1 / 16

‘WHEN YOU’VE SEEN ONE STUDENT WITH ASPERGER’S…….’

‘WHEN YOU’VE SEEN ONE STUDENT WITH ASPERGER’S…….’. Student Affairs Summer Academy July 22, 2008 Cathy Patus, Disability Resource Center. WHAT IS ASPERGER’S SYNDROME?. A neurological disorder included in the spectrum of autism disorders

vinny
Download Presentation

‘WHEN YOU’VE SEEN ONE STUDENT WITH ASPERGER’S…….’

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. ‘WHEN YOU’VE SEEN ONE STUDENT WITH ASPERGER’S…….’ Student Affairs Summer Academy July 22, 2008 Cathy Patus, Disability Resource Center

  2. WHAT IS ASPERGER’S SYNDROME? • A neurological disorder included in the spectrum of autism disorders • As many as 1 in 150 individuals have an Autism Spectrum Disorder • As many as 1 in 250 have Asperger’s • The individual is typically verbal with normal or above normal IQ • No known cause – will last lifetime

  3. “TRIAD OF DEFICITS” • Communication • Socialization • Focus on specific topic or interest/other topics may be viewed as irrelevant

  4. COMMUNICATION • May display impairments in both expressive and receptive communication • May possess extensive vocabulary yet lack affect when speaking or use odd words and phrases • Linear thinking – difficulty with abstract thought • Literal interpretation makes idiomatic phrases difficult to understand • Subtle nuances of language – forget about it!

  5. SOCIALIZATION • Socialization difficulties may be the distinguishing trademark • Inability to understand or respond to others thoughts and feelings • Change of routine may cause difficulty

  6. FOCUS ON SPECIFIC TOPIC OF INTEREST • Lack of ability to plan, organize, change routines • Rigid, inflexible, unwilling to change topics • Preoccupation with specific topic can be a hindrance but can also be a strength

  7. SENSORY INTEGRATION DYSFUNCTION • Sensory distortions – the senses fail to provide accurate data • Student may be overly stimulated by lights, music, noise • Helps to explain tendency to remain with routines and familiar surroundings

  8. TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE • Student with AS may have IQ of 150 or above • Admission to college is rarely the problem! • Routine and structure of high school is replaced by the chaos of college life • Parental support now minimal

  9. CLASSROOM CONSIDERATIONS • Correcting professors • Helium hands • Difficulty with group work • Low tolerance for what is perceived as irrelevant • Missing deadlines due to poor organizational skills

  10. LIVING ON CAMPUS • Forced interactions with others • No comfort zone – no place to retreat • Bathroom routines may be impossible due to community living • Private room or bathroom?? • Furniture arrangement is important

  11. DISCIPLINE ISSUES • Classroom disruptions • Stalking • Roommate problems

  12. ACADEMIC ADVISING/CAREER EXPLORATION • Capiltalize on linear thinking when choosing a major • Avoid social or human services’ careers • Explore career fields that require high tolerance for tasks that most of us consider mundane and boring!

  13. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT • Include family members whenever possible • The student with AS needs them and so do we! • Learn to love that hovering sound

  14. STRATEGIES • Brainstorming on specific strategies that could be employed in our specific areas within Student Affairs or the University in general

  15. IN CONCLUSION • When you’ve seen one student with Asperger’s Syndrome, you’ve seen one student with Asperger’s Syndrome • “I know of nobody who is purely autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God has some autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin.” (Jerry Newport)

  16. REFERENCES • Available on request! • E-mail me at clpatu01@louisville.edu

More Related