The Pros and Cons of video games will be the topic of discussion when the Seattle Asperger Syndrome Education and Support Group meets on June 14 at the Greenwood Senior Center.

A panel with adults and teens with Asperger Syndrome who will explain how video games can be beneficial and even therapeutic.

People with Asperger can have many verbal skills and may be highly intelligent, but they have a hard time socially. "It's a highly functioning form of Autism," said Karen Roe, founder and facilitator of the Seattle Asperger Syndrome Education and Support Group and Asperger Syndrome Life Coach.

The group meets to share mutual support for loved ones and emotional support, while providing information about the syndrome to those who need it.

Roe said a segment of society is against computer games, thinking they are compulsively hypnotic, often violent, contributing to obesity while wasting time and not helping to develop career skills.

This panel discussion may jar the thinking of the segment of society that is against computer games.

Roe says video games have great artwork that is interactive. She uses the "Lord of the Rings" game as an example. "You have to psych out their moves and their plans and test what will work for them, learning valuable strategizing skills," she said.

Playing video games can keep people off the streets and out of trouble. They can provide a calming effect in controlled amounts.

"Where people with Asperger Syndrome are often quite uncomfortable in the confusing over stimulating environment of busy social environments, and often lack the advanced coordination needed for team sports, video games offer a serene environment, and can help players develop focus (following fast moving objects on the screen, and must click at just the right time and spot to catch the opponent), certain social skills by "being" the characters, developing quick decision-making skills, and numerous other cognitive and processing skills, and of course, a few academic advantages from educational games," Roe said.

The June 14 meeting is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Greenwood Senior Center is located at 525 N. 85th St. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month.