What is Autism Spectrum Condition

(ASC?)Anna Tullemans

ASD consultant and author

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Understanding ASC

Challenges include:O CommunicationO Social interactionO Adaptation and generalisation skillsO Sensory sensitivities

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Communication

O People with ASC O Are very literalO Have little or unusual eye contactO Have difficulty with emotion and emotion

managementO Have little and use little facial expressionO Have little and use little body languageO May use peripheral vision to see and

hear you

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Social interactionsO People with ASC may

O Have difficulty working in groupsO Have difficulty working with others O Making/being friendsO Only want to talk about their favourite

activityO Find social interaction very confusingO Have difficulty with being interrupted

at work

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Adaptation and generalisation skills

People with ASC may have difficulty with O Learning in a new environmentO Using acquired skills in a different areaO Moving quickly from one concept to

anotherO Changes at workO Organisational skillsO May lack Theory of Mind (ToM) the

ability to think about what someone else may be thinking about

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Sensory issues O Touch and MovementO HearingO VisualO Smell O TasteO Proprioception (body awareness) and

Vestibular (balance)

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6 Key StrategiesO Consistency and PredictabilityO Use of visual

schedules/diaries/timetablesO Understand slower processing timeO Simplify verbal language

O too many/or changes in instructionsO Minimise sensory issuesO Allow time for changes and

transitionsAnna Tullemans (c) 2012 7