ASDat...

1. ASDat... Supporting Students with Asperger Syndrome and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. Annie Clements

2. Thought for the day......... • “You can not change someone’s Asperger's Syndrome, but you can change the way in which the individual is able to cope with it.” Dr Luke Beardon

3. “Autistic people have to understand scientifically what non-autistic people already understand instinctively. Therefore skills usually learnt indirectly need to be taught directly.”Marc Segar-April 1997 • The things we do automatically, do not come naturally to people with AS, for example making eye contact with a person when talking to them.

4. Sensory issues • They can be hyper or hypo sensitive to specific sensory experiences • This can lead to problems in everyday life • They can be sensitive to sounds, textures, taste, lighting, smell, touch & even colour • If a person with AS has a sensory overload this may cause them to shut down

5. Emotional & sensory balance • When we are balanced, we can think, plan, listen, learn, make choices and handle anxiety better. When we are flooded this is all lost, and when we are in denial, we spend all our time trying to control how we feel and eventually it explodes.

6. Who is affected by Asperger Syndrome? • There are approx 1 in 100 people diagnosed with ASD in the UK • Within Asperger Syndrome there are 15 : 1 males to females • However, there is a growing understanding that AS in girls is being missed. • As many as 40% of anorexic girls may have AS • People with AS come from all nationalities, cultures, social backgrounds and religions • There appears to be a genetic disposition within families towards ASD

7. What is Asperger Syndrome • It is an autistic spectrum disorder • It affects the way people make sense of the world, process information and relates to other people. • It was first recognised by Hans Asperger in 1944 • They have difficulties/differences in 3 main areas (triad of impairment) • Socialisation • Communication • Imagination

8. Something to remember... • AS is often referred to a ‘mild autism’. However, this is not the case. Autism is a highly complex disorder. Someone with AS can struggle enormously with understanding day to day life. It is not something to be taken lightly. • However, with the right support and encouragement people with AS can lead full and independent lives • However, if you have met one person with AS that is all you have done – met one person – every person has different needs.

9. Barriers to coming into the setting • Journey • Remembering things • Weather • Other students • Boring day ahead • Worried about something happening later • Things at home being disorganised • Anxiety????????????????????????????? • Not knowing an alternative

10. Support within education.. • Students may experience higher levels of stress and anxiety than other students. The things that generate that stress and anxiety may be different than for the average student population. • E.g. They may seem unconcerned about a particular assignment, but may experience high levels of anxiety if changes are made to the timetable

11. Remember environment issues • Think about sensory issues – • Light • Colour • Smell • Noise

12. Help in lessons.... • Help to identify the best seating position due to their sensory difficulties • Copies of notes/overheads due to verbal processing difficulties and visual learning style. Also they may have difficulties with note taking/hand writing which means they take longer to take notes or struggle to know which notes to take. Recording the lecture can help. • Guidance about when and how to ask questions • Use clear and unambiguous language.

13. Think about skills needed • Teamwork • Note taking • Research • Planning • Organisation

14. Continued.... • Try not to go too fast!!!! • Be clear about and write down all expectations and deadlines. • Advance notice of any changes • Write down meeting times and venues, and what they need to bring and what will be expected of them.

15. Coursework... • This may need to be clearly detailed about what is required, when, how and in what format. Students may need longer deadlines, or may need help to plan and manage their workloads.

16. Exam support... • Preparation for the change in routine that the exam will involve • Extra time in the exam • A specific format – e.g different coloured paper or overlay • Specialist equipment e.g laptop • Separate room due to sensitivity issues • A scribe • A question written in clear language or someone to clarify the question • A prompt to remind to move onto the next question (taken from Skill: Nat bur for students with disabilities)

17. Just to recap... • The skills and strengths of people with AS need to be valued • Support needs of each individual will vary • They may struggle with the social demands of everyday life • You may need to be flexible and imaginative in working to identify how best to meet their learning needs • Don’t assume students will automatically know or understand what is expected of them

18. ADHD • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Hyperkenitivity • Most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder • 3 – 5 % school age children diagnosed • Neurologically – based disability

19. Main features • Unable to maintain attention • Unable to think before saying or doing something • Unable to control impulsivity • Unable to control the amount of physical activity that is appropriate to the situation

20. Things that can help... • You need to create a structure environment • clear expectations • Predictability • Short work periods • Loads of positive re-enforcement and feedback • MAKE IT INTERESTING!! (TO THEM!!) • Avoid multi-faceted projects, single tasking works bests

21. Behaviourally... • They need support to ‘slow down’ • They need people to believe in them in spite of the problems they can create around them • They find it difficult to help themselves and work through alternative more appropriate/positive ‘choices’ • They may not have had any sleep so be aware of that • They need more food and water • Boundaries are really important • They may well have heard a lot of negative language about themselves • Peer pressure/expectation is a huge issue

22. Emotional & sensory balance • When we are balanced, we can think, plan, listen, learn, make choices and handle anxiety better. When we are flooded this is all lost, and when we are in denial, we spend all our time trying to control how we feel and eventually it explodes.

23. Remember home ..... • Everyone can exhausted • It can be very negative • Real extension of teenage issues • It can be present in parents and siblings

24. How to reach us • Annie Clements • ASDat... 33 Richmond Road, Ipswich IP1 4DW • Email – ASDatac@aol.com • Mobile – 07794 086316