ASPERGER SYNDROME IN CLASSROOM – Ayperi SAL

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people.

Asperger syndrome is mostly a ‘hidden disability’. This means that you can’t tell that someone has the condition from their outward appearance. People with the condition have difficulties in three main areas. They are:

• ·        Social communication
• ·        Social interaction
• ·        Social imagination

As mentioned above, asperger syndrome is a hidden disability, in other words it may be difficult to understand whether a child has asperger syndrome or not. If the people are not aware of this syndrome, it becomes more and more diffucult for an asperger to communicate in a social environment. At this point teachers play an important part. Because not all parents are educated about psychology maybe but teachers have to make research about these kind of disabilities. The students spend most of their time in the school and here is the place where they can be observed deeply. A good teacher must be aware of this syndrome and its symptoms. He/she has to be a good observer. Also the teacher is the one who must inform the parents about this  syndrome and its symptoms.

If I were a teacher and had a child with asperger syndrome, I would try to know much more things about this syndrome and looking for approaches and strategies to help my student have a good learning experience and happy childhood memories.

Before choosing an approach I think it is very important to know the child, his/her interests, behaviours and then I can choose a suitable approach for my student.

Some of these important approaches that may help the students with asperger syndrome are:

·        SPELL (Structure, Positive, Empathy, Low arousal, Links)

·        The TEACCH Approach: it prepares the asperger students to live or work more effectively at home and in the wider world.

·        Social stories and comic strip conversations help people with asperger syndrome to develop greater social understanding.

·        Visual supports are adaptable, portable and can be used in most situations to help.

There are many things that can be done. We shouldn’t forget that a teacher who is a good observer and educated about asperger or psychology can have a great impact on a child with asperger syndrome and on his/her quality of life.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/asperger.aspx

http://www.autism.org.uk/about/strategies.aspx