Any discussion of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder must come with the qualifier that they, like every person, have unique personalities and combinations of
characteristics. Some individuals who are mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social skills. They may have difficulty initiating
and /or maintaining a conversation. Their communication is often described as talking at
others instead of to them (e.g. monologue on a favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject comments).
People with autism also process and respond to information in unique ways. In some
cases, aggressive and /or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism
may also exhibit some of the following traits:
Need/crave predictability, to feel control over environment
Insistence on sameness/resistance to change
Crave 3 R’s: rules, repetition, and rigidity
Repeating words or phrases in place of responsive language
Ask repetitive questions in order to control relationship to make relationships predictable
Change causes fear (fire drills, change in schedule) may result in tantrums, unexplained crying/laughing
Aloof manner, avoidance of tactile
Little or no eye contact
Difficulty in expressing needs
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
Sustained unusual play (lining objects, spinning objects)
Obsessive attachment to objects
Apparent over/under sensitivity to pain
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under activity
No real fear of danger
Non-responsive to verbal cues; may seem deaf, though hearing test are in normal range
