Asperger's and Autism 

What is Asperger's syndrome?
Learning and behavioural characteristics
Academic strengths associated with AS
Common problems for students with AS
How staff can help
Further resources

What is Asperger's syndrome?

• Asperger’s syndrome is a condition on the Autistic Spectrum. It is sometimes referred to as a 'mild form' of autism, since many people with Asperger's may achieve well academically. However, the notion of mildness negates the serious difficulties individuals face.

• AS is a complex developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them.

• Asperger’s is generally thought to affect the area of social interaction. The way in which a person with AS communicates with the outside world is different to the accepted norm. People with AS may lack understanding of social customs and may appear socially awkward.

• However, the following quotation gives an indication of the academic potential a student with Asperger’s can have if appropriate support and awareness is in place:
  "Able autistic individuals can rise to eminent positions with such outstanding success that one may conclude that only such people are capable of certain achievements. Their unswerving determination and penetrating intellectual powers, part of their spontaneous and original mental activity, their narrowness and single-mindedness, as manifested in their special interests, can be immensely valuable and can lead to outstanding achievements in their chosen areas." (Hans Asperger 1944)
  

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Learning & behavioural characteristics

Language

• Students with AS may have an advanced vocabulary and frequently talk about a favourite subject. The topic may be narrowly defined and the individual may have difficulty switching to another topic.

• Students with AS may have difficulties with the rules of conversation. They may also interrupt or talk over the speech of others, may make irrelevant comments and have difficulty initiating and terminating conversations.

• Speech may be characterised by a lack of variation in pitch, stress and rhythm and, as the student reaches adolescence, speech may become pedantic (overly formal).

• Social communication problems may also include standing too close, staring, abnormal body postures and failure to understand gestures and facial expressions.

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Cognition

• Students with AS may be above average intelligence and appear very capable.

• Many are proficient in knowledge of facts, and may have extensive factual information about a subject they are absorbed with.

• Students with AS do experience some academic problems – such as weakness in comprehension and abstract thought, problem solving, organisational skills, concept development, and making inferences and judgements.

• These individuals can also have difficulty with cognitive flexibility – their thinking tends to be rigid. Students with AS may have difficulty adapting to change or failure and do not readily learn from their mistakes.

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Co-ordination

• It is estimated that 50%-90% of people with AS have problems with motor co-ordination. The areas affected may be ball skills, balance, manual dexterity, hand-writing, rapid movements, rhythm and imitation of movements.

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Sensory Sensitivity

• Individuals with AS share some common characteristics with autism in terms of responses to sensory stimuli. They may be hypersensitive to some stimuli (such as having acutely sensitive hearing and resulting intolerance to noise) and may engage in unusual behaviours to obtain a specific sensory stimulation.

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Concentration

• Individuals with AS may be inattentive and easily distracted.
  

Anxiety

• Anxiety is a characteristic associated with AS. It may be difficult for the student to understand and adapt to the social demands of University. Appropriate instruction and support can help to alleviate some of the stress.

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Academic strengths associated with AS

Having AS can offer some academic advantages as well as problems:

• Most students find that a busy social life interferes with their studies. This is one problem that students with AS generally don’t have.

• Some people with AS have memories for exceptional detail and/or a natural affinity with computers – both of these can give a student a head start.

• The formal style required for academic essay writing is usually a lot easier to master than "casual" social conversation.

• Hans Asperger suggested that academia might be the natural environment for bright people with AS, and other researchers have even suspected that the stereotype of the "absent-minded" professor might have been based on people with AS

• Students with AS are often original and creative in their thought patterns.

• Students with AS can have good attention to detail and precision.

• Students with AS can be very independent in their studying.

• Students with AS usually try extremely hard at what they are doing.

(Summary modified from University Students With Autism And Asperger’s Syndrome by Kirsty Mackenzie, Disability Support Officer)

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Common problems for students with AS

Little research has been done into the needs and problems of students with AS, and because AS is a wide category, individuals may have very different difficulties. These may include:

• In interview situations, people with AS may not do themselves full justice. In particular, they may give limited eye contact, or struggle with open questions. If possible, admissions tutors should contact the Disability Team in advance for advice.

• Extreme difficulty dealing with room-mates in shared accommodation, and need for quiet and solitude in order to be able to work.

• Difficulty with proximity to others – leading to a need for an aisle seat in exams, or to take exams in a separate room.

• Needs similar to students with dyslexia, such as extra time for examinations.

• Problems interacting with others in seminars and groups.

• Great difficulty speaking in public, especially without notes.

• Difficulty understanding instructions and requirements.

• High levels of anxiety and vulnerability to stress.

• Difficulty coping with the social environment of university and dealing with other students.

• Can often suffer from lack of organisation.

• Difficulties with time pressure due to high anxiety levels, disorganisation etc.

• Can have poor concentration because of anxiety inducing factors – lighting, noise etc

• Difficulties in team or group work.

• Problems in learning by observation.

• Difficulties with ambiguous instructions.

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How staff can help

It is important to take into account the unique learning characteristics of students with AS, to provide support when needed, and to build on the student’s strengths.

• Be aware that changes in routine will be difficult for the student to deal with. Ensure that you explain very clearly any changes to eg lecture venue or times.

• Similarly it is helpful for the student to retain the same personal tutor throughout the course.

• Examinations: ensure that details of exam arrangements (with clear instructions as to the location of the exam) are printed out and that the student is prepared for the structure of the exam. Students will probably require extra time in exams due to slower writing speed, and may also benefit from a separate room to aid concentration difficulties. More substantial adjustments might include word processing facilities if motor control is impaired, help with timekeeping to prompt them to move on to next question, or possibly a support worker to clarify the language used in the exam paper.

• Some students with AS may be anxious to avoid drawing attention to themselves, so may pretend they have understood instructions etc. It is helpful to back up information wherever possible with hand-outs. Similarly, try to bear this in mind when making any adjustments to accommodate them.

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Further resources

• Students with Aspergers will normally be in contact with the Student Services Disability & Dyslexia Team. You can contact the Team Administrator on 01273 643799 or email disability@brighton.ac.uk for advice on generalor specific matters .

• University Students With Autism And Asperger’s Syndrome is a very useful website with advice and links. Though mainly aimed at students themselves it is helpful for involved staff to gain insights into key issues and support strategies.

• The National Autistic Society (NAS) website includes information about autism and Asperger syndrome, and about the support and services available in the UK. These include a new initiative "aimed at providing specialist support and guidance to students with Asperger syndrome and their place of learning.... We also work on a one to one basis with the student and liaise with staff and peers. Help is also given in setting up support networks such as mentors and providing effective strategies to aid independent learning. The support and advice is provided by Prospects, part of the National Autistic Society. For further information contact Justin Penney or Penny Deakin at Prospects on 020 7704 7450 or e-mail us at prospects@nas.org.uk".

• ASPIHE (A Social Communication & Understanding Project in Higher Education) A HEFCE-funded project based in the Special Needs Research and Development Centre at Canterbury Christ Church University College. The website includes resources for staff and students and links to other materials. NB This project has now ended but there are still useful links at the site

• Juliet and Claire Jamieson Managing Asperger Syndrome at College and University ( David Fulton Publishers, 2004), is a useful book with a CD and resources for tutor.

• WrongPlanet is a US-based website for individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, and other PDDs. It provides a forum and chatroom where members can communicate with each other, and an article section, where members may read and submit essays or how-to guides about various subjects.

• ASpire a Brighton and Hove Community initiative supports adults with Asperger's syndrome

  1st Floor, Intergen House, 65-67 Western Road

  Hove, BN3 5JQ

  01273 725994

  Mobile: 07787 538412
  

• ASSERT (Brighton and Hove) Assert is an organisation that supports adults with Asperger's syndrome.

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