A Guide to Creating an Inclusive Classroom for Children with Asperger's Syndrome

This site has been designed to give new teachers an understanding of the characteristics and traits that are common to children with Asperger's Syndrome (Aspergers).  It also provides information and practical strategies that will assist teachers to better manage and support children with Aspergers within an inclusive classroom environment.


The Role of Teachers
There is evidence to suggest that early intervention for children with Aspergers is an important strategy for ensuring that these children learn to manage their anxieties in social situations and develop coping strategies to deal with the changes that occur in daily life. (Grandin & Duffy 2001; Education QLD 2011).

Inclusion in a regular classroom is arguably the perfect social setting in which to learn and practice these social skills, with the assistance of well informed teachers, support staff, parents and carers.  However, there is little doubt that inclusion of children with high support needs in regular classrooms increases the workload for teachers.

The idea of inclusion, [which first began in the 1980's], requires curriculum modifications, changes in attitudes to disability and impairment, additional professional development for teachers and the provision of specialised resources. (Krause et al, 2010).

Leaving these issues aside, there are some classroom management strategies that can be put in place by teachers, without the need for further training.  These ideas, along with information and further reading, is available on this site.
  





"We do not want autism to be the whole of our lives. 
That is neither healthy nor wise"
Temple Grandin




Ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the Light gets in
Leonard Cohen




"Society loses out if indivudals with ASD [and Asperger] are not involved in the world of work
or make other kinds of contributions to society. 
Some of our world's finest minds, inventions,
art and ideas belong to people with autistic traits... for example Vincent Van Gogh and Albert Einstein."
(Grandin & Duffy 2004)