ABSTRACT
Students with Asperger’s syndrome (AS) have common challenges that can be dealt with successfully in the classroom if done with some flexibility. Five of these common challenges are lack of social skills, preoccupation with a particular topic or subject, obsessive routines, heightened sensitivity, and selective hearing. Students who have AS lack basic social skills. They do not make eye contact, often invade personal space, and do not understand social cues. Teachers need to involve the child with AS in social skills training with the assistance of the school’s counselor who can interact with the child through scenarios to train him or her to use the appropriate behaviors for various social settings. Some students with AS are ritualistic. They often have difficulties with transitions because of their lack of awareness of time. Students with AS need time reminders. Students with AS are oversensitive to stimuli in general.
