What does research tell us about families with children with Down syndrome? There have been a number of useful studies of the experiences of families with children with Down syndrome in recent years, particularly in Australia, the USA, and the UK. These studies have moved on from simply looking for negative effects and have taken more sophisticated approaches…
A neurodiversity perspective can help educators create learning environments in which all students flourish. It was my first day as a special education teacher in Montreal, Canada, and my supervisor was taking me around to see some model programs in other schools. At the door of the first classroom, the teacher welcomed us warmly. As…
Recently I read on the Internet that I was showing my age because I was so concerned about constant video game playing. What I am worried about is when video games become such an obsession that they interfere with schoolwork or getting a job. In a new study led by University of Missouri professor Micah…
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, a highly controversial topic of conversation among parents and professionals was the question, “Should we tell our child that he has autism?” Today we have learned that such self-knowledge is essential, that children need to understand how and why they may feel different from others around them, and what…
Prognosis There is some evidence that kids with ASPERGERS may see a lessening of symptoms as they mature. Up to 20% of kids may no longer meet the diagnostic criteria as grown-ups, although social and communication difficulties may persist. As of 2006, no studies addressing the long-term outcome of people with ASPERGERS are available and…
Playing outside is one of those rites of childhood that gets championed by people who feel kids today spend too much time in front of a screen. Fresh air, exercise, creative activity — that’s all great, sure, but for those of us who have children with special needs, outdoor play can be problematic. Medical issues…
A child with Asperger’s may have a meltdown in the toy store because you won’t buy that outer space building set. He might be a skilled negotiator about bedtime or recite facts about turtles instead of answering your question about school. It’s easy to term these behaviors “manipulation,” but this isn’t always accurate. It can…
When you think about ADHD, what do you imagine? If you’re like most people, it’s probably a stereotypical image of a young boy bouncing off the walls, buzzing with pent-up, unfocused energy. But many people with ADHD aren’t hyperactive at all, and by the time they reach adulthood, most hyperactive people have calmed down —…
Having a child with Asperger Syndrome in your class will have a different impact on your classroom environment than having a child with autism. But as is the case with all individuals on the autism spectrum, each individual with Asperger Syndrome is different and will present his or her own unique challenges. Children with Asperger…
From the book Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, 2nd edition (2012, Future Horizons, Inc.) *Reprinted in its entirety with permission of author. Click here for the downloadable PDF. Some days it seems the only predictable thing about it is the unpredictability. The only consistent attribute—the inconsistency. Autism can be baffling, even to those…