In today's world it is the rare adult who does not use a cell phone. Rarer still is the child or teen without a cell phone of his or her own. Your decision to obtain a cell phone for your child with Asperger's was likely motivated by her request (or insistence!) and your desire for the ability to be in close contact when apart. Cell phones have become increasingly sophisticated as technology advances, and text messaging (instant messages sent between phones) is part and parcel of cell phone ownership. But is this a good thing where your child is concerned? The answer may be mixed. Is your child well-versed enough in cracking the social code so that text messages — with all the slang, abbreviations, and shorthand — are understood true to their intent? Is your child at risk for being bullied or coerced via text messaging? In addition to text messaging, or texting, photos and videos can also be easily sent between users. With such ease, much attention has been given to “sexting” or the transmission of nude or seminude images of young people with or without their consent. If your child has strong social connections, this may be a nonissue. But if your child has experienced social difficulties, is she also at risk for being used as a “patsy” or the person set up to take the blame under such circumstances? Would she willingly participate under the guise of social acceptance?

On the other hand, because texting does not require face-to-face interaction in which eye contact is expected, communicating in this way may make your child's differences less apparent. In addition to thoroughly educating your child about the dos and don'ts of cell phone use, the following section may aid you in navigating both spoken and written social interactions.