Dr. Lynn Adams, autism spectrum specialist for the Effingham County School System, was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Asperger’s Syndrome support group at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rincon. The way she expresses herself to “her” children and their families held their attention throughout the two-hour meeting.  

The parents and adults with and without a diagnosis of Asperger’s asked many questions and received quick and accurate answers. Dr. Adams said she loves her work and has a good understanding of the families’ efforts to raise their sometimes difficult children and get the best education possible. Dr. Adams modeled several examples of behavior when addressing some of the children in attendance by giving them praise and speaking kindly to them.

Among the issues raised was the need for more federal funding for IDEA and funding for No Child Left Behind. Part of Dr. Adams’ job is to help the regular education teachers implement the modifications each child needs. She travels to each school throughout the county when her presence in the classroom is requested.

Group founder Patrick Bowers plans to bring in speakers on a regular basis and wants to spread awareness and understanding of people with Asperger’s syndrome.  

Dr. Adams explained that Dr. Asperger of Germany wrote papers about the same time that a doctor in the U.S. wrote papers about autism. Dr. Asperger’s papers were not translated into English until about 1981, so little was known about the condition until then.  Even now teaching methods are still evolving.