7/27/2019 Aspergers Disorder Fact sheet

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Getting Your Needs Met As A Student With

Asperger’s Disorder

What is Asperger’s Disorder?

In 1944, Han Asperger, an Austrian doctor, recognized anddescribed children who had impaired social interactionand communication. However, Asperger’s Disorder did notappear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders (DSM-IV-TR) until 1994. Due to the ormaldefnition being relatively new, there is still potential ormisdiagnosis or or high unctioning individuals to goundiagnosed. Asperger’s Disorder is a lielong developmen-tal disability that currently has no known cure; however,cognitive, behavioral and medical treatments are available.

According to the DSM-IV TR, Asperger’s Disorder is one

o the fve disorders that all into the category o PervasiveDevelopmental Disorders. It is characterized by severe andsustained impairment in social interactions and a restric-tive and repetitive pattern o behavior and interests, whichsignifcantly impacts adaptive unctioning. There is no sig-nifcant delay in language development (DSM-IV, 2000).

Associated FeaturesSocial Impairment 

• Poornonverbalcommunication

• Activebutsociallyawkward

• Dicultydevelopingriendships

Communication Defcits

• Poorprosodyandpragmatics(intonationsandinfections)

• Doesnotadaptlanguagetolistener(one-sidedconversationstyle)

• Speechistangentialandcircumstantial

 All Absorbing Interest 

• Consumedwithactualinormationaboutareaointerest

Poor Sensory-Motor Integration

• Resultsinsensoryoverloadandbehavioraldyscontrol

• Highlysensitivetooneormoresenses(overorundersensitiveto

touch,sound,lightorpain)

Emotional Difculties

• Vulnerabletoemotionaloutbursts

• Verydicultadjustmenttounexpectedchange

• Anxiousinnewandunpredictablesituations

• Otenstrugglewithdepression

• Frequentlyexhibitobsessive/compulsivebehaviors

Executive Functioning Defcits

• Poororganization,planning,sel-monitoringanddiculty

remaininggoaldirected

• Limitedfexibility—otenrigidandrule-based

• Donotappreciateambiguityorexceptionstorules

Poor Adaptive Skills

• Aresurprisinglypooratbasicskills,despiteotenhavingaverage

towellaboveaverageintelligence

Classroom Strategies for Success

• Followconsistentroutinesandexplicitrules.

• Followapostedschedule.

• Askorclaricationoexpectationsoriinormationisvague.

• Getwritteninstructionsorassignments.• Arrivetoclassearlytoensureyouhavethesameseatiyou

likesameness.Iyoudon’tlikeclosephysicalproximity,you

mayrequesttositapartorexams.

• Allowyourseltogetindividualassistance,suchasacademic

accommodationsandtutoring.

• Iyou“tuneout”inclass,thenaskiyoucantaperecordclass

sessions.

• Utilizerepetitivememorizationorstudyingorexams(indi-

vidualswithAsperger’stypicallyhaveexcellentmemories).

• Talkoutyourchaptersornotesstep-by-stepwithan

individual.

• Stayawayromgraphswhenstudying.

• Outlinesmaybeuseuloryourwrittenassignments,suchas

essaysandresearchpapers.

• Findoutwhatworksoryou.SomeindividualswithAsperg-

er’sndthatabsorbinglongstringsoauditoryinormation

maybeimpossible,whilevisualmaterialsareeasiertolearn.

Seewhatworksoryouandadaptyourstudymethods.

By Christine Salinas, B.A., and Robyn Coombs, Psy.D.

“The term eccentric is not used in a derogatory

 sense. In this author’s opinion, they are the bright

thread in the rich tapestry of life. Our civilization

 would be extremely dull and sterile if we did nothave and treasure people with Asperger Syndrome.”

 —Tony Attwood (1999)

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For additional counseling, academic success

resources and helpul articles,

 visit www.ft.edu/caps or call 674-8050.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS is a counseling acility operated by Florida Institute o Technology’s School o Psychology. Its goals a re to promotethe best possible academic, vocational and emotional health.Our services are available to students and their immediateamilies. Call CAPS at (321) 674-8050.

Center HoursMonday–Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LocationIntersection o Country Club Road and University Boulevard,west o Babcock Street

PY-444-707

 A sperger’s

Disorder 

Counseling and Psychological Services

Importance of Assessment

Many individuals in college are high-unctioning so you may have “slipped through the cracks.” It is essen-tial to fnd a clinician who has experience diagnosingadults with Asperger’s syndrome and high-unctioningautistic spectrum disorders.

Resources

• CAPS—(321)674-8050(psychotherapy, behavioral techniques, learning disability 

evaluations)

• AcademicSupportCenter—(321)674-7110

(tutoring, academic accommodations)

• SocialSupportGroups

(improve communication and social interaction)

AdultswithAspergersGroup

CARDUniversityoCentralFlorida(407)823-2176|Tedaly@mail.uc.edu

DisabilitySupportGroup

Melbourne,FL|(321)784-9008

Social support groups or students with Asperger’s havebeen conducted at CAPS in the past. I we generateenough interest rom students, we may able to accom-modate your request. Contact us at (321) 674- 8050.

Specialized sotware is now designed to adapt comput-ers or people with disabilities. It can be useul i youhave visual problems or trouble with coordination.

Books with inormation on college students

with Asperger’s Disorder:

 Managing Asperger Syndrome at College and University by Juliet Jamieson and Clare Jamieson, David FultonPublishers, 2004.

Pretending to be normal: Living with Asperger’s syn-drome by Liane Holliday Willey, Jessica Kingsley Pub-lishers, July 1999—includes not only an account o heruniversity experience but also has a wonderul appen-dix titled “Survival Skills or AS College Students.”

Succeeding In College With Asperger Syndrome by JohnHarpur, Maria Lawlor and Michael Fitzgerald, JessicaKingsley Publishers, 2004.

References American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manualof mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.

Ozonoff, S., Dawson, G., McPartland, J.(2002). A Parent’s Guide to As-perger Syndrome & High-Functioning Autism. Guildford Press.

 Volkmar, F & Klin, A. (2000). Diagnostic Issues in Asperger Syndrome. InKlin, A. Volkmar, F., Sparrow, S., Asperger Syndrome. Guilford Press.