AutismandAspergers LSG9
AutismandAspergerSyndrome
Autismand Asperger Syndrome are just two disorders withintherangeof Autistic SpectrumDisorders. Autism is a developmental condition which can occur at any time in a child’s early years of
development-oftenwhenanotherchildinthefamilyisborn.Youcannot tellanindividualhasAutism bylookingatthem.Itupsetsthewaythe brain usestheinformationitreceivesandthisresultsin problems withcommunication.
Thereareanumberofothermedicaltermsusedtodescribethecondition,andsometimesitexistsas partof another disorder.
Autismis not infectiousand otherscannot catchit by contact or association!
AspergerSyndromeisatermusuallyusedforthosedisordersuffererswhoaremoreable,andhave better language development.Individuals may be more willingtomake social contacts but this may be done in ways that arenaive and inappropriate.
LivingwithAutism
Atthemoment,no oneknowsthecauseandthereis noknowncure, butdifferent waysofworkingwith anindividualwithAutismcanmake the condition worseor better. PeoplewithAutismhave difficulty in making humancontact,particularly eye contact. They also havea tendency tofixon inanimateobjects.
Anindividual withAutismmayswingfrom beingexcessivelyloudandnoisytoveryquietand withdrawn.Theymay kick, punchand pinch others out of frustration for noapparent reason.
Someindividualscanbevery giftedatdrawingorplayingamusicalinstrumentbutmayfinditdifficult todoanything that requires social interaction.
Communicationandlanguage problemsaresome ofthemaindifficultiesencountered, whichcanaffect meaningful speech, reading, writing or signlanguage.
Often an individual with Autismwill repeat back sounds or conversations which cannotonly be annoyingtothespeakerbutalsogivetheimpressionthattheyhave understoodmorethantheyactually have.
Theindividual may have difficulty inknowing whento interrupt or when not tocallout,laugh or shout. AfamilymayfindthatachildwithAutismhasaverydifferentsleeppatterntotheirotherchildren-
perhapsalwayswakingat5amandbeingwide awakeand wanting to dosomething.
Practical tips
Leaders needto be thoroughly acquainted withthe individual andtheir parents. It is important to establisha level of trust which will allow theproblems to be openlydiscussed.
Keepinstructionssimpleanddonotassumetheyhavebeenunderstood.Youmayhavetohelpina game until theindividualstarts to understand what isgoingon.
AnindividualwithAutism willoftencopyothers,soityoushouttheymayshoutmore.Otheryoung people may start copyingthenoises made andthis will only make the problemworse.
It is often ofvalue to speak quite softly when speakingtothemwhentheyareexhibiting symptoms.
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AutismandAspergers LSG9
Talktothe parents, they are a valuable source ofdo’s anddon’ts, alsotosee if there areany activities that you may useto help quietenanindividualdowniftheyareoverexcited.Thismight be drawing,cuttingout, doing a jigsaw or even washingup!
What elsedo Ineedto know?
ThereisnoreasonwhyanindividualwithAutismcannotjoinaScoutGroup,therangeofactivitiesandexperiences offeredmay helpthemtoreachtheir fullpotential.
Leadersmustbeawarethatitmaymakeadifferencetothewaytheyruntheiractivities.Anessentialstepistohavea full and honest discussion withthe parents to identify all the issuesbeforeyoustart.
Itisworthdiscussingthenormalpatternat hometofindouthowlongtheindividualsleeps.Iftheyonlysleepsixhours rememberthat iftheygo to bedat10.30pmthey may bewideawakeandwantingto runaround thecampsite at 4.30am.
Find outifthereareanyspecial routinesinuseat homeand/orschool with whichyoucouldlink. Youmay findthatlife is veryordered, or there isa special way to give instructionssuchas“Firstwewash then wechange forbed”.
AnindividualwithAutismlikemanyyoungpeople,maywanderofffromaScoutingactivity.Therearehowevera coupleof problems to beaware of:
• If their communicationis poor theywill notbe able to ask for thewaybackif theyget lost.
• They may not remember basicsafety rules such ashow to cross theroad.
• Adiscussionwiththeparentwill identify thisproblemat home, soat least youareprepared.
• At campyou may wishto explainto anyone campingnearbythat if theysee the individual wanderingaround -can they bring him/her backto you.
• Some individuals with Autismmay carry some identificationexplaining their conditionwhenthey areoutso that if they get lost anyone findingthemwould know where or whoto contact.
Aswithmany childrentheremay benosenseof danger. However,explaining dangers doesnot mean necessarily that they haveunderstood them, so you may need towatchthemcarefully.
FurtherInformation
Discusswiththeparentstheextent to whichhelpisneededand learnany practical tipsthey haveto offer.They may also be able to arrangea chatwiththeir teacher orothershelping them.
Informationon these conditions can befoundin thefollowing LeaderSupportGuides
Leader Support GuideLSG7 –ChallengingBehaviour
Leader Support Guide LSG8- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD) – Leader Support Guide LSG10 -Hyperactivity
then look forSupport Guides inthe Leaders section.
Further General information: AutismSpectrumAustralia (Aspect) -
SPECIALNOTE
Illness, disorderand behaviouralproblemsrequireskilled diagnosis. Thetreatmentisthen determinedin accordance to the typeof theparticulardisorder andneedsof thepatient.
ThisGuideis designedto give you abasicunderstanding of theproblem,
The Guardian/parent will knowthe various idiosyncrasies oftheir child’s problems. How toidentify the need forinterventionandwhatstepstheyrequireyoutotaketoassisttheirchild,asmentionedabove,itisessential totalkto the parents.
Itcanalso be awonderfultraininginlife’sskillsifthe guardian/parent, withthechild’spermission,can givea brief talktoyour Sectionandindicate the symptoms they might seewhich requires themtocall you for help.
Scouts Australia NSW acknowledges the contribution of Dr Warwick Bateman AM in the development of this Leader Support Guide.
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