![Picture](/uploads/7/0/4/2/7042382/9954538.jpg)
Sheila Sims Iding
As part of my work with the Red Cedar Writing Project, we had to write a letter about something we care about. I care about students with special needs. (Well…I care about all students and I believe all students have special needs of their very own. But that is another blog.) The letter I wrote for this project was about teaching children with Asperger’s Syndrome. Today is April 30th and the last day of the Autism Awareness Month. I wanted to take this day to share the letter I wrote to help teachers, and all people, realize the honor of teaching children with Autism…more importantly…letting them teach you.
Dear Teacher of Children,
As a teacher, when any child is entrusted to your care, you have an amazing responsibility. When a child with Asperger’s Syndrome is entrusted to your care, that responsibility takes flight to a different height. Teaching a child with Asperger’s Syndrome is an honor and in the end you will find out it was that special child who was teaching you all along. The needs, the challenges and the wisdom needed to teach a child who lives in a different world takes a special passport to visit their thinking. I have discovered that Asperger children live in their own little world but they allow visitors. If you want to journey through the school year with a child with Asperger’s, you will need a map of compassion and patience if you want to gain that visitor’s pass.
To visit the world of a Asperger child you will need to know more about their world. Find out their interests and the things that fascinate their brilliant minds. Even more, find out why. Then do your homework. If it is Star Wars, investigate the whole world of Star Wars. Get to know the characters, the good guys, the bad guys and the name of each episode. Go buy a Star Wars folder for your desk, a Star Wars book for your classroom library and incorporate it into a journal entry.
If their interest is roller coasters…happy exploring. Read about them and the amusement parks. You Tube a roller coaster for a science lesson and get out those toothpicks and marshmallows and let them build a roller coaster for art.
And…if they are enthralled with the saints and religion…dive into those saint books and take a faith journey at the same time.
If you want to tour the world of an Asperger student you have to ask questions. Why, why, why? They have a reason for everything they do and, most often, it is not the conventional one.
If writing is the first work they do when they come in from recess and you tell them “first thing this afternoon we will do writing” and the child just sits there. Do not remind him to work or insist that he get started. Please ask him why? Chances are it is 11:55 and not “afternoon” yet.
If he gets in trouble for running in the hallway, chances are you gave him a note and told him to “run this to the office”…so he ran.
If you ask him to take off his jacket in the classroom and he refuses, he is not trying to be disobedient. If you ask him why he may tell you “It’s not a jacket…it’s a sweathshirt.” If you ask him to take off his sweatshirt, he will probably say “sure”. If they are not conforming to directions, please ask why.
Once you visit the world of an Asperger student, please recognize the honor of being there. Recognize the genius of their thoughts. Recognize the beauty of their black/white thinking. Recognize the over stimulation of a racing mind and the blank stares of retreat into their own world. Recognize that the meltdown in front of the whole class with parents in the room, wasn’t to upset you. And the time you take to rock and hum and whisper to that child is also a teachable moment for each child watching you care for him. And that the big project you had planned?? It can wait. The needs of that special child can’t.
My middle son, Timothy, has Asperger’s Sydrome. Before the long journey to China for a successful life as a professor and theologian, he was on a more difficult and longer journey. And so was I. When he was a very young child, and not yet diagnosed, I was utterly exasperated with trying to cope with parenting him in his world. When I asked my wiser, older sister what to do she said “Remember, he doesn’t wake up in the morning to wreck your day.”
I have adopted that as the best teaching advice for these special students. Yes…there are more IEP’s, more staffings, more communication with parents and teachers, more phone calls and a ba-zillion emails. But whatever travel troubles you endure, remember, that child did not walk into your classroom to wreck your day.
Timothy wasn’t diagnosed until high school. A doctor once told me that children with Asperger’s Syndrome live in their own little world but they allow visitors. Do yourself a favor as a teacher…journey into their amazing world of brilliant thoughts, creativity and unique thinking. The passport into the world of an Asperger student is a special journey. Embrace it…embrace the lessons you will learn and embrace the Asperger student who allows visitors.
With best wishes for your journey,
A "journeyed" mom and teacher