What are Autistic Children Good At?

Building on Strengths and Staying Positive with ASD Children

May 16, 2009

Although autistic children have specific difficulties related to their autism, they also have strengths and talents which should be encouraged and developed.

Children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) have characteristic areas of difficulty such as communication, social interaction and imaginative thinking. Whilst these areas of development need support, it is also important to recognise the strengths of the individual child and use them, wherever possible, to facilitate further learning and build self-esteem.

Children with ASD, particularly those with Asperger’s syndrome, may not be “big picture” learners, but they often have a keen eye for detail. For example, a child walking through town may not be aware of dangerous traffic or be wary of strangers and other risks, but he or she may remember the precise expiry time of a parking ticket, the opening and closing times of a particular shop or an emergency telephone number. Although personal safety is clearly an issue for a vulnerable child, one should also recognise the validity of other things.

Memory Skills in Children with Asperger’s Syndrome

Asperger’s syndrome (AS) is also referred to as high functioning autism because individuals are often highly intelligent and able to lead independent lives. With help, they can become able to recognise their own learning styles and behaviour, and develop strategies to manage their areas of difficulty. A child with AS may need guidance when selecting which bits of information to attend to and retain, but should also be encouraged to hone his or her skill of memorising key facts, figures and other essential information. This kind of rote learning is valuable for educational activities such as phonics (learning the sounds of the alphabet and other letter strings), learning to count and memorising multiplication and division facts.

Another characteristic area of difficulty for AS children is that of rigid thinking and the desire for “sameness”. This may lead to an obsession with routine which can be very constraining and frustrating for other people. However, it can also produce an interest in patterns, structure and order. This is very important for mathematical understanding (fractions, decimals, percentages and geometry) and literacy (prefixes, suffixes, roots and other spelling patterns). Patterns also underpin music in term of scales, arpeggios, chords and composition.

Logical Thinking in Children with Asperger’s Syndrome

Many children with AS are very logical and literal in their thought processes (though not necessarily in the context of creative problem-solving). They often respond particularly well to computers due to the rational, consistent and predictable nature of their functionality. Computers require less guesswork than social interaction and are a highly visual resource which can be used to reinforce learning across the curriculum. Children with ASD can quickly become proficient in using technology and can be a valuable asset in the classroom (for example, using their skills and knowledge to support other children).

Skills and Abilities of Autistic Children

Every child deserves to have his unique qualities and talents valued. For children with AS these strengths may include:

Whilst certain areas of development are likely to remain a challenge for children with ASD, it is important to be positive about children’s abilities, building on their unique strengths and learning styles so that they become as independent as possible and develop high self-esteem.

The copyright of the article What are Autistic Children Good At? in Autistic Students is owned by Jane Kelly. Permission to republish What are Autistic Children Good At? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.