My ASD Child

“Any tips for assisting my autistic student (high-functioning) with staying more focused and on task?” Children with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and Asperger’s are often off task, distracted by internal stimuli, can be very disorganized, and have difficulty sustaining focus on classroom activities. Often it is not that the attention is poor, rather that the focus is "odd." In other words, the child can’t figure out what is relevant, so attention is often focused on irrelevant stimuli. In addition, these “special needs” students tend to withdrawal into complex inner worlds in a manner much more intense than is typical of daydreaming. Here are a few suggestions to help with poor concentration in students on the autism spectrum: 1.  Work out a nonverbal signal with your HFA student (e.g., a gentle pat on the shoulder) for times when he or she is not attending. 2.  Encourage the student to leave his or her inner thoughts and fantasies behind and refocus on the real