Educational Opportunities for Kids With Asperger's

Kids with Asperger's syndrome are considered to be on the autism spectrum. All children on the spectrum deal with communication problems, social delays, lack of empathy, mental rigidity, sensory issues, self-stimulating behaviors and intense focus or obsession on certain interests. Unlike many young ones battling autism, kids affected by Asperger's generally have minimal to no cognitive impairment. Parents can build on a kid's particular interests to motivate cooperation and learning in both formal and informal educational settings.

  1. Formal Educational Opportunities: Special Education Classroom

    • For children with Asperger's whose challenges in one or more developmental areas require an individualized education plan or IEP, special education services are provided. This assistance generates more intense academic help than would be available in a typical classroom. Special education staff work on IEP goals and objectives addressing all student concerns. Participation in special education facilitates your young one's progress in academics, social skills, speech, motor issues and adaptive life skills through small group or individual teaching activities focused on areas of concern.

    Formal Educational Opportunities: Mainstreamed Classroom

    • Children with Asperger's may not always exhibit appropriate social skills with their peers, but developing positive interaction patterns with other students paves the way for friendships. Mainstreaming your youngster, as fitting, into regular classrooms for a portion or all of the school day provides him with opportunities to observe other children, picking up on behaviors and learning to engage in favorable relationships with their peers. These kids often tackle academic subjects with skill; providing your child with the chance to learn subject matter from the regular education teachers may also appropriately challenge him academically. Often kids with Asperger's are not diagnosed until behavorial problems appear; once identified, parents should keep in close touch with school staff to ensure that young ones are receiving customized help in social skills.

    Informal Community Educational Opportunities

    • Because kids on the autism spectrum often have specific, exceptional interest in certain topics ranging from everything from trains to ballet, after-school activities can advance your young one's educational prowess in this field of interest. Allowing your child to indulge in her special fascination can be a motivator for working cooperatively and on task during the school day; her favorable performance at school ensures her continued time in pursuing special passions. And skills learned in one area of interest invariably spill over into others; learning -- whatever the context -- develops neural pathways that link with other learning for a synergistic effect mentally.

    Informal Family-Based Educational Opportunities

    • Parents are a kid's best support system. You can provide your child with informal educational experiences custom-tailored to fuel and fulfill his curiosity. Is he fascinated by mountains? Plan family camping trips with hikes. Make him a part of the preparation process. He can learn about camping and hiking gear; how to safely build a fire and cook breakfast. Engage him in conversation on the hike about flora and fauna. While kids with Asperger's may process incoming data from the world differently than their peers, educational opportunities can be found in myriad formal and informal arenas.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Social Skills Activities for Children With Down Syndrome
      Down syndrome is the most common genetic defect in the United States with approximately 6,000 births a year, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. Children with Downs suffer mild to moderate cognitive delays that affect education. Many sch
    • Stone Crafts for Kids
      Those random stones your child picks up when playing outside arent just for tossing across a pond or for playing hopscotch. You can turn those stones into cool craft projects for your child to work on. Depending on the type of stones you have access
    • How to Teach a Special Needs Child to Read
      While most reading disabilities are neurodevelopmental and dont go away, they can be managed (See Reference List). Parents and teachers need to give children with special needs the opportunity for success. With individualized reading strategies, spec