Helping Children and Teens with Asperger's to Achieve Success in School Settings

ulie Balderston, with a Master's in speech and language pathology, has spent ten years working in the public schools, specializing in Asperger's Syndrome and the autism spectrum. Her work with children and teens with Asperger's and with high functioning students on the autism spectrum has led to her appreciation of their gifts; she feels extremely fortunate for the opportunities she has to work with these students. Her positive attitude shows in her dedication to meeting their educational needs at the highest levels possible. Rather than lowering expectations for children with Asperger's learning in the public schools, her motto is "the sky is the limit".

Establishing an Educational Program
Julie Balderston stresses that it is best for the students when they are diagnosed early, to allow for early intervention and support. She notes that the educational criteria and the medical criteria for Asperger's Syndrome are somewhat different, making it important for parents to work with school personnel as well as their family doctor or other specialists. Public schools generally look at diagnostic criteria that include impairments in communication, difficulty with some social interactions, restrictive areas of interest, sensory oversensitivity, and a consistency in these characteristics over time and in intensity. In the public schools, once students are found eligible for Autism Spectrum support, most get on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and are given a case manager. The case manager then becomes their advocate and a voice for them in the school system.

When she acts as a case manager for a student with Asperger's Syndrome, Balderston advocates for the student both in and out of the classroom. In the classroom, she works with the teachers to accommodate the student's needs and modify materials in class. She often suggests alternative assignments and encourages the teacher to focus on the student's special skills; she also helps students and teachers to set educational goals. She says, "I do not want kids to be held back or have a bad experience with education." Instead, when a student encounters an area where characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome may be causing them extra difficulties, Balderston helps teachers to look for other avenues for the student to express his or learning and abilities.

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