I consider Matthew to be an extraordinary young man when it comes to writing and getting his views across to people on the subject of Aspergers.

Matthew has a diagnosis of Aspergers and has generated more positive feedback and discussion with his articles and insights into being a teen with Aspergers; than most anything that I have published in the past few years.

So I am delighted to have him on board as the first employee writer here at Parenting Aspergers Community.

Below is a little more information about him written by his mum ...

Matthew has been able to keep an A average.  With the help of the school and the Director of Special Education Matthew attends the school for gifted children once a week to expand the way Matthew thinks.  During his education assessment when we found out Matt has Asbergers when he was six, Matthew had a 3 day testing of his abilities and found out he had an IQ of 148.  He was always able to express himself like an adult but not as a child.  This is where Matthew socialization really hurt him.  He could never understand his peers which led Matthew to be bullied up to grade 4.  At this time Matt and I discussed sharing his disability with his class.  Matthew stood up in front of his class (by himself)  and told them all about his condition and that he does not at times understand why people ask like they do.  After this Matt school mates accepted him better.  They actually started standing up for him when bullies came around telling them Matt does not understand so leave him alone.  He now gives this talk at the beginning of every school year to his class mates which helps him.  The best part other kids with other disabilities are now following in his foot steps and discussing their disabilities to their class because they see how the bullying has stopped for Matt.
 
Matthew has achieved high marks in his writing in school.  He can now out write me.  He has already learned how to put a resume together and his use of words are unbelievable. (even I sometimes have to look up the meanings of the words he uses).  I try to express to Matthew its better to dumb things down because not everyone knows what you are saying especially kids his own age so he is not a target.  Matthew is always afraid of doing oral presentations.  He rocks side to side when he talks because he is so nervous. For example Matt had to do a 10 minute oral presentation for ancient history.  He ended up making a movie of him talking with clips and slide show through out it.  The kids in his class thought it was great and kept their attention through out it.  Now Matt makes movies instead.  This way he is a lot calmer when he talks and can make jokes without worrying anyone will make fun of him.
 
The issues facing him now are:
 
gym
recess
puberty
girls
studying
his future goals ( he's already worrying about his career)