Common Challenges Children With ASD Face at School

As your child settles into their school year, you must identify the challenges they may be going through. School and other academic environments can be stressful for children with autism. Your child makes a great effort every day, from coping with the change of environment to being in a classroom with various stimuli.

To help you give your child the support they need, you must understand common challenges children with ASD face at school. You can collaborate with their educational leaders and ABA therapists to make appropriate accommodations.

Fine and Gross Motor Skills

If your child attends ABA therapy or occupational therapy, you know that they work hard to master their fine and gross motor skills. This is because using their fine motor skills by writing, drawing, and cutting is a large part of your child’s curriculum. Your child will also use their gross motor skills in their physical education classes by jumping, running, or throwing. Practicing these skills will ensure that nothing will stop them from achieving their goals.

Social Communication

While every child with autism has their strengths and areas of opportunities, most children with ASD face challenges with social communication. These challenges can affect their self-confidence and make having new interactions overwhelming or stress-inducing. However, making friends and creating social interactions are a major part of academic culture. Teach your child appropriate and inappropriate social cues and the difference between nice and mean behaviors.

If you suspect your child is a victim of bullying, ensure that you know about your child’s local and federal rights and the steps to take to handle the bullying.

Routine and Rule Changes

Another challenge some children with autism face in school is the frequent routine and rule changes. Children with autism thrive on routine and structure, so when things change abruptly without warning, it can cause them to feel stressed. Be sure to contact your child’s teacher to tell them to try and communicate about any surprises, changes, outings, or test days. This way, you can prepare your child, and they can move through the day in a more structured manner.