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Understanding the Dynamics: When ASD Teens Opt for Video Games Over Homework


In our digitally-driven society, video games have become a staple in the lives of many teenagers, providing not only entertainment but also a platform for social interaction and skill development. For adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the magnetic pull of video games can sometimes evolve into an overwhelming fixation that eclipses academic obligations, particularly homework assignments. By delving deeper into the specific factors contributing to this phenomenon and outlining effective strategies for support, we can foster a more balanced lifestyle for these teens.


### The Captivating World of Video Games


Video games present an enticing escape, especially for adolescents with ASD, offering an array of features that appeal to their unique needs:


1. **Structured Gameplay**: Many games are designed with clear rules, objectives, and predictable outcomes. This structured nature can provide a reassuring sense of order for ASD teens who often find comfort in routine and predictability.


2. **Instant Gratification**: Unlike the delayed gratification that comes with completing homework, video games allow for immediate feedback through successful achievements, level completions, or rewards. This instant satisfaction can be highly motivating, drawing teens away from the more gradual rewards associated with academic work.


3. **Social Interaction and Community**: Many video games include multiplayer modes that enable teens to connect with peers in a virtual space. This can be particularly beneficial for those with ASD who may struggle with face-to-face interactions, as the gaming environment can offer a form of social engagement that feels less intimidating.


4. **Escapism from Stress**: For many ASD teens, the challenges of daily life — whether they be social anxieties, high academic expectations, or sensory overload — can be daunting. Video games provide an alternative reality where they can immerse themselves, temporarily escaping the pressures of everyday existence.


### The Struggle with Homework


While gaming can be a source of joy and connection, it can also lead to neglect of crucial academic tasks. Several key factors contribute to this aversion to homework:


1. **Overwhelming Academic Pressure**: Homework assignments, which often require multi-step processes and focused attention, may feel insurmountable. ASD teens might struggle to navigate diverse subjects, complex instructions, or may simply feel lost in the mountain of work, leading them to seek refuge in the familiar world of gaming.


2. **Challenges in Time Management**: Adolescents on the autism spectrum frequently face difficulties in organizing tasks and managing their time effectively. This can result in procrastination, where the allure of a gaming session overshadows the urgency of completing homework.


3. **Sensory Overload**: The environment typically associated with homework — brightly lit rooms, unexpected noises, and clutter — can be challenging for sensory-sensitive teens. In contrast, the controlled and often quieter atmosphere of gaming provides a more appealing alternative.


### Strategies for Support and Balance


To help ASD teens achieve a better equilibrium between their passion for gaming and the necessity of completing homework, caregivers, educators, and parents can adopt various approaches:


1. **Establishing Clear Boundaries**: Clearly defined schedules outlining specific periods for homework and gaming can instill a sense of routine. Utilizing visual timers or charts can aid in signaling transitions between tasks, reducing resistance.


2. **Integrating Interests into Learning**: Where applicable, educational games that align with school subjects can be incorporated into the home routine. This helps create a positive association with academic work by connecting it to their interests and shows them how gaming can be both fun and educational.


3. **Breaking Down Tasks**: Assisting teens in dividing homework into smaller, manageable segments can alleviate feelings of being overwhelmed. For example, instead of viewing a math assignment as an entire project, breaking it into individual problems can make the work feel less daunting.


4. **Creating a Conducive Homework Environment**: Designing a dedicated workspace that minimizes distractions is key. Consider elements such as soft lighting, comfortable seating, and noise-canceling headphones to create a safe and engaging atmosphere for studying.


5. **Encouraging Open Dialogue**: Promoting open communication about the challenges faced during homework can empower teens. Engaging them in problem-solving discussions can help identify barriers and brainstorm practical solutions together.


6. **Mindful Monitoring of Screen Time**: Implementing tools or settings to limit video game exposure can prevent conflicts between gaming and homework. Utilizing a balance of rewards and consequences can foster discipline and responsibility.


While video games can serve as a valuable outlet for teens with ASD, finding a harmonious balance between gaming and academic responsibility is essential for their overall development. By understanding the specific reasons behind their preference for video games and implementing targeted strategies, we can support them in navigating the complexities of teenage life. Encouraging self-discipline and creating a nurturing environment will not only help them succeed academically but also bolster their personal growth and readiness for the future.


 
 
More articles for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum:
 
Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the ASD child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.

Click here to read the full article…

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Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's or HFA child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and your child are totally exhausted. But... don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next - the meltdown can return in full force.

Click here for the full article...

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Although Aspergers [high-functioning autism] is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager on the spectrum are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.

Click here to read the full article…

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Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with ASD face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."

Click here to read the full article…

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Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.

Click here to read the full article...

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Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.

Click here for the full article...
 
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A child with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) can have difficulty in school because, since he fits in so well, many adults may miss the fact that he has a diagnosis. When these children display symptoms of their disorder, they may be seen as defiant or disruptive.

Click here for the full article...
By

Effective Academic Accommodations for Students with Asperger’s and High-Functioning Autism

The vast majority of students with Asperger’s (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) receive their educational experiences predominantly in general education classrooms. Thus, general education teachers are primarily responsible for the education of these “special needs” students, although frequently with the support of special education teachers.

In many ways, students diagnosed with AS and HFA are well qualified to benefit from general classroom experiences. They typically have average to above average intellectual abilities, are motivated to be with their fellow classmates, and have good rote memory skills and other assets that bode well for their educational success. However, all too frequently, these young people have significant problems in academic performance, and some have learning disabilities. The reasons for these problems often are related to the social and communication deficits connected to AS and HFA.

==> Teaching Students with Aspergers and HFA

In addition to social and communication deficits, students on the autism spectrum exhibit:
  • concrete and literal thinking styles
  • difficulty applying skills and knowledge to solve problems 
  • difficulty attending to salient curricular cues
  • difficulty in comprehending abstract materials (e.g., metaphors, idioms)
  • difficulty in discerning relevant from irrelevant stimuli
  • difficulty understanding inferentially-based materials
  • inflexibility
  • obsessive and narrowly defined interests
  • poor organizational skills
  • poor problem-solving skills
  • problems with generalizing knowledge and skills



These challenges make it difficult for them to benefit from general education curricula and instructional systems without support and accommodations. But, with suitable support, most of these “special needs” students can be successful in school, and many are able to attend college and enjoy a variety of successful careers.

Studies of academic achievement in AS and HFA students reveal the following:
  • in spite of being highly verbal, there are significant difficulties in understanding the orally-presented messages of others and arriving at logical solutions to routine and real-life problems
  • mathematics scores are low, especially in solving equations and answering mathematical calculation problems
  • mean academic achievement scores are within the average range
  • strengths tend to be in comprehension of factual material, and in the areas of oral expression and reading recognition 
  • there are significant difficulties in the areas of problem-solving and language-based critical thinking
  • there is a relative weakness in comprehending verbally presented information
  • written language scores are significantly lower than oral expression scores

Many teachers fail to recognize the special academic needs of young people on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum, because they often give the impression that they understand more than they do. Thus, their ability to word-call without having the higher-order thinking and comprehension skills to understand what they read, parrot-like responses, pedantic style, and seemingly advanced vocabulary may actually mask the deficits of these students.

Academic modifications essential for AS and HFA students are those that increase structure and predictability and also address their multifaceted needs. Specifically, these accommodations take into account some of the manifestations that are like learning disabilities and gifted-like traits that are evident in this population. Appropriate modifications, include:

1.  priming
2.  classroom assignment modifications
3.  notetaking
4.  graphic organizers
5.  enrichment
6.  homework

We will look at each of these in turn:

1.    Priming—

Priming was developed to:
  • bring predictability to new tasks and thereby reduce stress and anxiety
  • familiarize AS and HFA students with academic material prior to its use in school
  • increase their academic success

The actual materials that are used in a lesson are shown to the student the day, the evening, or even the morning before the activity is to take place. Priming also may occur just prior to an activity. A parent, resource teacher, or trusted peer can serve as a primer.

It is generally recommended that the actual teaching materials be used in priming. However, in some cases, priming can consist of introducing an upcoming task using a list or a description of the activities, not the actual materials. Priming is most effective when it is built into the student's routine. It should be done in an environment that is relaxing and should be facilitated by a primer who is both patient and encouraging. Finally, priming sessions should be short, providing a brief overview of the day's tasks in 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Classroom Assignment Modifications—

The amount of reading the student with AS or HFA is expected to complete should be evaluated. Students on the autism spectrum who sometimes read slowly and can’t discern relevant from irrelevant information spend an inordinate amount of time concentrating on facts that will not be tested and are considered unimportant. Highlighted texts and study guides help these young people maximize their reading time. Teachers also should consider identifying the information the student is responsible to learn for an upcoming assignment or test.

Handwriting is a concern for many students with AS and HFA. Thus, teachers should offer these students several ways to demonstrate mastery, for example:
  • using the computer instead of a pen or pencil
  • giving verbal responses instead of written essays
  • creating a project rather than writing a report
  • completing a multiple-choice rather than a short-answer test
3. Note-taking—

Many students with AS and HFA have difficulty taking notes in class. Often, motor problems prevent them from getting important content onto paper. Also, some of these students have difficulty listening and writing at the same time. Depending on the amount of assistance they need, the teacher can provide for the student:
  • the opportunity to use outlining software
  • a skeletal outline that he or she can use to fill in details
  • a peer-constructed outline
  • a complete outline including the main idea and supporting details

4. Graphic Organizers—

Graphic organizers highlight important concepts and display the relationship between them. They provide abstract or implicit information in a concrete manner. Graphic organizers can be used before, during, or after AS/HFA students read a selection, either as an advanced organizer or as a measure of concept attainment.

Three commonly used graphic organizers are semantic maps, analogy graphic organizers, and timelines. The focal point of the semantic map is the key word or concept enclosed in a geometric figure (e.g., circle or square) or in a pictorial representation of the word or concept. Lines or arrows connect this central shape to other shapes. Words or information related to the central concept are written on the connecting lines or in the other shapes. As the map expands, the words become more specific and detailed. For AS and HFA students who are younger or who require additional cues, semantic maps can use pictures for the key words or concepts.

An analogy graphic organizer contains two concepts and their attributes. The teacher and student define how the two concepts are alike and how they differ, then draw a conclusion. Often the teacher has to assist the student in identifying attributes by presenting choices (either written or pictorial) from which he or she can select. This task can be completed individually, in small groups, or with an entire class.

Timelines provide benchmarks for completing tasks and thereby aid AS and HFA students in budgeting their time. Timelines consist of a list of steps needed to complete the task with affiliated due dates. This visual representation enables the student and teacher to monitor progress toward project completion. Ideally, teachers enlist the aid of moms and dads in developing and monitoring timelines to ensure student follow-through at home.


5. Enrichment—

Research has shown that a greater percentage of students with AS and HFA have IQs in the superior range than is found in the general population. Thus, these young people benefit from enrichment activities because they already have mastered age-appropriate academic content. Enrichment activities can consist of having them learn the same content in much more depth and detail than their “typical” peers, or introducing new topics that usually are presented to older students.

6. Homework—

Teachers and moms and dads should work together to determine whether homework should be assigned, and if so, how much. Because students with AS and HFA need structure, it is often best for the teacher to assign tasks that they can complete in the structured school environment.

If homework is assigned, an assignment notebook and a parent-teacher communication system will help moms and dads monitor their youngster's homework. In some cases, parents may have to model the task for their child, so teachers should ensure that the moms and dads understand their youngster's homework. To facilitate home-school communication, some schools have established a "homework line" that students and parents can call to hear an overview of assigned work. This system is ideal for students on the spectrum.

More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's:

==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's

 ==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism

 ==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance

 ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

 ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook
By

Aspergers Students: Summary of Educational Considerations

Is your child with Asperger's or high functioning autism going to have a new teacher in the upcoming school year? If so, you will do your child a big favor by emailing the following "summary of educational considerations" to his or her teacher. Here is the link: https://www.myaspergerschild.com/2010/09/aspergers-students-educational.html

Most Asperger's (AS) kids have normal or above-normal intelligence, and are able to complete their education up through the graduate or professional school level. Many are unusually skilled in music or good in subjects requiring rote memorization. On the other hand, the verbal skills of kids with AS frequently cause difficulties with educators, who may not understand why these "bright" kids have social and communication problems.

Some AS kids are dyslexic; others have difficulty with writing or mathematics. In some cases, AS kids have been mistakenly put in special programs either for kids with much lower levels of functioning, or for kids with conduct disorders. AS kids do best in structured learning situations in which they learn problem-solving and social skills as well as academic subjects. They frequently need protection from the teasing and bullying of other kids, and often become hypersensitive to criticism by their teenage years. One approach that has been found helpful at the high-school level is to pair the adolescent with AS with a slightly older teenager who can serve as a mentor. The mentor can "clue in" the younger adolescent about the slang, dress code, cliques, and other "facts of life" at the local high school.

Asperger's kids are characterized by a number of elements:
  • Abnormal eye contact - either avoidance or prolonged intense gaze
  • Clumsy and uncoordinated
  • Competence with expressive speech and number often masks poor comprehension Literal interpretations of speech
  • Competent with puzzles
  • Consistent unawareness of non-verbal feedback (including consequences of actions)
  • Cope well in a structured predictable environment with clear and simple rules stated in concrete terms - they will follow the rules to the letter
  • Holistic approach to tasks and does not cope with approximations
  • Lack of interest in pleasing people (e.g., educators and parents) and unresponsive to the usual subtle cues of displeasure such as head shaking etc
  • Lack of spontaneity in exploring new situations
  • Learn from direct instruction, not intuitive perception
  • More interested in books and factual information
  • Poor or absent capacity to use or understand facial expression, gesture, tone, pause or body language
  • Precocious visual and auditory memory
  • Slow development of speech without the usual approximations
  • Use of speech to gain gratification or impart information and rarely for communicative intent
  • Very egocentric

Areas of Difficulty—

The school environment is a complex, constantly changing and often unpredictable. Children are required to cope with changing stimuli; varying behavioral expectations; complex social interaction with adults, peers and children of other age levels; the academic challenges of each day; their own mood and state of health and are expected to behave appropriately at all times. This can be a challenge for neurologically typical kids but for those with learning and social disabilities, it can, unless properly, managed be almost insurmountable.

Kids diagnosed with AS may not be able to understand or express their emotions, understand what is expected of them or be able to apply the rules learned at other times and in other situations to the situation with which they are faced.

These children are often of average or above average intelligence and as they mature, they become aware of their difference and want to fit in but don't know how to. This can lead to intense frustration which may either result in outbursts of verbal and/or physical violence or withdrawal into themselves. The quiet, well behaved student is often the most at risk because the problem issues are unseen and thus unaddressed.

The student may have a "reputation that precedes them" for both children and staff. Older children may have low self esteem and an expectation of failure both academically and behaviorally.

The main characteristics of Asperger's, which hinder both academic and social progress are:

• Cognitive Skills
• Communication Skills
• Physiological Deficits
• Social Skills

An effective program will among many things, recognize the children' strengths and build on them to give them a feeling of achievement and thus improve their confidence. It will also recognize the problem areas and provide strategies to deal with behaviors, strategies to teach both academic and social concepts, which start with the concrete and move to the abstract at the student’s pace. Overall the program will not just teach 'academic fact' but teach strategies and skills that will assist future academic learning, social interaction and the development of the children self control and self discipline.

Learning Structures—

Kids diagnosed with AS require a mixture of the following structures to successfully achieve in the classroom. Behavior is often an indicator of frustration and stress and the following can assist in their management and reduction. Often, these ideas are beneficial to all the children.

Physical:
  • Be aware that the student may be defensive of their person and/or personal space and plan for this if applicable.
  • Consider isolating the student for short periods to teach new concepts or build on pre-existing knowledge in a distraction free setting.
  • Ensure that the youngster is in a position of least distraction from the source of the information to which the youngster must respond (i.e., up the front and away from visual and auditory "clutter").
  • Structure the physical environment to facilitate learning and minimize frustration (providing visual and physical order assists in focusing).
  • Watch for peers who feed-off and feedback inappropriate behaviors and position them away from the student - often the student will like these peers but the relationship is not necessarily the best for either student.
  • Watch for peers who obviously or subtly annoy the student and position them away from the student.

In Class Structure:
  • Break tasks up into manageable segments and train the student to schedule and plan.
  • Brief, precise, concrete instructions and make sure that they understand - don't assume that repeating the instruction means that the student has understood.
  • Predicable environment and routine with preparation for any changes.
  • Set behavioral limits and monitor to implement consequences or provide coping strategies.
  • State clearly what is expected - be concrete and allow time for the student to process the information.
  • Teach the student to ask for help and appropriate methods of doing so.

Presentational Issues:
  • Break work into small steps.
  • Have written instructions for older primary children and include visual cues and mark clearly the things that need to be completed.
  • Keep black/whiteboard presentation as neat as possible.
  • Know and use the student's strengths.
  • Present new concepts in a concrete manner.
  • Show examples of what is required.
  • Use activity based learning where possible.
  • Use visual prompts as appropriate.

Teaching Issues:
  • Do not do for the student what they can do for themselves.
  • Don't expect the student to automatically generalize instructions.
  • Use language to tie new situations to old learning.
  • Don't rely on emotional appeals or presume that the student will want to please you.
  • Concentrate on changing unacceptable behaviors and don't worry about those which are "simply" odd.
  • Use the obsessive or preferred activity as a reward.
  • Use opportunities which arise to teach the student about how other children feel and react when they are hurt or upset.
  • Be absolutely consistent and don't give options if there are no options.

Work closely with the parents and listen to them - they have already had much experience coping with the youngster. And don't judge atypical parenting as odd – it is often a coping reaction to the student's behavior rather than the cause of the behavior.

Other Strategies to Support Development:
  • Explain metaphors and avoid where possible (i.e., 'Frog in your throat').
  • Explain the timetable to the secondary youngster so they understand the daily structure - a simple written timetable also helps primary age kids and can benefit all the class.
  • Explicitly teach rules of social conduct so that the youngster does not constantly interrupt or interrupt with questions relevant 20 minutes ago.
  • Have a Communication Book and use it daily to inform parents of successes and failures, ask for parental advice and receive information from parents (it is difficult for parents to find out what is happening at school but it is vital that they know so they can inform the Doctors and therapists of issues and receive and transmit advice from medicos to educators).
  • Have a strategy to employ when the youngster can't cope due to over-stimulation or confusion.
  • Have a time out area for discipline when needed (it is important to enforce consequences and to ensure that the 'time out' isn't more attractive than the activity).
  • Provide a formal "peer support network" or "mate/buddy" system for the safety of the youngster.
  • Provide the parents with a timetable to ensure that the youngster can be rehearsed for the following day and has the necessary equipment required for the day’s activities because they are not strong on organizational skills and need assistance in this area.
  • Teach "safety phrases" such as "Are you pretending? or What do you mean? or Why should I do that?" to give the youngster a vocabulary of questions to help them gain information (they won’t know how to do it naturally) so they can determine the nature of a situation and respond accordingly.
  • When an issue begins to surface, do not ignore it or think it too minor to mention to parents (parents prefer more information than less and often something minor points to a serious issue which has bearing on behavior at home).

Kids diagnosed with Asperger's have a propensity to disrupt the class due to:
  • lack of ability to focus
  • confusion
  • literal interpretation of instructions
  • inability to read social rules and cues
  • overloading of the 'senses' (too much noise, visual stimulation or physical stimulation)
  • lack of desire to 'please'
  • inability to explain feelings plus other factors.

These kids are rarely disruptive for the sake of it and are amenable to behavior modification providing that clear and simple instructions are given and consequences are consistently applied if the inappropriate behavior continues.

It is very important to keep the parents informed because that is their only way of knowing what is happening at school. This information is vital to the youngster's doctors to ensure that the management program is relevant and effective and that problems can be identified and managed quickly to minimize disruption to the youngster and fellow children.


More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's:

==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's

 ==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism

 ==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance

 ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

 ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook

==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book
==> Parenting System that Reduces Problematic Behavior in Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism
By

Navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Teenage Years: Insights and Strategies

As children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) approach their teenage years, they enter a transformative stage characterized by numerous changes—physical, emotional, and social. This period can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, not only for the adolescents themselves but also for their families, educators, and caregivers. Understanding the intricacies of this developmental phase and learning how to provide effective support is crucial. It can greatly enhance the adolescent's experience during these crucial years and make families and caregivers feel more informed and prepared.

#### The Landscape of the Teenage Years for Those with ASD

The teenage years encompass a variety of developmental milestones that can pose unique challenges for youth with ASD. It is a time when social awareness increases, emotional complexity deepens, and the longing for independence intensifies. Here is a closer look at the key areas affected:

1. **Social Development Dynamics**: Adolescents often yearn for companionship and social interaction. For those with ASD, this can manifest as a desire to form friendships, but difficulties may arise due to challenges in interpreting non-verbal cues, understanding group dynamics, and participating in typical teenage activities. Initiatives like social skills groups can be beneficial, teaching nuanced social behaviors through structured role-playing and supervision in a supportive environment.

2. **Emotional Regulation and Sensitivities**: The hormonal shifts that accompany adolescence can lead to heightened emotions, often experienced more intensely by teens with ASD. They may struggle with anxiety, experiencing overwhelming feelings in social settings or environments that are chaotic or loud. Encouraging the use of visual schedules, calming techniques, and mindfulness practices can greatly assist in emotional management and provide vital tools to handle challenging situations effectively.

3. **Quest for Independence**: As teens begin to assert their independence, it’s common for them to seek more autonomy, which can sometimes clash with their ongoing need for support. While many wish to participate in activities like going out with friends or making independent choices, they may still require assistance with practical skills such as time management, personal hygiene, and navigating public transportation. Gradual exposure to independence—combined with structured guidance—can help bridge the gap between childhood dependence and adult self-sufficiency.

4. **Identity Exploration**: Adolescence is a period for self-discovery. For teens with ASD, this can include wrestling with their identity, grappling with how their autism affects their interactions, and often feeling different from their peers. Engaging in activities that highlight their individual strengths and interests, such as creative arts, sports, or technology, can enhance self-esteem and provide a platform for connecting with others who share similar passions.

5. **Academic Adjustments**: With the transition to high school, academic expectations often increase significantly. Teens with ASD might face difficulties with complex assignments, multitasking, and adapting to different teaching styles. Establishing consistent routines, utilizing organizational tools (like planners or apps), and collaborating with educators to create a supportive learning environment can enhance their academic performance and reduce frustration.

#### Anticipating Challenges: What to Watch For

Recognizing the common challenges faced by teens with ASD helps in crafting effective support strategies:

- **Social Skills Development**: Adolescents may still exhibit difficulties in recognizing social cues or initiating interactions with peers. It’s essential to encourage social connections in safe, familiar environments, gradually introducing more challenging situations.

- Heightened Anxiety Levels: Many teenagers with ASD may experience intensified anxiety as they navigate social expectations and academic pressures. Techniques such as deep-breathing exercises or the use of stress-relief tools (like fidget spinners or stress balls) can provide immediate comfort in stressful situations.

- **Communication Nuances**: Communication preferences may still lean towards more structured formats. Teens with ASD often benefit from clear, concise language when discussing plans or expectations, which can help eliminate confusion and reduce anxiety around social interactions.

- **Behavioral Fluctuations**: As they explore their independence, teens may engage in boundary-testing and display new behaviors that can be perplexing. Understanding these behaviors as part of their development and addressing them calmly can foster better family dynamics.

#### Practical Strategies for Support

Equipping adolescents with ASD for success requires a proactive, compassionate approach across various dimensions of their experiences:

1. **Cultivating Social Skills**: Active participation in clubs or groups aligned with their interests can facilitate social connections. Enrolling them in social skills training can also provide them with practical strategies for navigating friendships.

3. Feelings Charts: These visual aids can help teens with ASD identify and express their Emotions, which can be challenging for them. Encouraging the use of these tools can help them better understand and communicate their feelings. Creating an emotionally supportive home environment is crucial. Parents should encourage open conversations about feelings, utilizing tools like 'feelings charts' to help express emotions. Encouraging creative outlets—such as art, music, or writing—can also provide therapeutic avenues for emotional expression.

3. **Promoting Independence with Structure**: Introduce gradual independence at home. For instance, allow them to plan and cook a simple meal or manage a weekly schedule. These small steps can build competence and confidence over time.

4. Open and Clear Communication: Establish lines of communication that are both open and encouraging. Use direct language and check in frequently to ensure they understand expectations and feel heard. This approach can make families and caregivers feel more connected and involved in the adolescent's life, fostering a sense of mutual understanding and support.

5. Educational Collaboration: Work closely with educators to address any academic concerns. Regular communication with teachers is crucial and can help ensure that accommodations—like additional time for tests or modified assignments—are implemented effectively. Educators play a vital role in the support process, and their involvement can make a significant difference in the adolescent's academic journey.

6. **Establishing Support Networks**: Encourage connections with other families facing similar challenges through local support groups or online forums. Sharing experiences and advice can be empowering and reassuring.

7. **Focusing on Strengths**: Identify and nurture their unique interests and talents. Activities such as coding, theater, sports, or art can provide pathways for connection and confidence-building.

8. **Planning for the Future**: Engage in upfront discussions about future aspirations, vocational goals, and personal interests. Providing resources for skills training or internships can empower them in making informed choices about their post-high school lives.

The teenage years are a pivotal time for individuals with ASD, filled with both challenges and opportunities for personal growth. By fostering understanding, open communication, and targeted support, parents and caregivers can guide their teens through this intricate landscape. With patience, empathy, and consistent encouragement, teens with ASD can not only navigate their teenage years successfully but also cultivate a brighter, more fulfilling future as they step into adulthood.

 

 
 
More articles for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum:
 
Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the ASD child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.

Click here to read the full article…

---------------------------------------------------------------

Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's or HFA child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and your child are totally exhausted. But... don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next - the meltdown can return in full force.

Click here for the full article...

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Although Aspergers [high-functioning autism] is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager on the spectrum are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.

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Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with ASD face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."

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Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.

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Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.

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A child with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) can have difficulty in school because, since he fits in so well, many adults may miss the fact that he has a diagnosis. When these children display symptoms of their disorder, they may be seen as defiant or disruptive.

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Back-to-School “Quick Tip Sheet” for Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum

Parents of kids with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) have a bigger influence than anyone else on how their children make it through the new school year. Be part of the solution with effective methods that will make this the best school year ever – by participating, organizing, advocating, and any other means necessary.

Here are 10 ways to help your “special needs” child cope with his or her return to school:

1. Adopt the mind-set of “change the environment.” For example, if the educator regularly complains about your youngster's lack of desk-sitting etiquette, save the day with ideas for managing movement, reducing sensory overload, and increasing comfort. Click here for more information on creating an effective learning environment.

2. A “fine motor skill” is the coordination of small muscle movements, usually involving the synchronization of hands and fingers with the eyes. Many AS and HFA children have fine motor skills deficits. Therefore, finding the best writing instrument can make a significant improvement in the quality of their written work – and their classroom behavior. Don't just throw a random box of #2s into your cart and hope for the best. Rather, see if your youngster can benefit from a more specialized approach. Click here for more information on fine motor skills deficits.

3. Create a “contact log.” Getting what your AS or HFA youngster needs from school staff is much easier when you can quote the date you were promised something (e.g., an IEP meeting), when it was promised to occur, and who promised it to you. Instead of leaving all this information to your overworked memory bank, jot it down in a contact log.



4. Keeping your spirits up will be difficult when you're battling educators who don’t understand autism spectrum disorders, dreading report cards, and struggling over homework. But, maintaining a positive “can-do” attitude WILL put your youngster on the road to academic success. When you show your child that you have faith in him, he will begin to have faith in himself. Click here for more information on homework-related issues.

5. Parents of “special needs” students need to learn about the differences between a 504 plan under the Americans with Disabilities Act and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Click here for more information on IEPs.

6. Organization is a common problem for many kids on the autism spectrum. Disorganization often results in missed assignments and tests, not having the correct books for homework, etc. Talk with your youngster and get her input on where she needs the most help. Then, the two of you make a plan. When making this plan, consider the following: how homework be communicated (e.g., written down or dictated); if color-coding books by subject would help; what type of binder or folder will be used for loose papers; what type of school bag will work best; what your youngster’s new timetable will be at home and school; whether or not having two sets of school books/tools would be helpful; and if a calendar or diary will be helpful. Click here for more information on organization skills.

7. You are the expert on your child. A simple way to share your knowledge with school staff is by preparing a summary of information on your youngster. The summary should include the following: calming methods, emergency contact numbers, medications, strategies that don’t work, strategies that do work, strengths, and weaknesses. Keep your summary short, and format it so that it is easy to read. Give copies to all school staff who will have interactions with your youngster. Click here for a fact sheet (email or hand-deliver a hardcopy) that provides a short description of AS and HFA – and associated behaviors.

8. Parents are the best advocates for their AS or HFA youngster, because they know their youngster best. However, they can’t be an effective advocate if they don’t have a good working relationship with the individuals involved in their kid’s education. How can moms and dads foster a working relationship with their youngster’s educators, aides, and other school staff in the new school year? Get involved in any parent/teacher organizations. Make and maintain contact with your youngster’s educators before any issues arise. Thank your youngster’s educators when they make a special effort for your youngster. Also, volunteer to help in your youngster’s classrooms, schools, or on field trips. Click here for more information on advocacy.

9. Your youngster doesn't just sit at her desk all day. There are other, less-structured moments that can act like stumbling blocks on the road to academic success. So, stay informed on what your youngster goes through as the school day progresses (e.g., on the bus, at recess, lunch, gym, in the restroom, etc.), and know how intervene.

10. When the parent is standing up for her youngster's rights, it's important to have a good command of the bureaucratic language – especially when the parent is involved with individuals who throw out lots of elaborate terms to let her know they know more than she does. Thus, learn a few IEP acronyms with a cheat sheet (one is provided below).

Cheat Sheet—

Here are the key terms parents will see and hear as they work with the IEP team: 
  • Transition plan: This part of the IEP is for older students and lays out what your adolescent must learn and do in high school in order to succeed as an adult. He and the IEP team develop the plan together before it takes affect at age 16. The transition plan includes goals and activities that are academic and functional, but they extend beyond school to practical job training and life skills.
  • Special education: This is specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of your youngster. It should be designed to give her access to the general education curriculum. 
  • Related services: This includes any support services your youngster needs to benefit from special education (e.g., transportation, occupational therapy).
  • Present levels of performance (PLOP): This is a snapshot of how your youngster is doing currently. PLOP describes your youngster’s academic skills (e.g., reading level) and functional skills (e.g., making conversation, writing). The school prepares this report for the IEP meeting. This is the starting point for setting annual IEP goals.
  • Accommodation: This is a change to (or in) your youngster’s learning environment. Accommodations can help him learn and then show what he’s learned without having his deficits get in the way (e.g., if your youngster takes longer to answer questions, he can be given extra time to take a test). Even with accommodations, “special needs” children are expected to learn the same content as their classmates.
  • Standards-based IEP: This alternative to the traditional IEP is only used in some states. A standards-based IEP measures a child’s academic performance against what the state expects of other children in the same grade.
  • Due process: This is a formal process for resolving disputes with a school about special education and IEPs. Other ways to resolve a dispute include mediation and filing a state complaint.
  • Annual goals: The IEP document lists the academic and functional skills the IEP team thinks your youngster can achieve by the end of the year. These goals are geared toward helping her take part in the general education classroom. 
  • Parent report: This is a letter that parents write. It’s a good way for them to document their youngster’s strengths, challenges, and success at school, home, and in the community. By sharing the report with the IEP team, parents give the team a more complete view of the youngster.
  • Modification: A modification is a change in what the child is expected to learn and demonstrate (e.g., the educator may ask the class to write an essay that explores five major battles during a war, but the “special needs” youngster with a modification may only be asked to write about the basic facts of those battles). 
  • Least restrictive environment: Children with documented disabilities must be taught in the least restrictive environment (i.e., they must be taught in the same setting as children without documented disabilities as much as possible). The school must offer services and supports to help the youngster with an IEP succeed in a general education classroom.
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): IDEA is a federal law that guarantees all kids with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education.
  • General education curriculum: This is the knowledge and skills that all children throughout a state are expected to master (curriculum varies from state to state).
  • Supplementary aids and services: These are supports to help your youngster learn in the general education classroom (e.g., special equipment, assistive technology, audiobooks, highlighted classroom notes, etc.).
  • Extended school year services (ESY): Some children receive special education services outside of the regular school year (e.g., during the summer, during Christmas break).
  • Disability: To qualify for an IEP, your youngster must have a disability that is one of the 13 categories listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Learning and attention issues usually fit into one of three categories: specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, and other health impairment (e.g., ADHD).
  • Behavior intervention plan (BIP): This is a plan designed to teach and reward positive behavior. The plan usually uses techniques to prevent and stop problematic behaviors. It can also have supports and aids for your youngster. To get a BIP, your youngster must have a functional behavioral assessment (FBA).
  • Progress reporting: This refers to how the school will report to parents on their youngster’s progress on annual goals. 
  • Assistive technology (AT): This includes any device, equipment or software that helps the youngster work around his deficits. AT can help the youngster learn, communicate, and function better in school (e.g., apps that read text aloud).

Starting school is usually a difficult time for kids on the autism spectrum. Every youngster is hesitant to go somewhere new and see a bunch of strangers she has never met before. Moving up a grade means having a new teacher, facing more academic demands, and adjusting to a changing social circle. Children who are starting school for the first time or moving to a new school have to cope with an even bigger adjustment. The good news is that with a little bit of preparation, parents can make those first weeks of school easier for their AS and HFA children.

More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's:

==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's

 ==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism

 ==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance

 ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

 ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook

==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book
==> Parenting System that Reduces Problematic Behavior in Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism
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Teenage Son with ASD has Stopped Going to School

Question

We are desperately trying to motivate our teenager [with autism spectrum disorder] to graduate from high school. He is a senior who needs 20 more credits to graduate. He has stopped going to school. Any advice? HELP!!!

Answer 

Every teen with ASD is unique, but when you face a challenge like teenage dropouts, you are never alone. Countless individuals have faced the exact same situation and have survived and thrived. Teenage dropouts are all too common - and occur for a variety of reasons, including over-indulgent and over-protective parenting, mental illness, gangs, drugs, indifferent teachers, and just generally bad choices. 
 
Dropping out of school seems like a good option for teens on the spectrum who are bored in school and feel rejected by their peer group. But they often have a rude awakening once they drop out and have no place to turn.

How you can help:
  • Make the curriculum more interesting.
  • Offer advice on other teenage dropouts.

What to say:
  • Tell them how much you care about them.
  • "What’s your plan?”
  • "How can I help?”

What not to say:
  • "Yeah, that’s a good idea."
  • "Don't do it."
  • "Don’t worry."

In many states, once a teen turns sixteen years old, he or she can drop out of school. Some school systems are now reporting an alarming increase in the amount of drop outs that occur yearly. What can moms and dads and educators do to keep these teens in school? 

By the time a teen reaches the age of sixteen, half of the battle may already be lost. Moms and dads need to instill a love of learning when their kids are small. Moms and dads should begin reading to their kids when they are babies. As kids grow, moms and dads should encourage their kids to excel in school. High expectations should become evident even when kids are in preschool.

As kids move from elementary school into middle school, many kids are left behind academically. If a youngster falls behind in one subject, a parent should take action immediately. Both moms and dads and teachers should communicate in order to plan a successful course of action. A youngster may need extra tutoring, or if there are problems at home, counseling may be in order. 
 
If a parent questions their youngster’s ability, testing may need to be conducted to determine if that youngster has a learning disability. A learning disability, such as dyslexia, can inhibit a youngster’s progress in school, and this will leave the youngster feeling discouraged and inept, prompting even poorer academic performance.

It is also important to encourage your son with ASD to be involved in school related activities as much as possible. The more active your youngster becomes, the less time he’ll have to think about failure. Encourage him to go out for sports and academic teams, band or chorus, and drama. 
 
If he is not really the academic type, help him to find a niche that he really loves, such as welding, auto mechanics, carpentry, drafting, and graphic arts. The key to instilling a need and desire for success in your youngster is to help him find what he is successful at doing. 
 
Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances which can lead to a drop in a youngster’s grades. These circumstances may include a youngster’s illness, a recent move, problems at home, such as a divorce or death, or unexplained emotional problems. It is extremely important that these problems be addressed promptly. If left unattended, the problems could escalate, and when a teen reaches the age that he can legally withdraw from school, he may simply give up.

If you are struggling with a teen that seems apathetic to his academic career, you need to discern what the root problem might be. If the youngster is struggling with a particular subject or subjects, he may need extra tutoring. As a parent, you can encourage your youngster by spending time working with him in the evening. If you don’t feel knowledgeable enough to tutor your youngster, you can arrange for help from someone else.

Many schools now have afternoon tutoring available to help students who are falling behind. Some schools also have “last chance” programs. These programs are typically given at night or on the weekends. They offer students a chance to take a subject or subjects that they have failed, so that they might still be able to graduate on time.

As a parent, you should realize that there may be more serious causes behind your teen’s lack of ambition. Drug abuse is a real problem among teens in today’s society. If you feel that your youngster is exhibiting signs of drug abuse, you should have him tested immediately. If he tests positive, you will need to decide on a direct course of action. 
 
It is also important to remember that even if you succeed in helping your youngster get off drugs, he will still be inundated with temptation if he is hanging with his same crowd of friends. You and your youngster may need to make some serious decisions regarding his every day environment.

Finally, never give up on your son. There may be times when both he and you are discouraged about his academic success. Try to hide your discouragement as much as possible, and, instead, let him see that you believe in him and have high expectations that he will succeed.

==> Videos for Parents of Children and Teens with ASD


COMMENTS:
•    Anonymous said… A senior who still has 20 credits to earn (half of the required number to graduate with a diploma, not a certificate) isn't interested in graduating high school. Home schooling won't change this. Alternate schooling won't change this. Only the Aspie's mindset will change this. If he cannot be motivated and he cannot motivate himself to buckle down to business and earn the outstanding credits, he will not graduate high school in the time allotted by the department or ministry of education in his state or province.
 •    Anonymous said… Can't you look at things another way? What are his hopes and aspirations for his future. What work does he want to do? If it's something he needs exams and qualifications for (sorry, english so don't get your system) then point out that these boring credits he must earn are a step he must take to get there. If otherwise, investigate work experience and apprenticeships, things to look good on a CV and give hands on experience of employment. Ultimately we want our children supporting themselves independantly, and conventional routes may not always work, so find others. Good luck!
 •    Anonymous said… Homeschool instead! Either with an online program through the school system or with something completely different of your/his choosing.
 •    Anonymous said… I would love to homeschool my daughter but I am afraid she will use that online time for computer games or unrelated school things.
 •    Anonymous said… No it's not. It's just a different way that they see the world. All they may hear is 'you're a failure' rather than 'you need to do xy and z to succeed' and that will just push them in a downward spiral.
 •    Anonymous said… Same boat. My son is very close to high school exam and he does not have motivation to study. I am thinking of a new environment for him however Vietnam does not yet have homeschooling or online learning for high school. I dont know what to do. Pls advise! Thanks.
 •    Anonymous said… Sometimes it's a matter of giving him the environment he needs. Does your state have online school? If he can do his studies in the comfort of his own home where you can easily review his progress , that might be a better way.
 •    Anonymous said… That's justification for poor choices on the part of the Aspie.
Post your comment below…
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Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Challenges of Students with Asperger’s and HFA


Most young people diagnosed with Asperger’s and High-functioning Autism (HFA) have behavioral and emotional problems to one degree or another. These challenges are most often related to social skills deficits associated with the disorder (e.g., when the youngster fails to take his turn in a playground game, because he doesn't understand the social rules associated with it).

Social difficulties frequently involve feelings of anxiety, loss of control, and the inability to predict outcomes. As a result, kids on the autism spectrum usually have problems connected to their inability to function in a world they see as threatening and unpredictable.

==> Parenting System that Reduces Problematic Behavior in Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism 

The child who feels generally fearful and confused will typically act-out these troubling emotions in rather destructive ways (e.g., tantrums, meltdowns, shutdowns, aggression, etc.). Thus, it is not uncommon for others to view the Asperger’s or HFA child as mean-spirited and malicious. This, of course, is not the case in most situations. When the “special needs” child experiences behavioral difficulties, his problems are most often associated with his defensive panic reaction, social incompetence, sensory sensitivities, or an obsessive interest in a particular topic.



Because children with Asperger’s and HFA tend to be cut off from their feelings, they obtain facts and information without understanding how those facts can be applied to real-life situations. Also, due to being detail-oriented, they often miss the overall picture and apply the same level of detail to every situation whether appropriate or not.

Parents usually have a great deal of concern about the behavior and social skills deficits of their Asperger’s or HFA youngster. They often report that their child has significant weaknesses in a variety of socially related areas, including overall behavior (e.g., conduct problems, aggression, hyperactivity, withdrawal from social interaction, etc.).

Conversely, teachers often perceive the Asperger’s or HFA student to have both fewer and less significant deficits than do parents (although some teachers do view the student to be "at-risk" in the areas of attention problems and anxiety). This disparity is often due to the fact that kids on the high-functioning end of autism “appear” to perform as well as neurotypical kids in most domains (with the exception of social competency). Therefore, many of the child’s symptoms related to the disorder that result in behavioral problems may be viewed as simple defiance and/or laziness on the part of teachers.

In many ways, students with Asperger’s and HFA are well qualified to benefit from general classroom experiences. They typically have average to above-average intellectual abilities, and better-than-average rote memory skills. However, many of them have learning disabilities and other significant problems in academic performance. The reasons for these problems often are related to the communication and social deficits related to their disorder.

==> Parenting System that Reduces Problematic Behavior in Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism 

Additionally, even though the Asperger’s or HFA student is exceedingly gifted when it comes to comprehending factual material, he or she often experiences unique challenges that make it difficult to benefit from general education curricula and instructional systems without support and accommodations. For example:
  • concrete and literal thinking styles
  • difficulty in discerning relevant from irrelevant stimuli
  • inflexibility
  • difficulties in the areas of problem-solving and language-based critical thinking
  • trouble generalizing knowledge and skills
  • obsessive and narrowly defined interests
  • weakness in comprehending verbally presented information
  • poor organizational skills
  • difficulties in arriving at logical solutions to routine and real-life problems
  • poor problem-solving skills
  • difficulty attending to salient curricular cues 
  • difficulty in comprehending abstract materials (e.g., metaphors and idioms)
  • problems with understanding inferentially-based materials
  • problems in applying skills and knowledge to solve problems

Many teachers fail to recognize the special academic needs of students with Asperger’s and HFA, because they often give the impression that they understand more than they do. Furthermore, certain strengths of the disorder may actually mask the deficits (e.g., their ability to “word-call” without having the higher-order thinking and comprehension skills to understand what they read, parrot-like responses, seemingly advanced vocabulary, and their pedantic style).

Here’s additional information on the behavioral, emotional, and academic challenges of students with Asperger’s and HFA – and how parents and teachers can help:

 Reasons Why Your Asperger’s or HFA Child Gets So Stressed-Out at School

School-Work Problems in Children on the Autism Spectrum

Helping Kids on the Autism Spectrum to “Fit-In” with Their Peer Group

Aggressive Children on the Autism Spectrum: Advice for Parents and Teachers

Students with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s: Crucial Strategies for Teachers

Anxiety-Based Absenteeism and School-Refusal in Kids on the Autism Spectrum

Poor Academic Performance in Students on the Autism Spectrum



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