Life is Not a Race: Importance of Recognizing Individuality of People with ASD

Individuals with ASD may have different ways of thinking and behaving but like all of us, have their own unique ways to flourish in life.

While its key characteristics remain deficits in social communication and repetitive behaviours, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a spectrum disorder that can present and manifest in markedly different forms and degrees of severity. This means that no two individuals with ASD present the same way or have the same profile and, like every human being, have their own strengths and weaknesses. Consequently, they too, like all of us, have their own unique ways of thriving in life – even if it may not look stereotypical. Here, we unpack how individuals with ASD might be misunderstood as “failing”, especially during the formative years, and explain how embracing their individuality and differences is paramount to their growth.

Children with ASD Might Struggle in Formal Education

Many children with ASD struggle in formal pedagogy settings due to their deficits in social skills and restricted/ repetitive behaviours. As a social environment, schools often require active class participation and involvement in group work. Additionally, play time is often unstructured and the academic syllabus progresses quickly from one topic to the next. Since children with ASD often have difficulty with cooperation, self-control, assertion, and attention, even when they possess above average cognitive skills, it is unsurprising that they might find daily activities in school challenging (Majoko, 2016); be it in the form of navigating social relationships or keeping up with their neurotypical counterparts in class. However, does falling behind the class mean that they are failing at life?

School Does Not Define Success in Life

The list of famous successful people diagnosed with ASD is endless. From Anthony Hopkins to Elon Musk, it is clear that being ‘good at school’ does not define one’s success in life. Each of us, including individuals with ASD, have unique ways to flourish. Recognising this, and accepting that school is not the be-all and end-all that predicts how one’s life will turn out, is important because it opens the horizons of these children, promoting their growth.

Embracing Their Individuality for Growth

What are some of your child’s interests? Are they particularly engrossed in certain objects or activities? Even if they are not related to academics, it might be a good idea to help them expand their knowledge in these areas of interest. Due to their attraction towards such items, they are likely to be very motivated to learn more about them, making teaching a breeze. It would be no surprise if they turn out to be little experts in that area in no time! To conclude, it is always important to look at the strengths of our children with ASD and find ways to cultivate them or harness them for greater learning and growth. Their strengths may not look like acing exams, but neither do that of all of us in the general population. In order for these children to really grow in life, they should not be made to fit into moulds of what society expects of them or what society deems success to be. Success looks different for everyone and it is crucial that we recognise and acknowledge this in our journey of educating and helping children with ASD grow.

Written by: Rachel

References

Behavioural Innovations (2021). 20 Famous People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Retrieved from https://behavioral-innovations.com/blog/20-famous-people-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-asd/

Majoko, T. (2016). Inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders: Listening and hearing to voices from the grassroots. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 46(4), 1429-1440.

Picture Reference

Regarding 365 (2019) [Neurodiversity graphic] [Graphic] Retrieved from https://regarding365.com/neurodiversity-technology-and-the-workplace-fb470ce13d07