High Functioning Autism

Almost all children benefit from being around other children who are different in some way. For both sides to feel safe and comfortable, the interaction should be non-threatening. No one can force an unwilling child to make eye contact, if he hasn't yet progressed that far socially. In fact, in some cultures, it is considered extremely rude to make eye contact with someone you barely know.

On the other side of the room, we might say, is the non-autistic child, who may be afraid to touch an affected child's hand, out of any number of hidden fears. But visiting each other's classes in school or waving to the neighbor in the wheelchair across the street will gradually increase the non-autistic child's comfort level. Then, too, giving non-disabled kids an understanding of autism, at a level they can understand, can only be beneficial.

Children and teenagers with high-functioning autism need academic classwork that will challenge them as much as any other child interested in the subjects of math or science or geography. Some children with handicaps are mainstreamed into the education system, instead of attending separate schools. They may be placed in physical education or crafts classes on the basis that they'll be able to achieve without undue stress. However, such classes will not hold the attention of autistic children who are considered high-functioning.

Academically, high-functioning autistic students will need to receive the same level of instruction and assignments as kids in regular classrooms do. Quite a number of autistic children are more than bright enough to go on to college, and they do extremely well there. To achieve their goals, they cannot be shortchanged along the way to a higher education.