WRITING PORTFOLIO: MOTIVATION

No table of contents entries found.TABLE OF CONTENTS

Movie evaluation The Big Lebowski: A Big Must See

Katie Bolton

Professor Dursema
Analysis Paper Religion and greed equal devastation Pp

English 1010

Spring Semester May 10

Research Paper Asperger Syndrome and our Future

2013

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.2 REFLECTION PAPER RESSURECTION5 MOVIE EVALUATION THE BIG LEBOWSKI9 ACADEMIC ANALYSIS RELIGION AND GREED EQUAL DEVASTATION..13 RESEARCH PAPER ASPERGER SYNDROME AND OUR FUTURE..19

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Introduction Welcome to my writing portfolio. The work I have included represents four different writing assignments that I completed throughout my English 1010 course. You will see a detailed reflection essay, a constructive movie evaluation, a pensive article analysis, and an informative research paper. Each piece is a complete, well-written document of which I am proud. What you cannot see however, is the effort, energy, thought, revision, editing, researching, brainstorming, frustration, implementation, and progress that lead to these final drafts, contained inside. Therefore, I wrote this introduction with the intention of allowing the reader a glimpse into my creative process. English has always been my favorite subject in school. I took all of the advanced English and writing classes and even wrote poems and stories in my leisure. So upon enrolling in English 1010, I assumed that the class would be simple and I did not expect to learn much. I could not have been more wrong. From the first assignment, which was the reflection paper, and the first piece in this portfolio, I realized that this class was going to be different. Finding a topic or personal event to write about was the first challenge of this assignment but thankfully, I discovered the gift of brainstorming and shortly after, I completed my first composition. When I look back at my notes and that first draft today, I can truly see the progress I have made. I began with such a blah story and ended with an essay that has the potential to transport the readers to the very moment it took place. I was able to accomplish this by implementing the show, dont tell technique. This involved, closing my eyes and focusing on all of my senses. I had to ask, what did it smell like? What did I hear? How did I feel? And then I had to describe

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each sensation in my writing, rather than state it. This proved to be harder than expected but I can easily say that this essay is my favorite. The movie evaluation is the second piece in my portfolio, and the second paper I wrote in class. It was similar to the reflection in that I wrote it from my personal perspective, and it required descriptive writing as well. I found that the biggest difference in writing an evaluation versus a reflection is the requisite use of rhetorical sensitivity. As a writer, I came to understand the importance of writing with your intended audience in mind. Therefore, when I chose to evaluate one of my favorite movies, The Big Lebowski, I needed to take in to account, not only the type of people that would watch The Big Lebowski, but also who I intended to address in my evaluation. I feel that my final draft is an obvious display of this lesson learned. As I began the process of writing my third paper, I found that the tables had turned. The analysis paper required me to apply my newly learned lessons in an academic scrutiny of an article. I was expected to understand and analysis the authors use of the three appeals, his rhetoric sensitivity and whether or not he argued his case successfully. As an animal lover, I was concerned that my choice in articles may hinder my ability to analysis the piece objectively. Instead, I discovered that I had very little trouble staying unbiased, which lead me to conclude that this type of writing is easier for me, versus a paper that demands an emotive prospective such as the reflection. This unexpected realization was significant to me because I know that understanding what my skills and strengths are will help me make important decisions as I continue through college and toward a career.

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I am going to school to become an Occupational Therapist, so I decided to write about a Asperger Syndrome for my final research paper because helping ASD patients is my primary objective. I also have a stepson who suffers from a learning disorder, which has made me quite passionate about the subject. Researching is another one of my talents and I pride myself on my ability to locate endless amounts of sources, where others have failed. So, clearly finding sources for my research paper was not a problem, in fact, I discovered that sometimes, more is too much. When I found myself overwhelmed with information, I struggled to decide what to include, and what to omit. Even after eliminating several sources, my paper still drowned out my own voice under too much information. Finally, after a few revisions I think I have found a perfect mix and learned a valuable lesson in the meantime. Next time I will remember that a handful of strong sources are far better than a library of good sources. As my time in English 1010 ends, I find myself humbled by the vast amount of knowledge I have gained, in such a short amount of time. The work that this portfolio contains is evidence of my new learned abilities and with the skills that I have acquired I am all the more motivated to find out what tomorrow holds.

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Resurrection What was I thinking? I couldnt do this. Maybe I should just turn around and run. The time I had been anxiously awaiting had finally arrived and now I was wishing I had more time. My mouth felt full of cotton, my tongue scraped across my cracked lips in an attempt to find moisture with no success. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and wondered why the light lunch I had eaten earlier, now felt like a pound of lead in my stomach. My heart was thumping so loud I could no longer determine whether the pounding was coming from inside my chest or from the blaring music that pulsed through the building. Then suddenly, I heard the DJ announce me! Okay guys and gals! We have got someone special for you, so pull up a chair and get ready for a show! Here she comes, the very sexy--Katie! That was my cue! It was time for me to make my way out to the stage but I wasnt moving. My inner voice began screaming so loud that I wouldnt have been surprised if everyone in the vicinity heard it too. Go! Move! I glared down at my motionless legs; my eyebrows high on my head, my nostrils flared, my eyes wide and piercing, willing my legs to budge. Finally, as if I were a puppet and the puppeteer controlling me had pulled the strings attached to my legs, awkwardly propelling me forward. I released my breath in a huge gush not realizing I had been holding itand left the comfort of the backroom refusing to look back. Even as I entered the main room and saw the smiling faces of many colleagues, I had to peel my lips away from my gums in order to fakewhat I hopedlooked like a smile. The T-

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shaped catwalk was only a few feet away and three steps up from where I stood. I could see through the dim lighting of the club that nearly all of the chairs were filled and other figures were standing. I was grateful for the strong escort that took my arm and gently led me through the anxious crowd. As we crossed the room together, I forced my eyes away from the worn, dingy carpet and glanced around the room, not daring to rest on anyone in particular. I saw mouths moving and palms coming together in a clapping motion, yet I heard nothing. Here we go! You can do it! I tried telling myself, in an unsuccessful attempt to muster some courage. Before I could try again, I had reached the stage. I attempted to swallow what felt like a lump of chalk in my throat, and with a reassuring wink and an encouraging smile from my muscled comrade, he nudged me onto stage. My position in this place had never been in the spotlight. My place had always been down on the floor. I felt safer from the sidelines, as the watcher, not the watched. I had seen countless performances acted out on this stage. I had grown so accustomed to the layout of the room, that I knew it as well as if I had lived there. I had sat in every chair, could trace every line on each small, table. I had held every pool stick and knew every dark corner, where kissing lovers or shy men lurked, attempting to be discrete. This night, however, I felt completely disoriented as I stepped onto the cool, tile floor of the stage. Perhaps it was the glare of the track lighting that pierced through the permanent haze of smoke that had long since settled in the room; or maybe it was the unusual, elevated, perspective I was given upon the normally, familiar surroundings. Whatever the reason, I couldnt move. For the second time that night, I was paralyzed. My mind went blank. All I could

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hear was my shallow breath, rapidly pulsing through my nostrils. I noticedto my horrorthat by the glow from the black lights, the once familiar faces of the audience now appeared pale and ghostly. As a familiar acidic taste rose from the back of my throat, I fought to swallow it down. What now? I screamed to myself. I am supposed to do something, but what? Finally, after what could have been a few seconds or a few daysfor all I know the first musical notes signaling the beginning of the song I had requested, sounded throughout the intercom system. Then, as if my ears had been made for the sole purpose of hearing music, these words resonated through me Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to feel my dream. I am the traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been. Like rainfall on desert sand, the music soaked into me, cooling my fears and rinsing away my apprehension. The singers words filled the room in a sonorous moan, and the seductive, throbbing from the combination of both drums and horns emanated all around. With this, the spell was broken, a spell, that I had unknowingly been prisoner to until this moment. In its place, an entirely new enchantment took a hold of me and allowed me the freedom to be everything I had hoped to be that night. Oh father of the four winds, fill my sails. Across the sea of years, with no provision but an open face, along the straits of fear. I heard the speakers bray. As the music played, I happily reclaimed my body. No longer did I wait for the puppeteer to direct my movements. Instead, I used the hypnotic pulse of the music as fuel for my soul,

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energizing me from the inside out. I gyrated, swayed, and twirled across the stage. The lights played on my body as if they too, could feel the rhythm; dancing over my skin, intensifying the dreamlike illusion I portrayed. Any doubts that I had brought with me that night, dissipated with every movement of my body. I could feel the eyes on me from the intrigued crowd yet, other than the beat of the music, it was eerily quiet as in a respectful hush. Even the voice in my head, was silent now. As the song came to an end, I reluctantly slowed my pace, bowed, and threw kisses to my audience. Their pale faces seemed more childlike now as I grinned happily at them through sparkling eyes. My chest heaved with pride when I heard the crowd calling for more, as I stepped toward the stairs to exit. I dutifully waited for the escort, and gracefully accepted the firm hand he offered, before descending from my celestial perch. I skipped toward the backroom turning several times to wave or smile. And just before I disappeared into the backroom, I gave my rugged guide a special wink.

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The Big Lebowski: A Big Must See A case of mistaken identity, extortion, double-crosses, deception, embezzlement, sex, pot smoking, buckets of White Russians and of course, bowling, these are some of the things that this crime comedy brings to the table. The eccentric movie viewer would surely agree that The Big Lebowski (TBL) is one of the greatest, most hilarious, awesomely absurd cult films ever made. Released in 1998, TBL is the seventh effort of the Coen brothers and after Raising Arizona (1987) and Fargo (1996) their third movie that deals with kidnapping. This R rated movie contains a couple of very brief nude scenes and some pot smoking (or doing a J, as the Dude might say). The adult situations, however, are primarily all dialogued. It is the use of the f word I believe, which is likely what gives this movie its R rating. Given the characters in the film, this normally highly offensive word is used appropriately (yes, it is possible). Fuck it being perhaps the entire movies credo (a credo with which any lover of this film has surely shared from time to time). TBL is centered on a lazy, easy-going, pothead, bowler who refers to himself as The Dude. He lives in Los Angeles, California (of course, where else could such a character fit in so perfectly, right?). Very little narration was needed to describe this man due to the effective use of The Dudes sloppy attire, nonchalant attitude, dilapidated car, and less than reasonable, single-bedroom, apartment. From the hairnet on Jesus head to the Vietnam -ID tags around the Pomeranians neck, the numerous characters, and settings, clearly show that meticulous attention to detail was effectively taken so as to substantiate every component of the script. The wallpaper in The Dudes bathroom for example, is patterned with colorful balloons, which

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indicates that he probably moved into the bungalow without changing it much true to his lackadaisical attitude. For those whom love anything but the usual, and predictable, TBL features an array of oddball, characters including: The Dudes best friend, a boorish Vietnam veteran (John Goodman), his special lady friend a feminist Fluxux artist (Julianne Moore), the other Lebowski a handicapped millionaire (David Huddleston), a bowling antagonist pederast (John Turturro), a Cowboy (Sam Elliot), and a pornographic film producer named Jackie Treehorn. The only consistent theme that each of TBL characters posses is their complete lack of normalcy. Playing such quirky, unusual roles surely demanded precise casting in order to achieve each characters true psyche. Picking a favorite character in this movie would be nearly impossible since each actor played his or her roles flawlessly. One critic of the movie wrote, The Coens are able to create wickedly funny eccentrics and possess the ability to energize certain actors to inhabit them completely (Turan). From the time that The Dude arrives home to find two sadistic punks in his apartment who have apparently confused him for a married, wheel chair bound millionaire who is also named, Jeffrey Lebowski; the action never ceases. What starts out as a simple enough request from The Dude of the millionaire Lebowski, to replace his favorite rug that was, as the millionaire, Lebowski put it, mitigated upon in the mix-up, turns into full-blown ecliptic journey full of what the Dude refers to as, a lot of ins and outs. The Coen brothers do not take away the horror of violence but display its absurdity, awkwardness, and uncontrollability (Lehwald). Thus, they develop an unexpected humor which is bizarre and morbid.

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Musiclike in any good movieplays a big role in this film. Like the twisted plot, and the array of unorthodox characters, the TBL soundtrack is a consistently sporadic mixture of hit music, including songs from artists such as; Bob Dylan, Yma Sumac, Moondog, Captain Beefheart, and the Sons of the Pioneers, to name a few. Each song perfectly complements the situation and characters throughout the film. If the Dude isnt relaxing to the sounds of bowling pins being knocked down via his walkman, than hes most likely jamming out to Credence Clearwater on his car radio/cassette playeran easy-going hippie, through and through (despite his fondness to the hippie bashing band, CCR). This movie is pure entertainment from the opening scene to its closing credits. It is certainly one that I am happy to have amongst my movie collection. There are several different editions of this movie and it can even be found in a variety of packages. I own the 2002 wide screen, and special features edition. Depending on the package, the price of this movie ranges anywhere from $8 to $50. Therefore, regardless of budget, it can surely be found in ones price range. TBL is also available for rent nearly anywhere. However, my fellow weirdos, considering the multitude of times that one will want to watch this film, I recommend purchasing it. Loaded with a fantastic medley of comedy, drama, action, and adventure, not to mention an amazing cast, one will be entertained all 112 minutes of it. I think I could safely say TBL will be an all time favorite of viewers for years to come.

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Works Cited The Big Lebowski. Dir. Joel Coen. Writ. Joel Coen, Ethan Coen. Perf. Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julienne Moore, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro. 1998. Universal, 2002. DVD. Lehwald, Anne. The Coens Effort: The Big Lebowski. Dudespaper.com. Dudespaper, 7 Sep. 2005. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. Turan, Kenneth. Nutcase Noir and Geezer Noir. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 1998. Web. 15 Mar. 2013.

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Religion and Greed Equal Devastation Bryan Christy, the author of Ivory Worship, describes the ivory smuggling epidemic that is an ever increasing problem throughout Africa and Asia. Christy alleges that much of the smuggled ivory is used in the carving of religious figurines stating, Alth ough the world has substitutes for all of ivorys practical uses, its religious use is frozen in amber (40). He also argues that attempts made by organizations such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) at preventing the illicit trafficking or even accurately measuring the amount of illegal activity, has been questionable at best (54-55). While Christys use of pathos and logos is strong throughout this article, his ethos remains questionable and he fails to distinguish a clear thesis to back up his argument. Furthermore, Christys favorable use of language and evidentially vast array of knowledge and experience does little to hide an obvious fallacy and his wandering subject matter. Christy is an investigative reporter who researched this story for over two years (Johns 4). His descriptive details and blunt manner of writing make it evident as to just how passionate he feels about this story. Christys article is written for a fairly general audience with at least a high school level education, and a basic understanding of geography and world religions. Although a distinct premise is not clear, it seems evident that the article was written with the intent to educate the nave, and in turn, expand the group of those whom support the preservation of elephants.

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From the first paragraph of the article, Christys use of Aristotles three appeals is apparent, but it is his effective use of pathos, that stands out in the beginning. Christys statements such as; the bloated elephant carcasses is a monument to human greed and later, scattered bodies present a senseless crime sceneyou can see which animals fled, which mothers tried to protect their young, how one terrified herd of 50 went down together, clearly appeal to the readers sympathetic and perhaps dramatic nature (Christy 38). Even as Christys use of pathos draws readers in, his use of ethos in the introduction, is clearly represented by the detailed description of the African floor, looking down from above (as if he were in a helicopter or plane), making it obvious that he was there in person and that this story is certainly not fiction. Specific numbers and datesclearly represent the logos as well, making for a very compelling combination of the three appeals from the onset, successfully enticing the reader to continue and giving the impression that the story to follow will be one concerning the brutal abuse and likely demise of the African elephant. Immediately following this strong outset however, Christy dramatically shifts the pace when he not only changes the subject but also moves the story to an entirely different continent. This next passage takes place in the Philippines as he begins to describe the significance of the well-known religious icon, the Santo Nio de Cebu (illustrated on page 57), to the Roman Catholic religion which is the dominant faith among Filipinos. Christy eventually explains the connection between the ivory black-market and religious symbols such as the Santo Nio de Cebu, as being the preferred material in the carving of these figurines. He explains that these popular, ivory statues are not only seen proudly displayed in temples,

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churches sanctuaries, and museums, but are also seen in different forms among many of the devout, followers. Christys intention with this change of directionand most of his following transitionsseem to be his way of introducing a new aspect yet, it is also at this first switch that he commits a fallacy. Christy proclaims that Monsignor Cristobal Garcia was involved in the sexual abuse of an altar boy in Los Angeles, and brazenly suggests that Garcias position now, as head of protocol for Philippines largest Roman Catholic parishioner, is an indication of the churchs imprudent practices or at the very least, the criminal intentions of Garcia (38). However, when Christy fails to illustrate how Garcias being guilty of child molesting is relevant to the current status of the criminal ivory trade, it becomes clear that this declaration represents a guilt by association fallacy. Later in the article Christy once again alludes to Garcias shady personality when he writes, I had no illusions of linking Monsignor Garcia to any illegal activity, but when I told him I wanted an ivory Santo Nio, the man surprised me (41). Aside from being an obvious fallacy, Christys statements concerning Garcia were clearly an attempt by him, to vilify Garcia to the reader. The manner with which Christy begins this article, leads the reader to assume that Christy is trying to persuade him by illustrating the brutal ways African elephants are killed. But when Christy shifts to describingin great detailthe Roman Catholics and/or Filipinos demand for ivory and their somewhat casual willingness to smuggle it in, it then seems as though Christy is attempting to blame the ivory demand on the possible corruption among some Asian, religious leaders. Christys change in argument, risks confusing the reader as to Christys goal. Even when he states, My goal in meeting Garcia is to understand his countrys

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ivory trade and possibly get a lead on who was behind 5.4 tons of illegal ivory seized by customs agents in Manila in 2009, 7.7 tons seized there in 2005, and 6.1 tons bound for the Philippines seized by Taiwan in 2006 (40), Christy continues to neglect how his visit with Garcia allowed him to accomplish his goal. Even the heavy logos in this statement, appears to be an attempt by Christy to overwhelm the reader with numbers rather than solidifying his plea. Up to this point in the article, Christy had maintained a rather intimate, yet casual tone to his writing, then at this point, he becomes rather, dry and statistical. This change in pace threatens to alienate the previously engaged readers. Christys article mentions several credible organizations namely, CITES, WWF, Traffic, and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), to name a few. These organizations give the passage its strong ethos until several subsequent passages argue against the validity and abilities of some of these same groups. In one statement in particular, Christy questions, If
CITES has overlooked the Philippines ivory trade, what else has it missed? and later, Since CITES also had problems calculating how much elephant poaching was going on, it might have

declared the Japan experiment inconclusive, or even a failure( 55; 46). Christy devotes a large portion of the article not only describing the organizations inaccurate statistics but a lso to how difficult it is for an accurate measure of the illegal ivory trade activity to be made. He continually testifies to the large amount of corruption throughout the different religions, customs officers and the coast guard, and while these claims are good for providing dramatic argument to his story, Christys ethos becomes indefinite.

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The chronicle bounces from continent to continent and subject to subject so even as the article ends it is difficult to determine exactly what Christys main argument is. Whether he is trying to persuade the reader into believing that its the greed of the rich, the faith of the religious, or the naivety of the average person, he doesnt make it clear as to wh om or what one should direct their concern. Christys article was written with a mass amount of logos and pathos yet the way that Christy discredits his ethos its hard to determine the articles credibility. Christys evident belief of the heinousness of the ivory trade does little to reassure the reader as to the possibility of improvement.

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Works Cited Christy, Bryan. Ivory Worship. National Geographic Oct. 2012: 28-61. Print. Johns, Chris. Blood Ivory. Editors Note. National Geographic Oct. 2012: 4. Print.

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Aspergers Syndrome and Our Future In 1944 a pediatrician in Vienna, Australia, Dr Hans Asperger, first identified the characteristics of what we now refer to as Aspergers Syndrome, or AS. However, it was not until the 1980swhen Aspergers findings were translated into Englishthat the United States truly began to examine AS. Since being added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) as a type of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the amount of determined patients has steadily increased. Being that AS is a fairly new type of ASD, there are still some unknowns and unfortunately many children with AS grow up without the appropriate intervention. With the current rise in this fast growing epidemic of AS and other ASDs, there is an urgency for further research, additional training, and professional development among children, teachers, doctors, and any member of the community that is regularly exposed to the public. Failure to recognize symptoms and provide the proper skills and educational environments necessary to foster AS and other ASD diagnosed individuals, would not only be detrimental to the childs quality of life, but a shameful inconsideration of their future potential. AS is a type of ASD, also called, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), or sometimes referred to as a form of high-functioning autism. The three areas of impairment for those with an ASD are with their social relationships, social communication, and imaginative thoughts. In order for patients to be diagnosed with AS specifically, there are certain criteria that must be met. Nancy Patrick, author of Social Skills for

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Teenagers and Adults with Asperger Syndrome explains that symptoms must significantly interfere with the ability of the person to function in one o r more of the major areas of life (14). Yet, early signs of AS are not as obvious in young patients as they are with many of the other types of ASDs; AS have been described as, a subtle, atypical form of autism that, on the surface, does not appear to be autism (Yoshido 27). Furthermore, because the characteristics of AS can represent themselves in a mirage of different ways, each AS candidate is unique to the last; therefore, proper diagnoses can be difficult to achieve. In her book, The Parents Guide to Teaching Kids with Asperger Syndrome and Similar ASDs, Patricia Romanowski Bashe states, If there is anything typical about Asperger syndrome, it would probably be how atypical those with the diagnosis can be, both when compared to their average peers and when they are compared to one another(30). These dilemmas often result in either a misdiagnosis or children failing to be diagnosed at all. Children who are misdiagnosed are said to have, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other disorders that possess similar characteristics as to AS (Undiagnosed and Misdiagnosed Aspergers). Unfortunately, this comes at a great cost to AS individuals, their families, and even the community. As Chantal Sicile-Kira, a well-known advocate of ASD awareness wrote in her book, Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs, The earlier a child is started on a course of treatment, the better the prognosis (14). This however, is easier said than done, as children with AS do not usually exhibit signs of their disorder until they are much older. Bashe confirms

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this by stating, Most often, they [AS patients] are not identified while still young enough to receive special education services prior to kindergarten, or else their ability to speak, combined with higher scores on evaluations that favor verbal performance, places them above the cutoff to qualify for services (6). Furthermore, there is not a designated test that can be administered to undoubtedly identify an AS patient. Meaning that any diagnosis is strictly made from observable characteristics, or in other words, from obvious AS characteristics, outwardly displayed by the patient (Sicile-Kira 16). So, essentially the doctorwho sees the patient for only the short amount of time during the consultationmust rely almost completely upon the childs teachers, family members, and caregivers personal accounts and observations of them. This is said to cause some doctors to be far more hesitant in diagnosing a patient with AS, especially if the child is very young. Bashe also explains that it is because of these reasons that perhaps so many AS patients appear to be lacking far more in their independence skills than patients whom were diagnosed with other ASDs and were most likely identified at a younger age and began receiving treatment during their important developmental stages (Bashe 185). Increasing an AS patients likelihood of success requires more than just an early, definitive diagnosis. Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures, wrote a foreward in SicileKiras book , in which he explains the obvious indication that an AS individual who is leading a fulfilling life must have been provided the four fundamentals leading to his success. Those four requirements being: early diagnosis, proper intervention and medication, the encouragement to pursue their special abilities, and of course the people around them, both at

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home and school, who provided them the necessary understanding and support (Grandin xvii). Only with the combination of all these conditions, can an AS patient flourish. Unfortunately, even as teachers are expected to provide the appropriate education mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and meet national and state standards, they usually lack the training and knowledge to do so. That is, considering the escalating amount of students who have ASDs, it could easily be assumed that every teacher will have one or two students each year, which will fall under this category. And while it is often presumed that upon graduating, and becoming adults, individuals will be able to hold a job, vote, and contribute to society on many levels. Yet these goals of education are not often achieved for children with disabilities and these students are continually passed through the system without having their needs met. Consequently, these individuals do not have the voice or the tools necessary to survive in society. Clearly there is an exigency for further research, treatment development, annalistic investigations, and educational instruction for not only ASD patients and doctors but teachers, parents, and community members. Dr. McManmon, the founder of the College Internship Program (CIP), and an AS patient who wasnt diagnosed until the age of 51, describes in his book, Made For Good Purpose, some of his experiences, struggles, and triumphs, declaring, The need to help this growing at-risk population is enormous (16). Some AS patients and families are not even aware that there are treatments, and support available that could positively change an AS patients life, regardless of their age. Bashes mission statement

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describes some of the available treatments for AS and expresses his desire for everyone to participate in ASD education; it reads: There are specific, research-based, and data-driven strategies and techniques for teaching these skills. Most of them are based on applied behavior analysis, or ABA. While we can do little to change how someone with Asperger syndrome learns, we can do much to change how we teach (Mission Statement). Bashes statement implies that it is not up to any one person, but everyone to make a difference staring with education and awareness. Sicile-Kira, also argues the importance of becoming educated about ASDs, claiming, *T+hey are your neighbors, your clients, and the person you may be called on to help one day. In order to help your fellow citizensyou need a basic understanding about autism spectrum disorders (262). Fortunately there are numerous organizations, doctors, websites,
Asperger's Awareness Ribbon

books, patients, and average citizens that are fighting everyday to create AS, ASD, and Autism awareness. These same groups provide support, education and understanding to AS patients, parents, teachers and doctors so one does not need to look far but merely just needs to start looking. Children with AS and other ASDs will continue to play a large part in our society. How they are treated along the way will not only determine their rate of success as adults but their success will represent the overall consideration amongst society.

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Works Cited Bashe, Patricia R. The Parents Guide to Teaching Kids With Asperger Syndrome and Similar ASDs Real-Life Skills for Independence. New York: Three Rivers, 2011. Print. United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ADDM Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Networking, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008 Web. 12 Apr. 2013. Grandin, Temple. Foreword. Autism Spectrum Disorders the Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs. By. Sicile-Kira, Chantal. New York: Berkley, 2004. Xvii. Print. McManmon, Michael P. Made for Good Purpose. London.UK: Kingsley, 2012. Print. Moore, Susan T. Asperger Syndrome and the Elementary School Experience: Practical Solutions for Academic & Social Difficulties. Shawnee Mission KS: Autism Asperger, 2002. Print. Sicile-Kira, Chantal. Autism Spectrum Disorders the Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs. New York: Berkley, 2004. Print. Undiagnosed and Misdiagnosed Aspergers. MyAspergersChild. Mark Hutten, n.d. Web. 20 Apr.2013.

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Yoshida, Yuko. Raising Children with Aspergers Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism: Championing the Individual. London,UK: Kingsley, 2012. Print.