Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 11/5/2005

Question
Avery Has struggled through the public school since 6th grade, now a 16 year old sophmore.  Basically shows no motivation and fails all academic subjects, work always late, always incomplete, usually fails and "re-takes" tests to get a passing grade. We play catch-up with supervision of spec. ed person.  What else can we do?

Answer
Hi Marcia,

This is a common pattern for students on the autistic spectrum.  

First, you don't say what they estimate his IQ to be.  (And they may be testing it lower than it is depending on his ability to communicate and willingness to do well on the test) If he's average or above, then the school needs to tap into his passions to get him moving.

What does he LOVE to do?  Most people on spectrum have specific areas where they focus intensely.  If it's dinosaurs, for the sake of an example, everything needs to draw from that topic.  He can write about them, study fossils, learn the geography of the ancient continents, etc.

If he's into computers, so much the better.  He should do all his work on computer.  

I would like to share our experience with our daughter.  She, too, failed all her academic classes in high school, never turned in her work and seemed unmotivated at everything except music.

She is now a 20 year old junior at University and maintaining better than a B average in all her classes.  She passionately wants her degree in flute performance, so she's working very hard.

It has been my observation that the emotional age is well behind the mental/physical age.  By the time he's 20, he'll probably be about 15 or 16 emotionally.  He may suddenly be able to take responsibility for his education in a way he cannot, now.

I know it's frustrating, but never stop believing in him.  You are his best advocate.

I suggest reading some of Temple Grandin's comments on education for spectrum individuals.  She now has her PhD and is a successful designer.  

Here are some books to look into:

"Ask and Tell" edited by Stephen Shore is a collections of essays by college students and young adults who have autistic spectrum disorders concerning how, when and if to tell their employers or teachers about their disability.

"Aquamarine Blue 5" edited by Dawn Prince-Hughes, also a collection of essays by autistic college students.

And these web sites:
http://www.patientcenters.com/autism/news/resources.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/asperger.htm

http://www.autism.org/temple/meds.html

http://www.autism.org/

Best wishes,
Catherine