What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
It is quite likely that there is at least one child in your school with autism and so all teachers need to develop an understanding of how this condition affects a child’s perception of the world and their learning capabilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurobiological condition.
The term Autism Spectrum Disorder, previously Asperger’s syndrome, was first used by Lorna Wing in 1981 and she described the main features as being:
- Lack of empathy
- Naïve, inappropriate, one-sided interaction
- Little or no ability to form friendships
- Pedantic, repetitive speech
- Poor
Just reading this makes both very glad and very sad. I’m 70. Only about 6 years ago did I begin to realize my husband is ASD, specifically Asperger’s. He won’t hear of it. I’ve been to several psychologist and prayed a lot–for 30+ years of an unfulfilling marriage. I’m older now and have been continually, on a day to day basis, working on giving up the anger/resentment and asking God to forgive my explosive behaviour toward his totally Asperger’s way. He had a brother it was obvious that he had something “different” about him. I’m so glad to read that these unique individuals are being identified. My daughter shows traces of it; I pray for her loving husband. My children suffered from my husband’s “unawareness” and I’m worried for my daughter’s children. It seems neither of my two children want to hear about it.
Too bad I was so naive, and too Catholic to think I could have considered divorce. It’s been a real struggle of the heart and soul.