hey natigual and all
i hear you about the whole comprehension conundrum. Its like saying "well he can read Shakespeare but can he undersand it?" well since he just turned 7 he really has no life context for it, so how could he, so in that sense the question is valid..
But with my son there is the ADDED problem that a lot of folks thing children on the spectrum have something i think called "hyperlexia" where they are fascinated with the letters and words themselves and are basically stimming on the activitiy. This doesn't fit my DS7 at all, never has..
He showed no interest in reading or letters until the summer before first grade, then catapulted thru many many grade levels. He will only read things he choses and is interested in. The latest thing is "Dinotopia" books which range in level but are quite difficult, espeically the first one which is out of print and my son wrote a letter to the author (James Gurian) to get a copy. He was thrilled and shocked to receive it wtih a hand-drawn dinosaur and inscription to him for his seventh birhtday..
Anyway If he ever does get into DYS, the first thing that will go in his portfolio is the list of books we created as he learned to read. ONe etry for each book- our goal was 100 books. What we did not expect was that book #1 in August 2008 would be "Snowman at Night" which is K level and the last 20 books on the list, include almost all of Roald Dahl, the entire Dinotopia Series, Mrs. Frisby and Rats of NIMH, etc. Nothing is too difficult and we still have not truly met the ceiling of his reading ability, IMO.
irene
