FACT SHEET TEMPLATE
…………has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of high functioning autism characterized by the following
· Difficulty in Social Interactions – understanding body language, conversations turn taking, seeing things from another’s perspective
· Problems with Language - using language in social situations, trouble with various parts of conversation, precesses auditory information, more slowly, difficulty shifting attention, difficulty telling if others are interested or bored, understanding language beyond a literal level.
· Narrow Range of Interests – He also likes set routines to be followed for him to function well.
· Motor Clumsiness
· Cognitive Issues – Inability to predict what another person is thinking. This causes him problems. His thinking is black and white with no room for shades of gray. This causes rigid thinking which interferes with problem solving, impulse control, flexibility in thoughts, actions and attention.
· Sensory Sensitivities –He responds to his senses either they are more intense or less intense than others experience.
· Executive Skills - He doesn’t know how to take a task from the beginning to the end without help breaking it down into very concrete steps.
STRATEGIES TO USE
1. Use a daily schedule – Show it to him often. Make sure he has a copy.
2. Give as much warning as possible for changes.
3. Anticipate problems and point out the possibility of things that MIGHT happen beforehand.
4. Preparation is the most important tool. Explain what happens and where it happens for various situations.
5. Anything visual will help. It could be a simple list on a sticky note.
It is tempting to write a book about your child. I know because I have written a 3 page fact sheet. The teachers didn't always read it. It was too long. They have so much to do to get ready for the first day of school. I try to keep a fact sheet to one page so it is more likely to be read. This time of year a teacher operates on a need to know basis. This is just a beginning dialogue. You may want to say, "I would be happy to give you other information about him. Let me know after you work with him."
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