Understanding Autism

Autism spectrum disorder impacts a person’s ability to communicate and behave. The spectrum covers a wide range of abilities and behaviors, meaning that some individuals with ASD will require vastly more support than others. Challenges fall under two main categories: social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors.

Communication difficulties may range from being nonverbal at one end of the spectrum to being extremely talkative at the other, to the point of monologuing about a topic of interest instead of engaging in back-and-forth conversation. Some may repeat words or phrases. Those with ASD often struggle with understanding social cues, such as body language. They also may have difficulty with eye contact.

Restricted behaviors can include adhering to a strict routine, having narrow interests, and sensory sensitivities. They are often resistant to change. They may only eat a few foods and react strongly to loud noises or uncomfortable fabrics. Repetitive behaviors may include bodily movements (stims) such as hand-flapping or rocking.

Those on the spectrum may also experience high levels of anxiety, difficulty with motor control, gastrointestinal issues, and difficulty sleeping. They may also have meltdowns due to sensory or emotional overwhelm. During these meltdowns, they may cry, scream, or even hit themselves. They may stop talking and resist any attempts to be comforted. After the outburst, they may be exhausted and feel shame or move on as if nothing happened.

Some individuals on the autism spectrum may have pathological demand avoidance (PDA). A person with PDA will avoid requests or demands due to anxiety. When you ask them to complete a task, they may refuse and react in a strongly negative manner. They may also try to talk their way out of completing a task.

Those with ASD also have gifts. They frequently will focus on one subject of interest for long periods of time, gaining a tremendous amount of knowledge about that topic. They may have superior pattern-recognition skills, making connections that others miss. They are also less susceptible to peer pressure.

Tips for Homeschooling

Homeschooling children with ASD will look different for each child, depending on their own particular gifts and challenges.

Non-verbal children may have a great deal of intelligence but have difficulty expressing what they know. Take advantage of the non-verbal communication that they do use, such as gestures, facial expressions, and sign language. They may be able to write, type, use pictures, or an assistive technology device.

Try to incorporate your child’s primary area of interest when you homeschool to help keep them engaged with learning. Using unit studies is one way to do this, where you can incorporate math, science, language arts, and history all around a given topic.

Children on the spectrum tend to thrive on routine. Keep your daily schedule as consistent as possible. If you need to make an adjustment, give them advance warning. Use noise-canceling headphones if they are working independently and household noise causes them stress. If your child has PDA, try to offer choices rather than issue commands. This helps them feel they have control over situations, which reduces anxiety.

The above article is an excerpt from The Essential Guide to Catholic Homeschooling.

The Ultimate Homeschool Toolkit for Kids on the Spectrum provides a great introduction to understanding autism and helping kids on the spectrum thrive while homeschooling.