Asperger's syndrome doesn't have anything to do with intelligence, some people with Asperger's are brilliant. Ditto for Autism. But this isn't the forum for that discussion.

For the kid; take a look at this:

http://www.kr4.us/sparkfun-inventor-s-kit-for-arduino-uno-v4.0.html

It's a kit that can be assembled into different projects. There are coding and electronic components, and if he's creative he can turn it into something his own. Maybe it would help narrow down which aspects he really likes. (coding vs hardware, etc..).

 

I'm only interested in projects for him, and he is not my son, so I will not be raising him or deciding what courses he takes. Thanks for the replies.

If people really want to discuss autism and CNC, I suggest a visit to the website of the Uniquely Abled Academy. From one of their pages:

"It’s been observed that jobs requiring individuals with a high degree of focused attention to detailed repetitive processes, and following clear objective instructions are well suited for a person with high functioning autism. Indeed, these characteristics are a perfect match for the duties of a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine operator, of which there is a huge shortage in the manufacturing industry today. The Uniquely Abled Academy is designed to fill this gap with a new source of talent."

If you agree or disagree with what they do, best to contact them, not me.

 

The subject of Asperger's Syndrome and Autism is a lot like the debate over man made global warming.

Which tornadoes and hurricanes are the result of global warming and which ones are just part of the natural course of events? Is a personality trait actually due to Asperger's Syndrome or is it just another part of the "Bell Curve"that is naturally associated with people in the STEM profession? However, I don't want to side track this thread with a debate about psychiatry (which is a very nebulous art rather than a science).

As a final comment I strongly recommend that you as a parent need to participate in your child's educational process. That means assisting him in doing homework and engaging him in thought processes. Too many parents just tell their children to "study hard" then go off and watch 3 hours of football and basketball.

 

Once again, this is not my son.

 

To get him familiarized with components, circuits, wiring, and electrical principles, a breadboard and some batteries are inexpensive and easy to work with. Throw in a $5 multimeter and some cheap components and ICs and he can build projects. There are tons of free wiring diagrams available online. Moreover, once he's completed a project you or his parents can bug it and he'll have to work on debugging, which is really fun.

From there maybe he'll develop an interest in it. If not, it won't be too much wasted money.