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Top 10 things you should know about autism and special education

By Sarah Coxon in BLOG on March 22nd 2021

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1. ASD is a spectrum disorder, which means that every child with ASD has different needs

Autism Spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3. Conditions such as Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) fall within the autistic spectrum, and can cover a wide range of different needs. As Lisa Smith has found with her children, it is important to remember that kids with ASD are neither frightening, nor naughty, but just different. This difference can be celebrated and be very useful in both the classroom and at home. Some key traits to be aware of are:

  • Stereotypic or repetitive behaviours. These can be seen when a child is excited, bored, or stressed, and can be presented in many ways including hand flapping and following strict routines.
  • An inability to speak. Individuals with autism find beginning or maintaining relationships very challenging, and by being unable to verbally communicate can make socialising even harder. Research has found that around 40% of children with autism do not speak at all.
  • An inability to show empathetic and socially typical behaviour. People with ASD often want to show how they feel, and to sympathise with others, but do not always have the ability to develop effective emotional interaction skills. They may be unable to show eye contact, to hug or embrace others, or to stop themselves from being literal about the world and the people around them.
  • A delay in developmental milestones both academically and mentally. Students may have difficulties learning at school, and be unable to understand mature behaviours of resistance and patience.

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2. ASD affects children of all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups

The word ‘autism' comes from the Greek word autos, meaning ‘self', and accordingly ASD can affect anyone, and any ‘self'. We see Autism Spectrum Disorder all over the world and it can be found in all sexes, religions, creeds and races. ASD does not target or appear in the majority of any particular group of people.On the main, anyone we know or meet could have ASD, and so we need to be careful and considerate towards everyone we come into contact with.

3. ASD can affect girls differently

Unfortunately, how girls are affected by ASD is an understudied area of research, and so this means that there may be some traits that are not yet common knowledge. Also, another problem for girls is how obsessively collecting toys or items can often be misinterpreted as imaginative play, and on the whole, girls with autism show less repetitive behaviours.

What we do know is that by comparison to boys, girls show differences in symptoms within the areas of social understanding, social communication, and social imagination. Generally girls are much better at controlling their emotions than young boys, and so are able to mask their emotions more easily. Also another key marker is that girls with autism may behave closer to typically developing boys in terms of social abilities, compared to typical girls or boys with autism.

4. Autistic Spectrum Disorder can be treated but there is no cure

Despite many online theories, Autism Spectrum Disorder cannot be caught off others or the environment. Equally parental behaviours before or after a pregnancy do not affect a child's chances of developing autism. On top of this, extensive studies have firmly concluded that there is no link between childhood vaccinations and autism.

ASD is just a developmental disorder that makes the brain develop and process information differently to the general population. Accordingly there is no cure for ASD, but different types of treatment and strategies can be put in place to help ease particularly difficult problems, such as speech and language therapies. Remember however, that ASD can bring lots of positive attributes like great attention to detail and obsessive fascination. These traits can be very helpful for particular jobs and situations in life, and is something that we would never want to cure away.

5. Early diagnosis is important

Research has shown that just slightly more than 1% of children have Autism Spectrum Disorder. 1 out of every 88 children under the age of 10 in the UK has been recorded as having ASD. We also know that girls are four times less likely to be autistic than boys, and as a result are often harder to diagnose. Therefore every adult in the child's life, from parents, to teachers, to doctors, to wider family members, need to look out for signs of autism and so help with an earlier diagnosis.

If the child can be diagnosed earlier, then their emotional and mental wellbeing can be supported sooner, and any behavioural issues or signs depression will be reduced as they grow from teenagers into adults. However, the type of treatment or aids required will be unique to that child's particular needs, and this treatment should be flexible as the child grows up.

6. ASD can increase the risk of serious medical conditions

Research has shown that co-morbid medical conditions are common in a person with ASD. These conditions can include allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, feeding disorders, sleeping disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, and cognitive impairments. However, this varies from person to person, and these health issues may appear suddenly and then later disappear as the child grows up.

7. Children with ASD can learn and achieve a successful career

History has shown us that Autistic Spectrum Disorder can be extremely useful and necessary to help people reach their full potential. For the likes of Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton, it did not stop them from having very successful careers, and the knowledge that the rest of the world now takes for granted may never have been realised without its presence in their lives. There is no research to show that ASD scuppers a child's intelligence, or ability to achieve great things later on in life, but we do know that children are most successful when appropriate services are delivered during their time at school.

8. Children with Autism are highly creative

Creativity often goes hand in hand with ASD. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder will often enjoy and find a passion in the arts, developing their talents in music, performance, art, and dance. Historically incredibly creative people such as Andy Warhol and Mozart have been considered autistic, and their special needs will have helped fuel and direct their creativity.

If you are a teacher it is really important that you engage with and develop an autistic child's creativity. Many people with autism have strong artistic passions and so getting to know your students' creative likes and dislikes can help you understand what motivates them. This can mean that you will be able to plan more effective lessons that meet their needs, and that you also create a more comfortable and engaging learning environment.

9. Autism can present itself in different ways at school

Students with ASD can find their needs differ in the chaotic and changeable school environment. Teachers need to bear in mind that autistic children may:

  • Get easily frustrated and act out in certain situations
  • Be sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, or busy hallways
  • Need to go to the school nurse for medications
  • Miss class time for doctor visits and therapies
  • Have trouble speaking or not speak at all
  • Seem insensitive or unemotional
  • Need extra time for class assignments and homework
  • Need to take tests in a separate area away from distractions

10. Teachers can make a big difference

Teachers in particular can play a huge role in raising an ASD child's self-esteem. They can put into place many key strategies that will change their lives and create a wonderful learning space. Examples of such strategies are:

  • Writing instructions in easy-to-follow steps
  • Using visual aids such as PECS in the classroom
  • Teaching key words and phrases that will help in their everyday life in the classroom
  • Being observant for alienation and bullying
  • Showing the student as much consideration, interest and support as they can

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We hope that this list is useful, and shows you just how varied and complex ASD can be. For more information please visit the sites below:

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