5.5 Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are developmental disorders that affect the brain's development; they are characterized by challenges with social interactions, poor communication skills, and the development of repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Asperger's Syndrome, now to be known as "High-Functioning Autism", is considered an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Students with ASD may have high intellectual and verbal abilities and yet be socially awkward.
- Some characteristics that students with ASD may exhibit to a greater or lesser degree:
- Frequent errors in interpreting others' body language, intentions, or facial expressions
- Difficulty understanding the motives and perceptions of others
- Problems asking for help
- Difficulty making friends, or working in small groups
- Motor challenges, unusual body movements and/or repetitive behavior
- Difficulty seeing the big picture from too much focus on details
- Decided preference for routines
- Problems organizing information and tasks
- Challenges with abstract thinking (focus on irrelevant details, difficulty generalizing)
- Distraction in bright or noisy environments; may experience sensory overload, particularly during tests
Tips for teaching students with ASD:
- Point out the organizational items in textbooks, e.g., chapter summaries, sub-headings, graphic design, charts, maps, and indexes
- Communicate assignments and course expectations in written and signed formats
- Incorporate hands on experiences when they are appropriate
- Give students a clear syllabus, listing tests and assignments, and note due dates specifically
- Make sure expectations are direct and explicit; don't expect the student to generalize from instructions
- Include time for questions and answers
- Establish rules if the student invades your space or imposes on your time
- Keep directions simple and declarative
- When group projects are called for, consider putting the student with ASD in a smaller group