Teaching a child with aspergers syndrome?

Question

A 11 year old girl with aspergers syndrome has just joined the class where im working as a teachers assistant. I would like some assistance in some strategies I could implement to help her adjustment go as smooth as possible,I want to be able to meet all her needs but am unsure how to start.I want to be able to minimise outbursts and inappropriate behaviour from her while being sensitive to her needs and the needs of others in the classroom.

Answer 1

Can you talk to her parents?  If they have certain stratergies that they are using keeping things the same helps.  Change is difficult for them and many of them hate eye contact.

Answer 2

My son has help in the mornings only with the teacher's assistant.

He can become overwelmed with the work if he is asked to do 4 or 5 things at the same time.  He will forget what to do and get confused. eg. "draw a line under the last piece of work, write the date, the title, write me a story on the Romans, then a picture at the end!!!!"

She sits next to him and gives him the work one item at a time.  This calms him tremendously.

She will also let him tell her his story, then relay it back to him, a sentance at a time, otherwise the story comes out confused, since his thinking happens so much faster than he can write

When he begins the comprehensive school next year he will be allowed a dictophone - so that he can do this for himself

also a laptop - so that the teacher's can understand his writing

Other than that he does exactly the same work as everybody else in the class

He had the winning scores in this year CAT tests - so he does not have a problem with the work but he is easily upset by others

If a child rushes past him and bumps him, he takes that as personnally as if the person had stood and punched him on purpose so alot of your time will probably be taken up defending others actions.  

However , they really do pick on him too , since he is so easily upset - name calling is enough to cause tears.  you just need to be understanding, and use the school's own bullying policies when you feel it is necessary

Answer 3

Try talking with the teacher to get ideas about his/her expectations about discipline and redirecting aberrant behavior; this will work in a special day class. Also, you should talk with the school speech specialist, who should be able to guide you. The IEP is your starting point, as you will need to adhere to the goals.