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A Parent’s Perspective on Asperger Syndrome: A Survive & Thrive Guide - Part II

  

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A Parent’s Perspective on Asperger Syndrome: A Survive & Thrive Guide - Part II
Helen Elder

Below are several strategies that can help your child with Asperger Syndrome thrive.

Speech therapy:  Learning (pragmatics) social language is helpful. Do not settle for the idea that your child “will get it eventually.” Instruction needs to be taught intentionally in sequential steps in order to learn social cues, much the way it is done for a child with a reading problem.  For example,  imagine you have a child who is sounding out the words one by one in reading while her classmates are reading silently at a fast pace. That child would qualify for additional instruction to help overcome this. It is easier to put in place a teaching plan for an academic area than a social one in a large classroom environment. When a child cannot read social language and cues from the non-verbal cues of his classmates and teachers, it is not as easy to receive additional instruction. {However, Aspies can be taught to read these social cues in many different manners.}

There are several reasons why children with Aspergers might struggle during times that most children thrive – the “free” time. Often children with Asperger Syndrome need rules and additional instruction for how to act and speak during social times. In the public schools, this often is when there is less guidance, a.k.a: “Free Time.” It can set up a child with Aspergers for failure. My child was often the bully magnet in those situations. His awkwardness was more pronounced and he no longer was the expert who knew it all, because he was out of the academic classroom where his advanced encyclopedic analysis allowed him to ace the trivia contests.

• Prepare a Calm Environment at Home: A consistent schedule is helpful. You may need to adjust your environment to allow your child to recover from daily stress. Most children with Asperger’s do not transition well, so it is challenging to go out a lot or leave your child with a babysitter.
•  Find a Support Group:  It is helpful to know you are not alone. At some point, parents and siblings may find it helpful to find a special needs support group. It can be reassuring to know there are others who have managed similar situations.
•  Set Goals: Once diagnosed, parents find that their dreams for their child’s life need to be adjusted. Since children with Asperger Syndrome are highly intelligent, it is likely that they will go to college and become independent as an adult. Consider this before setting up a lot of involved supports for your child. It could be easy to become dependent on receiving a lot of interventions, including academic accommodations and supports that will make being independent later very challenging.
•  Advocate for your Child: It can be challenging for parents to advocate for their child. It can be uncomfortable, and at times, confrontational. Sometimes parents are the only interpreters for a child. You may find that you are at odds with your child’s doctor, a school administrator, teachers, friends, family. Your child depends on you to be their voice and interpret the world for them in a way they can relate to.

 In conclusion, take it step by step and enjoy your child. Each effort you make is worth the work. These individuals will make an impact on the world.

Ches. Bay Academy: Asperger's syndrome: wavy.com