Asperger’s Syndrome Children At School
Between the age of 6-18 children spend a third of each day at school, so it’s important to ensure they’re in the best environment for their needs. This is particularly true for children with Asperger’s Syndrome.
So what should parents/carers look for when choosing a school for their Asperger’s Syndrome child, or consider in their monitoring of the school environment?
Children with Asperger’s Syndrome cope best in schools with small class sizes. This option is less a reality these days, when Education systems worldwide are struggling to survive with less funding and increased consumer demand. However, there are many other procedures and practices you can monitor to make certain your child with Asperger’s Syndrome is being educated in an optimal setting.
You should ensure your Asperger Syndrome child’s school has an extensive, in-depth knowledge of Asperger’s Syndrome; from the Principal to the Classroom teacher, Administration staff and Ancillary staff. This guarantees that whoever has contact with your Asperger Syndrome child in the course of their school day is aware of your son/daughter’s needs and understands that Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurobiological disorder – not a behavioural issue. So ask what specific Asperger Syndrome training the staff at your child’s school has completed and check that this is updated regularly. This is particularly relevant for your son/daughter’s Classroom teacher. If no specific Asperger Syndrome training has been undertaken at your child’s school, insist that this is rectified promptly.
Check the anti-bullying policy of your child’s school. This must be a whole-school policy that has a proven and consistent grievance address policy, with successful follow-up procedures. The policy should tackle the needs of victims and actions of perpetrators alike. Zero tolerance for bullying.
Your child’s classroom should be aesthetically AS friendly, as well as having the curriculum structured and delivered in a manner that meets the needs of your child with Asperger’s Syndrome. This will include using visual aids and maintaining a low sensory “volume” in the classroom – minimising noise, light, smell and extremes in temperature. The Classroom teacher should be mindful of the fact that all social interaction will have a cumulative effect on your AS child – this will affect the successful outcome of group activities, seating arrangements and ‘buddy’ systems.
Your child’s school should have a strong Social Skills program in place, that your son/daughter with Asperger’s Syndrome participates in at least once a week for a minimum of 1