Don’t Believe The Stereotype

 

More and more I speak to parents of Autistic children and hear the words “He/she is not the stereotypical Autistic child.” And when I meet the child I realise their parents are right, which leaves me thinking is there really a “Autistic stereotype”?

Many people who aren’t regularly around Autistic children believe that ALL ASD children need strict routine, they all struggle to form relationships, all have behaviours, all need SEN provision and Speech & Language therapists.

But that really isn’t the case.

And I don’t think that’s because anything has changed, it’s because the spectrum is so vast.

There are no doubt certain Autistic attributes that will be and are shared amongst ASD children. But there is no “blueprint.” Therefore we need to remember as parents/careers and teachers that ALL Autistic children are different (like any typically developing child) and require different care/provision/teaching methods. Because one method worked with your ASD child last year does not mean to say it will definitely work with the ASD in your new class this year.

There’s a stereotype that says…

“Girls are usually better at Literacy and boys better at Maths”

Does that mean no girls are better at maths than boys?

Of course not!

And IF we take these type of beliefs are gospel we are almost definitely set up to fail.

Last year I had a Parent Teachers Meeting with the mother of an ASD boy I used to teach.

After discussing the “how he’s settled into the class” type information. We talked about Ben and the character he was. I shared with Ben’s mum the story of when our school assembly was cancelled last minute and how well Ben dealt with the situation, he was entirely unfazed. She laughed and said “Yes, we don’t follow a real routine at home, he doesn’t need to know where we are going/ what we are doing during the day and adapts happily to change, so that’s probably why.”

Every Autistic child is different.

 

Speak with you soon, until then

 

Live every moment, Love beyond words and make a difference today!

 

Emma Ottaway

The Autism Support Specialist