Who Are We?

Echidnas is a small, non-profit, self-help organization for middle and high school students age 13 and up with Asperger’s Syndrome, dedicated to developing social and life skills to promote independence and productivity into adulthood.  Our group includes both students and parents who meet concurrently.  An individual parent nor individual student may become a member, as this is a group of both parent AND student.   For Students: ·         An opportunity to focus on the development of social and life skills ·         A place to foster self-esteem and friendships ·         A place which encourages acceptance of self and others ·         A forum to learn skills for succeeding in a socially oriented world From an Echidnas parent "I really do not think Jacob would have become social at all if it wasn't for this group." For Parents: ·         An opportunity to discuss and learn about topics of mutual interest   From an Echidnas parent "I never imagined I would connect so much to a group of people so different from myself.  The Echidnas families have become like an extention of my own family.  Who knew I would get to know and grow to care so much about our group of kids."   From an Echidnas parent "I think my favorite part of meetings is when I see heads nodding up and down.  At times, I have felt that child is so different and certaily must be the only one with these specific issues - and then the heads start nodding and I hear a whisper "my child does that too".   Legacy Lines by Reese Wood   To them I look odd and quiet                           To me I look funny and kind, I am a nobody, the one left out,                       I am a helper, a thinker They think of me as an alien                           I think I am deserving Different and weird,                                                 Unrewarded, forgotten They see me as a freak,                                   I see myself as a wanderer          the one to leave behind                                      searching for a friend   “Life is a roller coaster, it makes you feel great and makes you feel successful. Then it drops you like a rock and it all comes down”