Asperger's Syndrome And Education

What is "Asperger's Syndrome"?

Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental condition that is related to autism. Symptoms vary from person to person and are generally characterized by an impairment or an inability to communicate or interact socially. Due to the nature of the symptoms of Asperger's and the variety of behaviours exhibited by a person with Asperger's syndrome, diagnosis and treatment are still considered very controversial by professionals in the community.

What are the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome?

Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome are not always easy to determine. Children with Asperger's syndrome will typically develop normally through their primary years and in their teenage years children with Asperger's syndrome start to experience language delays. Students with Asperger's syndrome, more often than not, possess high to superior IQs. They don't always coincide with their standard or below-level communication abilities. The frustration for students with Asperger's Syndrome lies in the fact that they do have a high to above average IQ but they're not able to convey themselves the way that they want to, because of the language delays caused by Asperger's syndrome. Children with Asperger's syndrome can cognate that they want to communicate a certain way, but due to the nature of their disability, they cannot communicate in that way. And the way that Asperger's syndrome sufferers do get across their wants and desires may be deemed as peculiar by their peers.

Are students with Asperger's Syndrome eligible for special education programs?

Students with Asperger's Syndrome can be found eligible for special education supports and services if an IEP meeting, or an IEP team, determines that the disability caused by the Asperger's syndrome is severe enough that it negatively impacts their ability to be successful in a general education classroom, meaning they require special educational support, which is to say that if a student with Asperger's syndrome is not learning, processing new information, or able to pass their classes, then they're not being successful in the general education.