My ASD Child

1. Cognitive Issues— Mindblindness, or the inability to make inferences about what another person is thinking, is a core disability for those with Aspergers. Because of this, they have difficulty empathizing with others, and will often say what they think without considering another's feelings. The youngster will often assume that everyone is thinking the same thing he is. For him, the world exists not in shades of gray, but only in black and white. This rigidity in thought (lack of cognitive flexibility) interferes with problem solving, mental planning, impulse control, flexibility in thoughts and actions, and the ability to stay focused on a task until completion. The rigidity also makes it difficult for an Asperger youngster to engage in imaginative play. His interest in play materials, themes, and choices will be narrow, and he will attempt to control the play situation. 2. Difficulty with Reciprocal Social Interactions— Those with Aspergers display varying diffic

1. Does your youngster tend to focus on one subject, to the exclusion of all others? Yes - she latches onto one topic of interest and learns everything there is to know about it. She won't even think about something else! No - she has some favorite topics, but displays a wide range of interests. 2. Does your youngster have difficulty interacting socially, particularly when it comes to nonverbal communication? Yes - she seems unable to pick up cues in people's body language and vocal inflection. No - she seems to be able to read the mood of a room pretty well, and understands what is and isn't appropriate in a conversation. 3. Does your youngster vary her vocal inflections, volume, or pitch? No - she speaks in a monotone, regardless of the subject or the environment. Yes - she shouts, whispers, laughs, whimpers, and more. 4. Does your youngster adhere to rigid, repetitive routines when it comes to everyday tasks? Yes - everything has

What is Aspergers? Aspergers (high functioning autism) is a complex developmental disability marked by impairments in socialization, communication, cognition, and sensation. Like classic autism, Aspergers is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It is a lifelong disorder that carries with it considerable and long-term behavior problems. Although the characteristics of Aspergers will differ from person to person, common effects of the disorder include: • A persistent preoccupation with objects or narrowly focused topics of interest • An inflexible adherence to a nonfunctional routine or ritual • Difficulties with fine-motor skills and sensory integration • Repetition of movements or words and phrases • Trouble understanding social cues and conversational language styles Aspergers may be diagnosed when a child exhibits atypical repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and activities, such as the examples listed

As a teacher, you are responsible for helping to shape the lives of young people and preparing them to be successful adults. Your Aspergers (high-functioning autistic) students may come from different family backgrounds and leave your classroom for different futures, but they spend a significant portion of their young lives with you right now. Next to their parents and immediate family, you have the greatest opportunity and the power to positively influence their lives. To do this successfully, you need to understand and be able to meet their needs. You already know that, in addition to intelligence, passion, and enthusiasm, teaching requires patience, sensitivity, and creativity. Having a youngster with Aspergers in your classroom will present unique challenges for you as a teacher, but it also gives you the opportunity to learn new ways to teach young people the academic and social skills that will last them a lifetime. With the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities