Dave Spicer is a contemporary autistic writer. Regarding the presentations, as we all know the most common shorthand Asperger's is a developmental disorder. In broad terms, individuals with Asperger's have normal or above average intellectual capacity with atypical developed social skills. Read the poem and answer the questions:
David Spicer: That Asperger Kid
He gets upset and runs off screaming-
that or sits there fish-eyed, dreaming
who knows what from who knows where-
so weird, that kid, he sits and stares
at nothing. Nothing! Every day
the same act. I give up, okay?
I mean, we tried to understand him.
Couldn't do it. Gotta hand him this-
he's good at being strange
he damn well better change
because we're right. No little pansy
anymore, he's gonna learn to be a man
Now what? What's the use of trying?
Look-he's down there crying on the floor
I just can't take this any more.
We never know what's going to happen
wish he'd shape up, cut the crap and
grow up, join the world of men, but whadja expect? he's one of THEM.
A: Who is speaking? What are the speaker's feelings (at present/ in the past/ with regard to the future)?
B: What forms of behaviour typical of the "Asperger kid" (headline) does the speaker mention?
C: What words/ phrases reflect the speaker's attitude to these phonomena?
D: What solution does he suggest?
