Part 7: Teaching Strategies for Students with Asperger’s and High-Functioning Autism – Impairment in Social Interaction
Young people with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA): are easily taken advantage of (e.g., do not perceive that others sometimes lie or trick them) are relatively naïve are sometimes labeled "little professor" because speaking style is so adult-like and pedantic exhibit poor ability to initiate and sustain conversation have difficulty judging "social distance" have difficulty understanding jokes, irony or metaphors have well-developed speech, but poor communication skills may appear insensitive and lacking tact may be extremely egocentric may not like physical contact may use inappropriate gaze and body language may use monotone or stilted, unnatural tone of voice often misinterpret social cues show an inability to understand complex rules of social interaction talk “at” people instead of “to” them usually have a desire to be part of the social world, but don’t have the skills to do so Programming Suggestions for Teachers: 1.