teaching a child with aspergers syndrome?

Question

I need a list of a few agencies that would be helpful to someone needing information on children with aspergers syndrome in western australia????? I also need to know the best way to implement a behaviour management plan for someone with this syndrome and the best ways to assist them in mainstream schooling?

Answer 1

What seems to work best with children of any type of autism is visual schedules and visual cues on behavior, and total consistency from the caregivers.
Children with this syndrome do not do well with change. They need to know what is going to happen, and how their caregiver is going to react to things. A visual schedule provides them with security. They know what will happen next and help them to develop a routine.
Visual Cues are just pictures of expectations teachers have for any child in the classroom. When they are not meeting an expectation the teacher/ caregiver walk over to them and touch a picture of an expectation. ( it might even be to just breath and relax because you see they are tensing up) .
These children also need help with organization. Help them to use an agenda DAILY. Put this in their visual schedule to help to fill out the agenda during class and use it during every subject as well as after school.
When mainstreaming these students it is a good idea for the speech therapist to be prepared with many social story activities that will fit the social changes of preteens and teens. I think this time is the hardest because the consistency of behaviors from their peers is not there, one day they are friends and the next day they aren't, and this can be devasting for children who need the consistency and social support of their community.
Asperger's is a social/communication disorder. So these kids need as much interaction with their peers as possible without over stressing them. My suggestion would be to sign them up for clubs but be prepared to help them socially interact with as many people as possible.

The one thing every caregiver/ teacher/ peer has to keep in mind is that people with aspergers are important and have a place in our society. It is our job to help them out as much as possible to learn their strengths and use them to reach their potential.