Crucial Behavior-Management Techniques for Children with Asperger’s and HFA

By Mark Hutten, M.A.
Children with Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism (HFA) often exhibit different forms of challenging behavior. It's imperative that these behaviors are not seen as willful or malicious; more accurately, they should be viewed as connected to the child’s disorder. Parents and teachers need to recognize the difficulties that the youngster on the autism spectrum brings to each situation as a result of his or her neurologically-based disorder.

In this post, we will discuss the following:
  • Symptoms that cause behavioral problems 
  • Instructional intervention
  • Positive reinforcement 
  • Negative reinforcement
  • Supportive intervention 
  • Sticking to a routine
  • Encouraging the child’s special interest
  • Issuing rewards for positive behavior 
  • Using visual schedules

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