Fitting In

879 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Coping strategies for children with autism

People spend a majority of their lives shaping their actions to match that of their peers, afraid of standing out or looking odd. They modify the way they talk, the way they carry themselves, and their outward appearance in order to feel accepted in society. Unfortunately, individuals with ASD live in a world where people give utmost importance to fitting and look down upon those who fail to adhere to the norm. Fitting in is difficult for an individual on the spectrum due to the social, communicative, and behavioral challenges that characterize the disorder.
Typically developing children are social by nature. They turn toward voices, make eye contact, and even physically display emotions, but most children with autism find it difficult to engage in everyday human interactions. Unlike typically developing children, by the time they are 10 months old, children with autism show symptoms such as delayed babbling, failure to respond to their names, and reduced interest in people. By the time they are toddlers, they find playing social games difficult and prefer to be alone. These children may also not respond to their parents’ anger or affection in typical ways. Though they are attached to their parents, it is an unusual attachment; appearing to be withdrawn and disconnected. This is because children and adults with autism tend to have difficulty interpreting others’ thoughts and emotions. Social cues such as a smile, frown, or wave, which are crucial to interactions may convey little meaning. A statement like, “Come here,” may mean the same thing, whether the person is smiling or frowning. The same goes for perspective taking. Individuals with autism have difficulty putting themselves in others’ shoes. They do not understand the con...

... middle of paper ...

...he help of others. The trigger must be identified, and a proactive and reactive plan must be implemented in order to lessen the occurrence of the behavior.
The concept of fitting in is a big one in human nature. Feeling a sense of belonging and being accepted is one of the most sought after goals in society. Sometimes, individuals with ASD find it difficult to fit into the social norms set by their peers because of social, communicative, and behavioral deficits. Regardless of those challenges, they can learn to modify their behaviors according to their environment through the use of social stories, PECs, and assistance from their family and therapists. People with autism are mistaken for being unintelligent, when they are in fact some of the most intelligent people in the community. With a little guidance and comforting, they can learn to assimilate into society.

Show More
Related

  • Should Autisitc Children Be Mainstreamed

    1343 Words  | 3 Pages

    Done correctly, mainstreaming does not mean simply placing the child into a classroom of regular students and expecting him to succeed on his own. Instead, it takes extra help to integrate autistic children into a mainstreamed environment because the others in the classroom are more socially motivated, whereas the child is more instinctively and structurally motivated (Siegel 226). With the help and constant support of special aids within the classroom, a child with autistic disorders has a better chance of succeeding because they are around children who will encourage proper behavior and social skills.

    Read More

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Case Study

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has two main core criteria, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5). The first of the two criteria is ‘Persistent Deficits in Social Communication and Interaction across Multiple Contexts’ under which there are three categories. The first being deficits in social emotional reciprocity which may include atypical social approach and failure of the back and forth exchange of normal conversation. In addition, there may be a failure to respond or initiate social interaction as well as reduced emotions, interest or effect sharing. In the scenario ‘Ben loves Trains’ it is indicated that Ben is content to play alone for hours, he doesn’t interact with his sister in

    Read More

  • Call Me Different Not Difficult Summary

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    Those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) see the world in a diverse way; teachers and adults need to recognize this. Robison gives examples of his childhood where he misinterpreted information from others including social cues, as well as instructions. He was in these situations punished either socially or academically.

    Read More

  • Autism Speaks Inc. Case Study

    1416 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever heard of the term ASD? What are your thoughts when you see a child in public who is misbehaving? Well the two of these questions might be linked together. ASD is better known as autism spectrum disorder which is a disorder of the development in the brain according to Autism Speaks Inc. (2015). Due to this developmental issue children can be thought of as being bad or unruly, but in reality they cannot help it. The reason it may seem that way is because the brain isn’t processing like it should be. The brain may be sending multiple messages to the body at one time or to the wrong places in the body which can cause children to seem bad. According to Autism Speaks Inc. (2015) there are multiple variances of autism. Although we know

    Read More

  • Transition Into Adulthood Essay

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    For all teens, the transition into adulthood is generally seen as a challenging and scary process. For teens diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as their caregivers, this transition is often more complicated. The period of transition for individuals with ASD into adulthood is intensely more challenging due to their “unique characteristics, the lack of services that address the special needs of such individuals in adulthood, and the expectations of society for a typical path to adulthood in the face of atypical problems” (Geller and Greenberg, 2009, pg. 93). Without the necessary resources to transition, teens with ASD find themselves unprepared for life at work, in college, or community living. Through this paper, the reader will obtain knowledge in regards to what ASD is, the barriers it yields concerning the transition into adulthood, and the effects it has on the individual as well

    Read More

  • Reflection Of Neurotypical

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    ASD individuals may find it hard to communicate and socialize with others around them. However, because each child is unique, they have their own unique abilities and ways of responding to new experiences. Other issues children with ASD have include; anxiety, sleeping problems, and learning disabilities. Those who are diagnosed with ASD or any other disability are usually judged and bullied. In the documentary Violet’s mother says she is afraid of her child being labeled and underestimated because she is diagnosed with autism. A child’s disability can also affect their family members. Family members may have a difficult time understanding and getting to know the autistic child in order to provide for them. They struggle to find interventions such as treatment and therapy for them, the right medical care, and trying learn to cope with all this. At times parents and caregivers can also feel stressed or irritated knowing they have to fulfill all of the child’s needs. Siblings on the other hand, may find it unfair that the autistic child gets the most attention and

    Read More

  • Living with Asperger's Syndrome

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...at comes naturally to most people: listening to others, looking them in the eye, and trying to understand another's point of view. Dr. Attwood believes, "Children with Asperger's Syndrome have the strong desire to have friends while recognizing their considerable difficulties with achieving and maintaining genuine friendships. Many experience ridicule, exclusion, teasing or bullying. Education programs can be used to assist them."

    Read More

  • Fitting In?

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    I am a Japanese-American, growing up I never felt like I belonged in either one. I never felt that I was fully Japanese because I did not have all of the same beliefs and traditions as other Japanese people. Nor did I feel fully American because I fully do not believe in all of the American beliefs. I saw myself relating more to the Japanese culture because it taught me to be more respectful to my elders and other people in the community. Growing up I had to assimilate to the prevailing culture because people were bantering me because I had unusual views than they did. It was hard for me growing up; I was trying to identify myself as either a Japanese boy or an American boy while I was at school and at home. At school I had to be this normal American boy, while at home, I had to be a Japanese boy. I felt like two different people. This also tied into me having an awkward relationship with other kids my age especially the girls. I would ask my parents if it was okay for me to date, their response was “as long they are some sort of Asian, then it is okay.” Today my parents do not believe in that saying, they just want to see me in high spirits, but as I was growing up it was hard for me to find a girl that I liked that fit my family standards I always found myself fond of another race other than my own and my parents were not too thrilled with the choices I made when it came to girls when I was an adolescent.

    Read More

  • Lego Therapy Case Study

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cognitive challenges also exist when counseling children with ASD as they have difficulty distinguishing their own mind from somebody else’s, this is known as theory of mind (Woods et al., 2013). Counselors should address deficiencies in theory of mind as the lack of knowledge in others feelings and empathy causes challenges across all social contexts for children. While there are a numerous factors to consider when providing therapy for children with ASD, therapeutic interventions are crucial to the development of social skills as well as adaptive emotional and behavioral responses in social settings.

    Read More

  • Autism Annotated Bibliography

    1662 Words  | 4 Pages

    This source highlighted different approaches taken by schools, teachers, and aides that work closely with persons with ASD. While states offer equal educational opportunities to students, it is important for the individual to understand what their needs are when choosing a school or program. While mainstreaming students with ASD into normal learning environments can be beneficial to personal development, it can also be damaging if the students is not emotionally prepared. This type of frustration can cause the individual with ASD to exhibit problematic behavior or cause them to develop

    Read More

  • Asperger’s Disorder

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    Amazingly, one percent of new births will have some type of autism (Autism Society of America, 2010). Asperger’s disorder is one type of Autism, and is at the high end of these disorders. This “disorder, which is also called Asperger's syndrome (AS) or autistic psychopathy, belongs to a group of childhood disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) or autistic spectrum disorders”(Exkorn, 2006). A characteristic of this disorder is harsh and strict disruption of a certain type of brain development. The most affected areas of Asperger's disorder is difficulty in social understanding and in behavior or activities that are limited or recurring (Frey, 2003). Students with Asperser’s have different levels of seriousness, which makes it difficult to make the proper diagnosis, but each student will have some trouble with “interpersonal, motor, and language characteristics” (Safran, 2002). There is a significant amount of misinformation about this disorder in the public, not just the general public, but also the medical and educational professional. A significant amount of this misinformation claims children with this disorder will never achieve the basic level of competence necessary to function in school. Current literature shows that this is false. This paper accepts the current position that these students can function in an educational and social environment, and will show that further progress can be made. Specifically, this paper will show that a student with Asperger’s will be better able to function in school with early diagnosis, assistance of educators and the support of the family.

    Read More

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder In Temple Grandin's Thinking In Pictures By Temple Grandin

    1751 Words  | 4 Pages

    Being able to interact with other people is a topic covered in great detail in her book. While she has gotten better at doing so, there was a time when she had much more difficulty. “When I was a teenager,” Grandin says, “I was aware that I did not fit in socially” (2006, p. 74). Many people with ASD can relate to this sentiment. Grandin endured painful teasing from others (2006, p. 90) who did not understand her and thought she was weird. However, over time, things improved for Grandin as she learned how to successfully interact with other people. Others with ASD can overcome people’s narrow-minded viewpoints and learn to successfully interact with others, just as Grandin

    Read More

  • Positive And Negative Effects Of Autism Essay

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    The number of children that display autistic traits keeps rising and the need for services is at an all-time high. Out of 10,000 children born, 60 to 100 children and families will be affected by autistic spectrum disorder (Gulberg, 2010). Autism is characterized by a lack of connection to other people, even parents, and an avoidance of interpersonal situations (Feldman, 2011). Children with autism also show limited, repetitive and stereotypical patterns of behavior, interest, and activities. Not one child with autism is the same as the next; each child has their own severity and indicators of autism. A child with intellectual disabilities and a gifted child can both be given the diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum, because of the wide range of severities. Many of these children will not attend special schools, but instead be included in the general education population by inclusion. Inclusion has been found to have a number of benefits for children with autism. In addition, negative perspectives have also come into play when discussing autism and inclusion. Furthermore, parents have the right to make decisions for their child on an individual basis.

    Read More

  • ABA Therapy and Autism

    1267 Words  | 3 Pages

    Children who suffer from ASD usually have the appearance of normal development and then become withdrawn and regress from social interaction (Melinda Smith, 2013). The impaired social interaction of the disorder affects communication both verbally and non- verbally (Melinda Smith, 2013). Their communication with others and the world around them is also affected, as well as their thinking and behavior (Melinda Smith, 2013).

    Read More

  • Teaching Children with Autism

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most difficult things teachers will face when dealing with Autistic children is their lack of communication skills and inappropriate or nonexistent social skills. In addition to academic instruction children with Autism require instruction in communication techniques and social skills. Kamps et.al. says “A key to accommodating students with autism in public school settings is the provision of social and behavioral programming to develop meaningful participation with nondisabled persons” (p.174).

    Read More

More about Fitting In

Open Document