Social Lives of Children with Autism at School

UCLA Professor Connie Kasari discusses her research on how higher-functioning children on the autism spectrum interact with their typically developing peers in mainstream classrooms. Series: M.I.N.D. Institute Lecture Series on Neurodevelopmental Disorders [5/2009] [Health and Medicine] [Education] [Professional Medical Education] [Show ID: 16234]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• kasari
• higher-functioning
• children
• autism
• developing

[insomniacgrace]

Thanks for sharing this video clip. This is so informative and so comprehensive. Nice one!

[AnElephantThatPaints]

If you want to include some autistic representatives in your study, which you ABSOLUTELY should, ask autistic adults to volunteer! We were once kids, and most of us remember it very well. Kids lack deep understanding of what is going on in their life, partly because they are kids, and also because they may not realize that they are autistic.

Autism Speaks likes to use this same lousy excuse, as if they've never heard of autistic adults speak for themselves. Wake up you guys, it's 2010!

[AnElephantThatPaints]

The best thing about social skills training is that it gives autistics a chance to meet other autistics. My best middle school friends were met there, and we shared the torture of being rejected and having issues with classwork. As a group, we could be more defensive if anyone tried attacking us. No one else at my school was worth friending with, as that neighborhood was ultra-conservative. All you need is a few good friends that you can count on. Let the kids know that ahead of time.

[AnElephantThatPaints]

If autistic children get bullied, it shouldn't be treated any differently than if another kid was bullied for his sexuality or race. My mom kept insisting that I fake normal the minute I stepped on campus, but I refused with a passion. I'm not opposed to helping kids learn social skills and becoming more aware of their peers perceptions, but who says that their peers don't need more education on the differences of their autistic/ADHD/dyslexic classmates?

[mary1861]

Peer support can work wonders! Every school should have a Peer Intervention Program.

[ABAisSCIENCE]

I think what is missing is the behaviors that make friends and the rate of behavior for the typical child and the child with ASD along with duration and quality of interaction evaluation between two typical peers as opposed to a child with ASD with a typical peer.