What is your advice to a person with Asperger's Disorder that dropped out of high school?

Question

I am not sure what aspect. I know this person is really shy and is experiencing a mild form of depression to go along with it.

Answer 1

Advice on what exactly? If you could explain the problem a bit more, you might get better answers.

For example advice on how to find a job? how to gain more qualifications? how to live independently?

Also, what level of Asberger's are you referring to? This is quite a wide spectrum disorder.

OK, you have noticed that this person is 'shy' - this is probably because Asberger's is essentially a mild form of autism, which makes social contact difficult and hard to understand for those with the condition. The inability to cope with broad social situations, like a high school, can be extremely difficult for young people with Asberger's. Sensory overload, such as smells, noise, color and movement can also be very uncomfortable and distressing.

Routine and familiarity is often very important, and Asberger's people can often have obsessive compulsive traits which need careful handling, not always easy to do for a high school teacher with rowdy or large classes.

This does not mean that the person with the condition is stupid or lazy - it just means that the setting may not be conducive to their learning. Often people with this condition have impressive talents say in music or math. I taught a boy with Asberger's in a mainstream class and he went on to study music at university, but his needs were very carefully monitored. If schools do not have the expertise or resources to help, then it could be very difficult. Small group or individual learning, online learning etc can be helpful ways for some Asberger's 'sufferers' to progress with their education. Dropping out of high school is not the end of the world and your friend should not listen to any ignorant people who say this is stupid or just an excuse to be lazy - they just don't understand the complexities of the condition.

If you want more info, there is a lot available on the internet. Support groups and information sites are listed at:

http://www.kandi.org/aspergers/Support_Groups_and_Organizations/index2.html

These networks are a great way of finding people with similar questions and experiences, and finding good strategies to deal with particular needs and problems. Your friend may even be able to learn from others who have been through difficult times too.

If you like to read, I'd also thoroughly recommend "The curious incident of the dog in the night time" by Mark Haddon, whose main character is a boy with Asberger's. It is extremely helpful in understanding what these kids go through.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400032717/sr=8-1/qid=1152860226/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7357984-1079921?ie=UTF8

Good luck! You sound like a caring person!

Answer 2

Go back and at minimum get a GED. There are also many on-line aptitude and interest tests that you can take to help you decide what type of career you would be good at and areas that your skills will excel. Typically though, people with Asperbergers to not do well in social situations because the way their brain is wired does not allow them to pick up on non-verbal ques and emotions of other people; however, because of having their brain wired different they usually excel in the techincal area such as engineering, drafting and automotive repair.

The best thing to keep in mind is just because you have a disorder does not mean that you cannot excel at something, it just means you need to find the right thing for you to excel at.

An example of someone with Asperger's that has excelled in her field is Temple Grandin. She designs facilites for cattle so that the cows are more comfortable during their lives and for those led to slaughter are treated humanely up until the final moment. She has stated it is because of her disability that she is able to relate with the animals more than she does with people and it has made her better at what she does than if she did not have the disorder.

Answer 3

People with Asperger's Disorder (Syndrome) tend to have poor social skills. It is very common for people with this disorder to drop out of school in order to avoid social situations. You'll need to acquire socialization skills in order to succeed in the business world as a consumer, employee or even employer. I hope that you are receiving counseling. Dropping out of High School is not the end of the world. Once you have acquired some basic social skills, I'm certain that you will go on to finish school. I know a few people with this disorder that have graduated from college. Good luck to you. :)

Answer 4

It is my understanding that Ausperger's Syndrome is little more than an inability to cope in social situations.
At the risk of sounding insensitive my opinion is that Ausperger's Syndrome is only an excuse to drop out, not a reason.
School is not a time for culture hour and if one doesn't feel like socializing, one doesn't have to. I never did. I was in school to learn, not to make friends, not to hear about the social life of the ignorant **** sitting next to me.
If this kid has Ausperger's Syndrome, fine- but if this kid or anyone else thinks that it has anything to do with his education he's sadly mistaken.
My advice would be to return to school and cease using a disability as an excuse not to go.

Answer 5

Find a tutor that has experience working with people who have Asperger's and take the GED. With NCLB, there really isn't any other solution. Most employers want at least a GED. Perhaps someone at a Job Corp would be able to help.

Answer 6

Sometimes highschool can be pure hell to someone with AS. Teachers are not always sensitive to the difficulties kids with AS can have, and other kids can be really nasty.

Plus many people with AS have can have narrow interests and just have trouble focusing on anything that does not grip them:)

As with anyone, all people with AS do not fit into a *mold*, your friend could have a variety of reasons to have quit school.

As an alternative your friend could check out virtual schools, I know someone who is enrolled in virtual school as a home schooled student, has chosen his courses that are most interesting to him, and is working with his parents on others. He also participates in his high school in band and orchestra and clubs, etc.. This is in the US and I guess it varies from state to state.

The only other thing I can think of is just making sure your friend at least gets a GED, its a competitive world.

Answer 7

i would say get your diploma weather it is going back if possible or going to an adult highschool!! that way you have a base for some other form of education you may want to pursue and it will give you more posibilities for jobs

Answer 8

Take the GED test.