat becoming a jogger
�       Do not havesignificant delays or difficulties in language or cognitive development.
     �       Highlyintelligence � learns fluent vietnamese on her own.
     �       Perfectscore on multiple test given by Mr. Dell
     �       Writepaper�s for Quang-ha that he must �dumb down�. Resulting in bringing out his achidemic best.
     �       Researchedand created a detailed proposal presnted to the bank to create a garden.
�       Some evendemonstrate precocious vocabulary � often in a highly specialized field ofinterest.
     �       Medicalterminology � �obsessed with disease and infections� (263)
     �       Medicaldiagnostics � communication with the school nurse (The only thing she missedabout school).


Home Challenges:
Willow appeared to be getting challenged at home with her parents.  The description of the garden in the backyard of the home gave evidence that her parents supported her interest.  Her relationship with the garden storeowner later in the book shows proof of her parents love and supports of what interest her.  Her mother�s wishes of her changing her mind about wearing her gardening clothes to school on the first day showed her love and support of her daughter�s uniqueness. 

 
School Challenges:
Not much was said about school performance with the exception of her cheating due to aperfect score on an exam.  We can only assume that she had never been identified as gifted or needing additional support.  The teacher and/or the principle made the assumption of cheating without clear communications from thestudent.  Nothing is said about her performance in math, but if the test that was given by Mr. Dell coveredeverything.  Then we can assume that she was also above grade level in math.  She appears to be the introverted personality where she would prefer to workalone.  She may not show interest becausethe material were of no interest and did not challenge her intellectually.  When asked if she was ready to go back toschool her only reply is �I�m not ready.�