Aspergers Disorder

By Eric Man, Will Tam, Ashley Neels & Dave Grender

Asperger’s Syndrome: Real Story

Watch this video.

Hans Asperger

“Dr. Hans Asperger, the Austrian pediatrician after whom Asperger Syndrome is named”

What is Aspergers Disorder?

“Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder falling within the autistic spectrum affecting two-way social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and a reluctance to accept change, inflexibility of thought and to have all absorbing narrow areas of interest”

http://aspergersyndrome.org/Articles/Asperger-Syndrome.aspx

Signs and Symptoms

two-way social interaction

verbal and nonverbal communication

a reluctance to accept change

inflexibility of thought

Adept knowledge in narrowed fields

Aspergers affects…

Signs and Symptoms

4 key dimensions of Asperger’s Syndrome Social Isolation Impaired Social Interaction Impaired Non-Verbal Communication Speech and Language Peculiarities

(Szatmari, Bermneer and Nagy, 1998)

Signs and Symptoms

Social Isolation No close friends Avoids other people No interest in making friends A loner

Signs and Symptoms

Impaired Social Interaction Approaches others to fulfill personal needs Clumsy social approach One-sided responses to peers Difficulty sensing feelings of others Indifference to the feelings of others

Signs and Symptoms

Impaired Non-Verbal Communication Limited facial expressions Unable to read emotions through facial

expressions Inability to convey message with eyes Avoids looking at others Does not use hands to aid expression Large and clumsy gestures Infringes on other people's physical space

Signs and Symptoms

Speech and Language Peculiarities Abnormalities of inflection Over-talkative Non-communicative Lack of cohesion to conversation Idiosyncratic use of words (uses words in a

different way from the normal meaning of words)

Repetitive patterns of speech

Autism Spectrum

Autism Spectrum

How is it categorized? Aspergers is considered to be a mild form of

autism

Current Practices in B.C Juristictions

A 10-year old with Aspergers

Let’s watch Dean talk about his disorder

Making Sense of Behaviour and Planning Ways to Help

7 Steps:1. What is the Problem?

2. Why is this student behaving this way?

3. What is the goal?

4. Plan Strategies

5. Checking

6. Plan into Action

7. Monitor Progress

1. What is the Problem? Explore with teachers, SEAs, parents

Ask: “What behaviours do you want different?” Be specific

2. Why does this student behave this way?

When analyzing the specified behaviour, consider: Situations and settings:

Location Characteristics of room Surrounding people or unpleasant? What are the timings in relation to other things? When does it not happen?

Mindblindness: Ability to consider another’s point of view, feelings, and needs? Ability to communicate needs

Getting the gist: Understanding of occurrences, events, etc and their associated patterns

Imagination: Influences of imagination on behaviour

Preoccupations and sensory experiences: Classroom environment Incoming sensory stimuli

Social interaction: ability to communicate Influences of interactions with people on student’s behaviour

Emotions: Temperament – tendencies re. anxiety and mood Reasons for being upset – memories, bad dreams, illness, tiredness, boredom

Sameness: Routines – need to change or have changed

Responses: response of others to student’s behaviour – immediately after and further in future

Benefits: positive outcome that happen for anyone

3. What is the goal?

When determining the goal of your behaviour change, consider: your specific aim Benefits of this behaviour change – you, child, both Give a thought to the future.. Check that it meets the SMART criteria:

Specific. Be clear and specific Measurable. Have an outcome or something that you can

see and count Achievable. Start with something that is possible to achieve. Realistic. Time limited. Be clear that this is something you would like

to achieve in a certain time period.

4. Plan strategies

Consult with: Parents Resource Teachers and SEAs Teachers Outside professionals

Brainstorm numerous ideas Be creative, think outside the box

Choose strategy or combo of strategies Realistic Possible to carry through

5. Checking

When you have a plan, check: benefits for everybody concerned Costs

emotions time resources

Potential conflicts Identify Plan ways of dealing with said

6. Put the plan into action! 7. Monitor progress

Remain positive

Perform first 5 steps again

When the plan is not working consider: when where why

plan additional strategies.

Work Cited