I have been doing some lit reviews of Hyper-systemizing and Hyper-sensor conditions in ASD students looking for educational systems that "exploit" and include ASD students exceptional skill sets. Also, potential school systems that might be employing unique programs for their ASD populations around Hyper-systemizing - and exceptional skills.
Should not autistic children of normal intelligence be educated in normal schools? It will not help their social integration if they are hived off into separate programs. In any good school, they will surely gravitate to subjects where they have special skills or interests, eg maths, computer science.
I am not completing research in this area but would be very interested in your findings. I have two nephews that are autistic, one of them is not old enough to be in school but the other one is in school. We are having several issues with the school putting him in special classes and as a result there have been many school disciplines. However, I did find an article and I hope it helps.
http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/364/1522/1377
I personally believe in highlighting and exploiting their special skills to help them cope with the demands of schooling. The general tendency to make them fit into the regular system compelled me to write this poem where I put myself in the shoes of a person with autism and question the status quo:
Cousik, R. (2014). The autism mantra. The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal, 4(3).
According to this research,
"Considering the various profiles of intelligence shown by children with developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities, we propose the utility of multiple intelligence theory for inclusive education because Gardner’s theory recognizes several types of intelligence."
Takahashi, J. (2013). Multiple Intelligence Theory Can Help Promote Inclusive Education for Children with Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disorders: Historical Reviews of Intelligence Theory, Measurement Methods, and Suggestions for Inclusive Education. Creative Education, 4(09), 605.
"I personally believe in highlighting and exploiting their savant skills to help them cope with the demands of schooling."
Many parents struggling with severely autistic children will be surprised and annoyed to be told these have savant skills. Actually, even high-functioning autistic children with superior IQs do not usually have savant skills.
I agree 'savant' was an old word choice. And as I understand, the question was about those persons with autism who do have average or above average intelligence and how we could use their strengths or high interest in one or two areas to help them learn other subjects. In my experience, every child has a gift, not matter how 'severe' the diagnosis is. This is not to deny the social and academic challenges that children labeled as such encounter, but as teachers, we must 'presume competence' and look earnestly for the gift.
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