Degrassi The Next Generation

Degrassi Tackles Asperger Syndrome

Browse > Home / Article-byline, CANADIAN NEWS, Celebrity, ENTERTAINMENT, Health and Fitness, TV shows / Degrassi Tackles Asperger Syndrome

March 2, 2009

A.J. Saudin plays Connor, a high-schooler on ‘Degrassi’ with Asperger syndrome

Popular Canadian drama deals with autistic disorder

By Matthew B. Zeidman

TORONTO (RushPRnews-Hollywood Today) 3/02/09 â€“ â€œDegrassi: The Next Generationâ€? has dealt with a variety of frank topics over its nearly 8-year run, including AIDS, alcohol abuse, depression, drugs, homophobia, rape and teen pregnancy. With the U.S. premiere of its latest episode on Friday, the Canadian teen drama expanded its range by revealing one of its younger characters suffered from Asperger syndrome and examining his struggle to function in an unsympathetic environment.

$A.J. Saudin plays Connor, a high-schooler on \'Degrassi: The Next Generation\' with Asperger syndrome$

Asperger syndrome, a form of autism, manifests itself primarily through social awkwardness and greater-than-normal difficulty learning basic social customs and cues. Among several other possible symptoms, those with the syndrome may also exhibit repetitive behavior, but rarely experience speech-development delays common to other forms of autism.

â€œDegrassi,â€? which airs on teen-centric cable network The N, is the latest show to promote awareness of the disorder. In late 2007, a contestant on season nine of The CWâ€™s â€œAmericaâ€™s Next Top Model,â€? Heather Kuzmich, suffered from the syndrome.

A major focus on the program was the aspiring modelâ€™s difficulty interacting with her follow participants, which Kuzmich overcame to come in fifth place out of 20. She was also voted fan favorite each week from her second appearance on the show until her elimination.

HOLLYWOOD TODAY

About the author: Matthew B. Zeidman is a freelance reporter working for Hollywood Today, RushPRnews, and other news outlets.

Filed Under: Article-byline, CANADIAN NEWS, Celebrity, ENTERTAINMENT, Health and Fitness, TV shows

RUSH PR NEWS newswire and press release services at rushprnews.com / Anne Howard annehowardpublicist.com

Content- Legal Responsability - All material is copyrighted - You may repost but you MUST link back to the original post on your page and acknowledge Rush PR News as the news source. Rush PR News is not legally and/or morally responsible for content of press releases, opinions expressed or fact-checking.

Rush PR News cannot be held legally responsible for material published and distributed through its newswire service or published in its press-room and therefore cannot be sued for published material. Third-party must be contacted directly to dispute content.

Rush PR News is not the contact for material published.